Diversity in Christianity

 

Psalm 119:63 (NET) - I am a friend to all your loyal followers, and to those who keep your precepts.

This Psalm is the longest of all Psalms and is told in 22 parts.

But this Psalm does more than glorify God.

It does more than glorify His Word.

In this verse, the Psalmist promises to be a friend to those who long to follow God’s will.

This is also at the heart of discipleship.

But there is more to discipleship than reaching out to those like us.

It also means reaching out to those who may be different from us.

The book of Acts provides us with an excellent example of this in Philip.

An angel of God told Philip to travel down a desert road.

Philip did so,

Along the way, Philip encountered an Ethiopian who had come to Jerusalem to worship.

Sitting in his chariot, he was reading from the book of Isaiah.

The spirit moved Philip to join the man, and Philip obeyed.

Acts 8:30-31 (NET) - So Philip ran up to it and heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” The man replied, “How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

In response to the Ethiopian’s question, Philip shared the Good News with him.

This moment forever changed the life of the Ethiopian.

In fact, when the chariot came upon water, the Ethiopian ordered the chariot to stop.

Philip accompanied the Ethiopian into the water and baptized him.

Diversity is a hot topic today.

Politicians build their platforms on diversity.

Businesses teach courses about its importance,

Social media promotes it.

But when you get down to it, diversity has always played a key role in Christianity.

That is because Christian diversity is rooted in love.

It is not politically or socially motivated.

God’s Word gives us examples of diversity among disciples.

Christ Himself commands us to love our neighbor.

Christ reached out to those of diverse backgrounds.

Christ healed the servant of a Centurion.

Christ spoke with a Samaritan woman at the well.

Christ even ministered to those whom society deemed “unclean.”

Just as in the past, we too are called to be disciples.

But to be effective, our outreach must be rooted in love.

We must look for that which unites rather than focus on the things which divide.

We must learn, or even perhaps re-learn, what it means to truly work side by side with others.

When Christ dwelt among us, he felt compassion for those whom He encountered.

Matthew 35:36-38 (NET) - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.

Many workers (disciples) are still needed today.

But these workers (disciples) must work together in a spirit of diversity rooted in Christian love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 19, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, August 26, 2022