Churches these days are seeking diversity in their congregations. “We need to be more diverse,” they say. Diversity is particularly sought among the racial makeup of the church. If a church has large numbers of African-Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians mixed together, it is considered a diverse church. If a church is mostly filled with Caucasians, (saying “whites” just sounds weird), then it’s suddenly not diverse. Some churches make accommodations to their services, (worship/teaching styles, decor, etc), to encourage diversity among their members. It’s a big deal these days.
I’ve got nothing wrong with the church being diverse. It’s biblical. Humanity, in Christ, becomes one body. “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,”(Galatians 3:26-28). In Christ the curse of the Tower of Babel has been reversed. What once was divided can become united. So diversity is good. Yay diversity!
However, by the actions of some on Sunday morning, churches can actually be less inclusive, (a popular word these days), and are unconsciously hindering their desire to be diverse. Churches can unwittingly alienate a particular people group. Continue reading