Isn't Christianity against Diversity?

What are we talking about when we talk about diversity? Because honestly it depends on what kind of diversity we are talking about…

Use an umbrella to talk about the kinds of diversity Christianity is ok with and the kinds it isn’t.

What we’re talking about tonight is cultural and racial diversity. There are some people who believe that Christianity is not for this. To be fair, white Christian artists did change the color of Jesus’ skin!

But Christianity is not against diversity. In fact there is a non-Christian historian who wrote a book arguing that it’s the influence of Christianity on the world that has caused all people, Christian or not, to believe that humans should be equally valued.

Christianity is full of all different kinds of people who believe they can be saved by Jesus alone and seek to live according to his words.

Jesus created diversity

Our world is diverse. You can see it quickly when you look. Where did that diversity come from?

John 1:1–3 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

He started with Adam and Eve and it was his plan for the Earth to grow into different races and nations and cultures, but there is one aspect that ties all of humanity together, why we all matter, no matter what…

Genesis 1:27 ESV

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

This is why each of us matters. This is why God delights in each one of us.

Have you ever seen an ugly baby? Do you think the baby’s parents thought they were ugly? Of course not! That’s their baby, it bares their image. It doesn’t matter how you feel about yourself or what other people think about how you look. You were made in God’s image and He delights in you!

No matter what someone looks like, what characteristics they have, they are made in God’s image.

So Jesus made us diverse, and He made us equal! These are good things, gifts He has given us.

But like most of the gifts He’s given us, humanity finds ways to misuse them and turn them into sin, and that’s what racism is. That’s what classism is. That’s what xenophobia is. That’s what sexism is. We are to show no partiality…

James 2:1 ESV

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

James says this about the rich and poor, but it holds true for all this diversity. And I would guess that we are all guilty of showing the sin of partiality. But thank God the Gospel is inclusive!

The Gospel is inclusive

Scripture clearly tells us that the Gospel is for all different kinds of people.

Colossians 3:11 ESV

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Paul says something similar in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Galatians. Everyone is on level ground before God.

Jesus showed us through his own actions that this is true. In John 4 we have the famous story of the woman at the well. Jesus is really showing the inclusivity He offers in this situation…

And He calls us to do the same.

Matthew 28:19 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus came for all kinds of people!

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

And we know that people from every culture and every nation will believe in the Gospel and be saved because of the prophecy of Heaven in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 7:9–10 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

This is the picture of eternity. God’s people will be diverse and living and worshipping together forever.

We don’t treat people differently or think about them differently based on their skin color, where they’re from, if they’re a man or woman, how old they are, but we love them. No matter how they’re different than us, because we are all made in God’s image.

That image of God that we all bare has been broken by sins like racism. Sin separates us from God, but God sent his Son Jesus to be the Savior for all types of people. So we could be saved from the punishment for our sins and have a relationship with our Creator....