When I was working for a company who actively promoted a corporate culture, one of the values they endorsed was diversity. In one sense, they were interested in developing a type of diversity that spoke to demographics; but one of the primary business objectives being cultivated in the process was diversity of thought and perspective. Within any organization, there is a tendency to become so enamored with success (especially as you get bigger) you start becoming blind to your own faults and weaknesses. It can become so engrained, you end up hiring people who look like you, think like you and sing your praises. After all, who doesn’t want to have their ideas, accomplishments and viewpoints validated and affirmed. It’s human nature.
But, to surround ourselves with people who look, think and believe like we do can be problematic, can’t it? Ideas that were innovative 20 or 30 years ago suddenly no longer work. Think of the impact the internet has had on business and the change in philosophy required for businesses to survive much less grow. In churches, though, we often run into this idea the Gospel of Jesus (or God’s truth) doesn’t change and I would agree with that. However, what does change are people’s perspective on what it means to live out the Gospel (or what comprises God’s truth). Consider slavery as an obvious example. There was a time when churches across the south and beyond thought the institution of slavery was compatible with the Gospel of Jesus or even condoned by Scripture. Obviously, this idea has been proven wrong. Plainly put, slavery is evil and yet there was a time and place where churches defended the practice.
I guess I’ve become convinced one of the major reasons something abhorrent like slavery can become widely accepted in church is because we do, in fact, naturally resist diversity. As I said before, it’s completely normal for us to resist other views, but it may ultimately be our undoing. Consider the lasting stain slavery has left on this land and churches across the south. After all, if you are like me and come from a Southern Baptist tradition, do you ever wonder why we are Southern Baptist and not just Baptist? It’s because Baptists split up over slavery (I’m sure other denominations were affected as well, but I’m just not familiar with their histories). The origins of the Southern Baptist denomination are not anything to be proud of, so if anyone should hold their beliefs with a little more humility and less certainty, Southern Baptists should be leading the pack.
I say all this because I am reminded of the story of how you kill a frog with boiling water. If you want to kill the frog; don’t throw it in the pot with the water boiling. It will immediately hop out. Instead, put the frog in a pot of cool water and then turn on the heat. The frog won’t notice the gradual increase in temperature and will be content to stay in the pot until the heat causes its death. [Please note that I have never personally tried this, so I am not certain it will work. Nevertheless, it makes a great point.] The greatest dangers we face, sometimes, are the ones where we adopt this misguided notion our limited perspective is enough. We may not realize we’re steeped in a set of beliefs which will ultimately lead to pain or possibly our destruction. Like the frog, an outsider’s viewpoint would do us a lot of good.
In the opening pages of Richard Rohr’s book, The Naked Now, he observes much of our religion has become little more than a “search for order, group cohesion and personal worthiness.” (i.e., “I need people who look and think like me to give me validation”). He’s got a point and I’m convinced it’s a major problem in many congregations across our land. As I mentioned earlier, there was a time when people who claimed to follow Jesus thought slavery was perfectly okay and even condoned by Scripture. I find this deeply troubling. Honestly, it should trouble you too. Even today, could we be holding our beliefs so tightly we are blind to the fact we are directly or indirectly responsible for the oppression of another? It’s a question worth asking ourselves every day. It’s something we should be praying about every day. Maybe we’re actually commanded to be open to new perspectives or the personal stories of others before we make any claims about the Bible or God or Jesus. After all, one of the first words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Matthew was “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” I’ve come to see this as a call to acknowledge we don’t have it all figured out. To be poor in spirit (as in personal, lower case spirit) is to be a vessel that is open for more Spirit (Holy, upper case Spirit). After all, it’s impossible to receive gifts from the Spirit if you’re already rich or full. You have no need. There’s simply no room “at the inn” and the blessings and the truths of the Gospel will just pass you by.
I confess I’ve been too rich in spirit many times in my life. In this media drenched, consumer driven world, it’s easy to do. This realization and my study of Scripture have convinced me diversity is one of God’s precious gifts. In fact, it may have been one of the first, but hopefully we can explore this more in another post. Until then, may we all be advocates of more grace and peace.