God created all things; the heavens and the earth, but it didn’t end there. He called into being the physical and set the standard by which we hold ourselves accountable; perfect love. Our God knows no other love because that is who He is- Love. Thus, every truth of God finds its core in the heart of perfect love. Love is uniting. Love is not judgemental. Love rejoices in triumphs and shows charity in trials. Love is connecting, but it is also diverse. In God’s plan, unity requires diversity.
Diversity is not a new concept, as some claim. Have you ever considered that there is no unity without diversity, and this is what God intended from the beginning of time? We tend to think of the need for unity of diversity as if diversity came first. In actuality, God created diversity out of unity.
From soleness, He creates diversity for the first time when, out of unity, He made woman from man- not separate from man. Genesis 2:22-24 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
The singular man (unity) becomes man and woman (diverse) and is then united together by God through eternity.
After God created the heavens and the earth, Genesis 1:1, He continued His work by filling the heavens and the earth and then rested on the seventh day, Genesis 2:1-2. During this time, God created all people through one man, Adam, as one race– the human race as stated in Acts 17:26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their land. God’s only notice of race, gender, class, or other differences was the beauty He created. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Romans 10:12, For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him. The singular human race (unity) becomes all nations (diversity), but all are unified by those who believe in Christ. God rejoices in our differences.
God created the church as one body-whole- but with diversity in mind, 1 Corinthians 12:14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Paul spoke of diversity in the early church in 1Corinthians 12:12, Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body. There is one church under Christ (unity) made of many believers throughout the world (diversity), and all are united in the grace and mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ. God’s love for distinction within humanity is why we embrace everyone who enters our doors at OLC; knowing that everyone brings a God-given gift to share with the people.
Our Father shows us the way. He gave to all of humanity everything He had. Our Father didn’t reserve it for a few, showing a willingness to share His love through His Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. He later leaves us with the Holy Spirit, John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. God makes sure his message of love reaches people of all languages, not wanting to leave any behind. The Father takes His single news of love and makes it available to all people; A unified revelation that is still spreading to the multitude. During Pentecost, people from every nation heard the message in their native tongues, Acts 2:6-8 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?” Then how is it that each of us hears them in our own native tongue?”
God shared everything He had and every part of Him with us. What Jesus asked was that we love with the same diversity and unconditional character as Himself. John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you; you are to love one another. Jesus didn’t say to love only those who look like you or you value above another. He said, love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’
To the very end, God is committed to all equally, as John reveals in Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. Even when Christ’s glory is declared, people from every tribe, nation, race, and language are with Him. Our God does not see race, gender, or class how the world we live in does. He only sees that which He created- humankind, to share His love in all its beautiful diversity.
We believe in a triune God, distinct in persons but united and equal in Godly deity- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Without one, there is no God. God began with a diverse human race created in love, and why wouldn’t He for God is Love. He created man in His image; Genesis 1:26 Let us make mankind in our own image, in our likeness… God created humankind in love and individuality to be appreciated by each other, just as we understand what we receive from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created the church body with individual talents to come together to benefit the believers as a whole, just as God comes together to aid us in our trials and rejoice in our triumphs. And, God stays with us, all of us, to the end, never-changing, believing in diversity out of unity. We, too, should stick together in God’s love- accepting diversity and unification belong together by walking the walk of faith that He is the uniting God of all, no matter our differences. We were created in God’s love, image, uniqueness, and unity. Love, diversity, and unity begin and end with our God, the Almighty Creator, Savior of our souls, and Advocate for humanity’s future. If we are inspired to love like Jesus, we should be motivated to accept and celebrate our individuality. Let us begin by no longer looking to the world for direction; instead, fix your eyes on Jesus and know everything began with Him and is held together through the love that is Him.