Diversity Is Not Our Strength

Diversity is not our strength

There is no lack of sad stories of disintegrating families, church splits, and old friends drifting apart since the start of Covid. The world is more divided now than I have ever seen in my long life on earth. Suspicion, cynicism, and pure hatred replaced politeness, friendliness, and neighborliness.

So many good people fell under this spiritual assault.

World leaders were quick to take advantage of the crisis to implement senseless policies that are clearly aimed at controlling the people who voted them into office, leaving one to wonder who they are really working for. “Divide and conquer” is the only conclusion one can come to, especially with the slogan “Diversity is strength” that suddenly became the global mantra. There can be no doubt that the devil himself is ultimately behind this destructive trend to pave the way for his future rule over humanity. The book of Revelation explains it all in detail.

There is no point in trying to unite the world against these tyrants, as we are too far gone for that to happen, but we should, at least, make it our business to unite the true church. Unity makes us all stronger than we are on our own, something that will prove to be essential for our own benefit as we move forward. Scripture exhorts us to strive for unity among ourselves, and live in peace wherever it is possible.

It is heartbreaking to see Christians, who actually agree on the essentials of salvation, attack each other on social media about views that don’t really matter. Social media is a vast mission field at our finger tips, not a doctrinal battleground. This becomes the sad reality when one majors in minors.

Scripture exhorts us to be greater than that!

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart… 1 Peter 1:22

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:12,13

Jesus Himself prayed for unity among us in His last prayer on earth:

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. John 17:20-23

“…that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” The world’s view of the church makes it clear that we have missed this important point in the Lord’s prayer. Our love for one another — despite obvious differences among us — is our only defense against the onslaught that divides us. Don’t look for agreement of opinion on secular issues — our calling is far above anything the world values as worthy. We are citizens of God’s everlasting kingdom, which is the bigger picture and where our attention must be. Nothing else matters on the scale of eternity. Our blessed hope unifies us in the midst of this failing world.

Why does the Bible tell us to love one another? Because it is so easy to not love our brothers and sisters in the Lord. The love of God is not natural, and it comes at great cost. While human love is based on attraction, God’s love blossoms in sacrifice — of your own opinions, biases, and preferences. In the end it is not about you, but about the Lord and His own. Loving one another is a command, not an emotion. If you separate yourself from a fellow believer for any reason, except for habitual sin, you break God’s command.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Unity among us attracts God blessing in abundance:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore. Psalm 133

Paul, the seasoned apostle, saw the same need for unity in our fellowships:

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:1-3

The Lord’s last prayer on earth still needs to be answered, and only we can make it happen.