Diversity and the Church (Diversity: Part 1)
A few weeks ago I was subjected to six grulling hours of diversity training. Suprisingly this training wasn't a lesson in inter-racial communication nor was it a pro homosexual appeal. The class focused on generational diversity. Yea, you heard me. Generational Diversity. For six hours, My fellow co-workers and I were payed time and half to play games, watch videos and discuss various situations all in an effort to creat tranquillity among the four generations occupying the workforce today. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a waste of time. I realized that more than the workforce, the Church is in desperte need of diversity.
Once upon a time the local congregation mirrored the diversity within the community. The local "Catholic" or "Orthodox" congregation was comprised of every varity of Christian within a given local. The rich and poor, the free and the slave, the Jew and the Gentile all worshiped together. Diversity wasn't a catch phrase. It was the life of the Church. Christianity followed the words of the Apostle Paul, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. The Church recognized diversity as it strength. Paul compares the Church to a single body. As a body possess a multitude of parts, each valuable to the whole, so the Church is comprised of many individuals, each essential for the functioning of the Church.
With the advent of the protestant revolution, however, the diverstity within the Church was shattered. Luther's stand against Rome turned the world upside down. Instead of working within this diversity, Luther placed the member (himself/ his conscience) over the Body. Though in one since we can admire Luther's actions, in another we should find them wholly reckless. By placing himself over the body he created the justification for every sort of divorce. When individual needs become more important than the needs of others divorce will inevitably occur. (Thus it's in some sense ironic that England's divorce with the Catholic Church was brought about because of Henry the VIII's desire to divorce his wife.)
Ever since that initial break, the Church has fragmented into a thousand denominations, as well as millions of local churches each catering to the demands of a particular nich market. There are Baptists, Anglicans and Presbryterians churches each with their pet doctrines and practices. There are churches comprised mainly of those in the World War II genereration and there are churches geared more for Generation X. We have black churches and white churches, hispanic churches and asian churches. If you like sports you can find a church that emphasizes sports. If you perfer music or good stroy telling you can find a church that emphasizes these things as well. What ever your preference there is a church for you.
"So what," you might say. They are innocent desires. No. I beleive its much more henious than that. Our natural inclination is to seek comfort and shelter. We don't like having our point of view called to account. So naturally we seek people and institutions that mirror ourselves. We like people who affirm us, people who praise our opinions. So we end up praising and supporting the like-minded beliefs of those around while dispariaging the beliefs of groups outside our own. It's a push-pull system. With one hand we pull those like ourselves towards us and with the other with push the diffrent away.
This may be natural but is right and holy? What if our attitudes and opinions are wrong? What if we are walking the wrong path? Have we made Jesus in our own image? Have we pushed the seeker away? Who will shatter the realm of our security and call us to account? If the people you gather around are just like you, the answer is probably no one.
I encourage you to think about the diversity in your own congregation. What is the nich your church? I'll continue this topic in my next post.
Once upon a time the local congregation mirrored the diversity within the community. The local "Catholic" or "Orthodox" congregation was comprised of every varity of Christian within a given local. The rich and poor, the free and the slave, the Jew and the Gentile all worshiped together. Diversity wasn't a catch phrase. It was the life of the Church. Christianity followed the words of the Apostle Paul, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. The Church recognized diversity as it strength. Paul compares the Church to a single body. As a body possess a multitude of parts, each valuable to the whole, so the Church is comprised of many individuals, each essential for the functioning of the Church.
With the advent of the protestant revolution, however, the diverstity within the Church was shattered. Luther's stand against Rome turned the world upside down. Instead of working within this diversity, Luther placed the member (himself/ his conscience) over the Body. Though in one since we can admire Luther's actions, in another we should find them wholly reckless. By placing himself over the body he created the justification for every sort of divorce. When individual needs become more important than the needs of others divorce will inevitably occur. (Thus it's in some sense ironic that England's divorce with the Catholic Church was brought about because of Henry the VIII's desire to divorce his wife.)
Ever since that initial break, the Church has fragmented into a thousand denominations, as well as millions of local churches each catering to the demands of a particular nich market. There are Baptists, Anglicans and Presbryterians churches each with their pet doctrines and practices. There are churches comprised mainly of those in the World War II genereration and there are churches geared more for Generation X. We have black churches and white churches, hispanic churches and asian churches. If you like sports you can find a church that emphasizes sports. If you perfer music or good stroy telling you can find a church that emphasizes these things as well. What ever your preference there is a church for you.
"So what," you might say. They are innocent desires. No. I beleive its much more henious than that. Our natural inclination is to seek comfort and shelter. We don't like having our point of view called to account. So naturally we seek people and institutions that mirror ourselves. We like people who affirm us, people who praise our opinions. So we end up praising and supporting the like-minded beliefs of those around while dispariaging the beliefs of groups outside our own. It's a push-pull system. With one hand we pull those like ourselves towards us and with the other with push the diffrent away.
This may be natural but is right and holy? What if our attitudes and opinions are wrong? What if we are walking the wrong path? Have we made Jesus in our own image? Have we pushed the seeker away? Who will shatter the realm of our security and call us to account? If the people you gather around are just like you, the answer is probably no one.
I encourage you to think about the diversity in your own congregation. What is the nich your church? I'll continue this topic in my next post.
posted by Matthew Miller at 1:45 PM
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