Something All Together New

Few people have impacted our nation’s history like Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. His dream to see a person judged on character not color is
still a work in progress, but we can see glimmers of hope. I’ve seen my
children walking hand in hand with friends of all colors and it’s beautiful to
see. I think King would be optimistic about this generation and yet saddened by
the lingering effects of racism that still pervade our culture. Sadly, one of
the last great remaining strongholds of homogony is the local church.

Before Dr. King had a dream, St. Paul had a dream:

But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been
brought near by the blood of the Messiah. For He is our peace, who made both
groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, He made
of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so
that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.
He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the
cross and put the hostility to death by it. When the Messiah came, He
proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those
who were near. For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2:13-18

As I’ve been reading through Ephesians recently, I’m
reminded just how deeply Dr. King’s dream is interwoven with the spiritual. This
is why I’m so deeply saddened by the lack of diversity (in all its forms) in
the one area that should be leading the way: the body of Christ expressed
through the local church. I’m not pointing outward fingers; I’m inwardly
evaluating my role in fostering diversity in my spheres of influence? We don’t
naturally drift toward diversity, but life is much richer when we do. It’s clearly
God’s design for the body of Christ.

Dr. King’s convictions in Scripture provided deep roots to
stand against the torrential forces that opposed him. I believe at the heart of
his conviction was the belief that God had ordained a ministry of reconciliation
in Christ that would tear down the walls that divide. Unity centered around the
cross and brought together through the shed blood of Christ makes everything else
secondary at best. Diversity is such a vivid indication of the cross’s power as
understood by a local body of believers because it signifies the cross’s preeminence.
If I use any other factor, race, age, social status, or any other thing to
preclude fellowship with another believer, it’s wrong. The local church should
be a beacon of diversity in a divisive world and I’m burdened that things are
not as they should be.

I don’t have the answers, but I do have a deep conviction
like Paul and Dr. King that pursuing diversity isn’t an afterthought. Diversity
centered around the cross and bound together through the shed blood of Christ
is at the very heart of God! We’re all created in the image of God, in need of
the grace of God, and made alive through relationship with God in Christ. Black
or white, rich or poor, young or old, we’re all here for the same purpose to experience
relationship with God in Christ and honor Him forever! May this generation be
the one that makes the power of the cross known by being a beacon of diversity!

By this all people will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another. John 13:35