Unity and Diversity

July 15

Romans 8.14-17

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

There is a lot here.  One of the practices I try to do is to just take note of what it is in a reading that stands out to me.  This reading is just so rich and so full that it was hard for me to find one part to zero in on. 

I think where I find myself is in verses 14-17, where Paul writes:  All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God…

As I think about these words, I think about Christians as children of God.  If we are all children of God, then we are part of a family.  In fact Paul goes on to say that we can call God – Abba – or Daddy – Father, which is really more about an intimate relationship between parent and child than it is about defining God as male.  But I digress.

If we who are Christians are children of God, then this is a privilege that cuts across cultures, races, nationalities, genders, ethnicities, and even across political divides. We are one in faith, with God, Christ, and with one another. So if we are children and “heirs of God and coheirs with Christ,” we have an obligation to accept others who are different and to realize our common ground of unity as children of God. 

What I tend to be so bothered by are those who stake claims that only those who believe as they do are true children of God.  What I don’t want to say is that we have to unity as the family of God.  As people of God it’s not that we tolerate each other; our call is not to be right.  It’s not a call to unity. 

Usually when we call for unity it is for everyone to believe as I believe.  God gave us diversity – not only in how we look but in how think as well.  I believe that diversity is a gift.  I am better because there are qualities Stacey has that I do not have.  Our family is better because each one of us is different.  And we don’t always agree on things.  

Our call as people of God is to love one another.  To realize that we are family.  We are in it together.  In it all we are joint heirs with Christ.  And so, as Paul says, we wait in hope for what we do not see, waiting with patience. 

Let us pray:  Lord, we could ask you about many things.  How long until there is a vaccine?  Why is there so much strife and hatred in the world?  What will school look like for our kids this fall?  Could you guide our thinking on such matters? 

These are all important to us.  But are these things that are important to you?  Are there greater issues on your mind that you want to share with us?  We do indeed want to know your mind.  Share your wisdom with us.  Bring justice and mercy to weary pilgrims who do not know how they will survive.  Bring hope to our youth, to those who cannot find work; to those who cannot count on a single friend.  Bring hope to our world.  In your name we pray.  Amen.