Diversity

The buzzword of the 90's. We seek so hard to reach out to others, we risk compromising our faith. And if we stay true to our faith we are often branded by the PC crowd as harsh and unloving. But is it love to give a child candy for every meal because that is what they want, or to force them to eat their vegetables because it is for their best. When we tell a Hindu that Jesus Christ is the only Way to salvation, we are not being exclusive or harsh we are, in love, trying to help them to get off the candy and eat the vegetables. We cannot help our lost brothers by giving credit to their disceptions. We are told to shine our light in a dying world filled with darkness. We are the beacon of hope, but not if we delute the light and veil it in the name of Inclusivness and Diversity.

Let's look at what the Scriptures say...

1 Cor 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Cor 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
1 Cor 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1 Cor 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1 Cor 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1 Cor 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1 Cor 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1 Cor 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1 Cor 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1 Cor 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1 Cor 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
1 Cor 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
1 Cor 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1 Cor 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

We are diverse in our gifts and in how we serve our GOD. There is a place for all GOD's children in the Body of Christ. We should never fight with each other about the particulars of our worship, some are stoic and thoughtful, some radical and charismatic. It is our duty to our Lord to serve in the way we are led by the Spirit, but not to force others to follow us in our walk, all must follow Jesus as the Holy Spirit leads. Not all are Baptists, not all are Catholic, not all Charismatic or Pentecostal, but all serve and are part of the One Body. So where is the line drawn? Simple, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our benchmark, our standard.

1 Cor 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

That does not mean that everyone that claims to be Christian is really Christian. It also does not mean that everyone that acknowledges Jesus is part of the Body. Jesus said; "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) Many will say that Jesus was a great teacher, or even a Prophet, but they refuse to accept him as LORD and Savior, the Only Way to the Father GOD. "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"..." And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." The members of the Body are diverse in their working but all obey the Head, and the Head is Jesus Christ, Acts 4:11-12 says "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." All who deny the Lordship of Jesus the Christ are not part of the body and are in need of salvation less they die in their sin of unbelief. That is not being hurtful or exclusionary. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus of Nazareth laid down his life for us that Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. He is the awaited Messiah of Israel, the Lamb of GOD that takes away our sin, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, John put it best:

" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Within that basic belief there is limitless diversity. The Spirit leads us all in individual directions. But if the Spirit leads there is harmony, for we are all headed to the same goal, serving our GOD. We all walk with a single purpose even though our paths may seem to run in different directions, (do the ear and the knee really have much fellowship?) but each serves the same ultimate purpose as part of the One Body. We don't all have to agree on all things, we only have to love each other and serve our Lord.

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