Celebrating unity and diversity
Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Owen Lynch:
What did I like about today’s passage?
I love the message of unity but not uniformity. In chapter 4 verses 4-5, Paul (or one of his team writing in his name) describes people being united in one body, one Spirit (of God), one hope, one Lord (meaning authority), one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. It’s like Paul is trying to find as many terms as possible to describe what unites people. But he continues…. grace has been given to each one of us, and he has gifted every single person with unique personality and talents to contribute to the well-being of everyone else.
Unity and diversity - this is the gospel of Jesus according to Paul. In this contemporary time where division and inequality are being exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, there could not be a more appropriate expression of the difference Jesus can make to our families, communities, nation and global society.
What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
The sickening murder of George Floyd in May caused me to reflect on the extent of deep-seated prejudice within me. I don’t want to be prejudiced towards other groups of people, I don’t want to treat people differently because of their economic power, gender, gender identity, mental health, mental ability, physical ability, race or sexuality. However, I am convinced that in my brokenness and ignorance, I could easily do this and thereby wound other people.
Paul’s comments in Ephesians remind me that God is intentional about division and injustice, an activist working to right wrongs and, in Paul’s words to the Colossians 1:19-20, God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
What am I going to do differently as a result?
If God is intentional about righting wrongs and reconciling all of humanity, then I want to commit to doing the same. I am trying to educate myself to understand how being a white British, married, heterosexual male of Christian heritage affects my perspective towards injustice and division. I think I have a lot to learn and like us all, have a role to play in reconciliation.
Who am I going to share this with?
You all and with my wider circle of friends and acquaintances.