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15 March 2011
Growing up, I thought the end goal of life was a homogeneity of belief in the people around me. I expected everyone to draw the same conclusions from the things they heard, read or saw as I did. But, recently, I’ve come to believe that diversity is a beautiful thing because it helps us see God more clearly.
Now, before I go further, let me say there is a limitation to the liberality with which we can apply this principle of diversity of opinion. I do believe there has to be a strong foundation of biblical understanding and maturity in an individual as they think about diversity—or else the likely end will be that destructive lack of ideals called pluralism. My comments here are more applicable to the expression of those shared biblical principles which all Christians cling to.
With that said, the homogeneity I grew up thinking was the ideal is perhaps as equally destructive as pluralism, especially when the Church attempts to get each person to embody a perfect balance of this or that. We should certainly be in the constant state of becoming more Jesus-like, but it seems like there is a misunderstood spiritual idealism of “we’re all the same.” That homogenous thinking is the direct result of the individualized, industrialized, solitary life of our culture at large—a culture in which, as I recently heard a friend say, “everyone bowls alone.”
Let’s look at some of relationships that seem to stand in opposition to one another.
- The intellectuals (those who pursue God through mental understanding)
and the mystics (those who pursue direct communion with God through
spiritual discipline and experience)
- Those who tend toward justice and those who tend toward mercy
- Those who crave ritual and tradition and those who desire something new
The list goes on.
Recently, I’ve seen more clearly than ever the roles certain individuals have filled in my life and in the church community I’m a part of. In the past, I have attempted to recruit others to my side of the ideological aisle. But now I’m learning that, as in the cases above, both sides have a strong biblical foundation for being true.
Therefore, the response can be one of two things: an air or superiority or a spirit of cooperation. We can continue on in our belief that our opinions are the ones everyone must share or conversely, understand our tendencies and personality types are meant to be a small part of a complete picture assembled in the context of relationship.
After all:
Who better to bring the intellectual down from the pedestal of her own mind and into the reality of faith than a mystic? And who to ensure the mystic takes seriously the “testing of the spirits” than the intellectual?
Who better to soften the blow of the judge than the merciful? And who better to ensure that the merciful are not abused than the judge?
Who better to connect the new to the past than the traditionalist? And who better to instill fresh life into the ritualistic than the zeal of the young?
Our differences can lead to arguments or to better understanding.
And while I will continue to have tendencies and individual beliefs, my interaction with those different from me can lead to some change. Over the last year, I’ve tempered my harsh words. I’ve become more aware of the ways in which people receive instruction. And I’ve learned how to love more. But these things didn’t just happen. I look more like Jesus in these areas of my life because I’m learning to listen to those who are different than me.
What are your God-given tendencies? Are you listening to voices that differ from your own? What are you learning?
Cole NeSmith is a pastor at Status in Orlando and creator of Uncover The Color. This article originally appeared on relevantmagazine.com.
