Comments on: Church Diversity Sucks!

By: drthomreece

drthomreece — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:34:19 +0000

Well said, Scott! I have pastored three churches; one resisted diversity, one polerated diversity, and one embraced and welcomed diversity. The church I pastored that embraced diversity was my best experience of God and people together. I think that embracing diversity is a sign of a growing disciple of Christ.

By: jimmy paravane

jimmy paravane — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:57:40 +0000

Lee, don’t stir the waters. This post is a year old and nothing’s changed. We like it that way. Look, tolerance is the enemy of reaction, reaction leads to the possibility of obedience, obedience only happens if you are listening. Please don’t interrupt the white noise of life. Just go back to sleep. Good puppies.

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:20:28 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly, but I seldom hear anyone giving ideas on how a church can embrace diversity.

The only idea I’ve heard is to hire a multi-ethnic staff and that’s unrealistic for most churches simply because few churches can afford staff pastors these days.

What are 2 or 3 things that the average church can do to live out this value?

By: willohroots

willohroots — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:10:54 +0000

My church is not diverse at all. we are all sinners. Different colors, but sinners in need of a Savior.

By: Nichole

Nichole — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:24:10 +0000

My church in West Orange, NJ – The Life Christian Church – is completely diverse. I mean completely. Africans, Filipinos, Indians, Jamaicans, Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, young people, much older people, singles, and married folks. I love it. It represents the world we live in.

If you're ever in the area, check us out.

By: Avery

Avery — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:26:53 +0000

I can't wait for the days when we don't even have to make an issue of this issue…

Very few people preach on the diversity of noses, or fingers, or the need for us to be diverse with them… because mostly everyone has them… they are all different, and well to be frank.. it just isn't an issue.. kind of like the color of our skin…but it seems we aren't ready to see it that way… until we are.. it is an issue…sadly

I think the fact that we make this an issue shows that we aren't ready for this to not be an issue yet…

I guess it might be heaven before this isn't an issue… but who knows… what silly creatures we are sometimes..

By: Avery

Avery — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:18:30 +0000

I can't wait for the days when we don't even have to make an issue of this issue…

Very few people preach on diversity of noses, or fingers, or the need for us to be diverse with them… because mostly everyone has one… they are all different, and well to be frank.. it just isn't an issue.. kind of like the color of our skin…but it seems we aren't ready to see it that way…

I think the fact that we make this an issue shows that we aren't ready for this to not be an issue yet…

I guess it might be heaven before this isn't an issue… but who knows… what silly creatures we are sometimes..

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:58:01 +0000

It seems to me that tolerating is easy because it doesn't challenge us to change who we are or what we do. If we tolerate diversity, we say "I'm going to do things the way I want to do things, but you're welcome to join in." If we embrace diversity, we have to be prepared to change the non-essentials in a way that invites others in by operating within their comfort zones. For example, a church which tolerated diversity would mantain it's style of worship mucic or expectation about appropriate dress to church, might invite others to their service, but expect that everybody will get on board with the way the church does things.
I think Jesus' heart breaks with this kind of rigidity (again, only in the area of non-essentials) This truly wounds church unity, our witness to unbelievers; it also closes us off from the fullness of things we might experience if we'd be more open.

By: “A Slight Recoil.” « aliens among us

“A Slight Recoil.” « aliens among us — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:43:38 +0000

[...] New Small. He’s started the new year off with an interesting two posts that might be a series: Church Diversity Sucks! & Christians Make Me [...]

By: DreadedRafifi

DreadedRafifi — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:56:02 +0000

Isn't it ironic how something so inconsequential such as the color of ones skin or the shape of their eyes or the type of clothes one wears becomes such a focal point in division? The Enemy is so good at turning the smallest of our differences into insurmountable obstacles to true relationship. We Americans seem to be stuck in this quagmire of racism. I hope it ends soon … for my children's sake.