Biblical DEI – Diversity

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is heralded as a system for promoting the fair treatment of people. Humanly defined DEI is based in political and social theories that are contrary to Christianity. The Bible addresses diversity, equity and inclusion in the message of salvation. Consider Diversity.

Organizations often say, “Diversity is our strength.” This is only true when diverse people and their abilities are unified for a single purpose that is directed by a single authority.

1 Corinthians 12 describes the church as the body of Christ and the church members as the diverse parts of that body. “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, …Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:12,27). The church members are unified by their faith to accomplish a single purpose – to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).

In order to fulfill its mission God gave the church a diversity of “gifts.” Some of those gifts are spiritual – faith, healings, miracles and prophecy (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Some of those gifts are servants - pastors, prophets, teachers, evangelists and administrators (1 Corinthians 12:27-30; Ephesians 4:11). Some gifts are servant functions – serving, helps, leading, exhorting, giving, and showing mercy (Romans 12:6-8).

These diverse gifts were given for a single purpose “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13).

Paul describes the single authority who is the provider of these diverse gifts and the one who has the authority to distribute them and direct their use. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. and there are diversities of ministries, and the same Lord. There are diversities of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). The Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Spirit) is the One whom we serve and worship.

Unity gives purpose and direction to diversity. Our faith gives unity to the diverse people that make up the church. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). In Galatians 3:28 Paul goes further, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6).

God brings unity to human diversity.