Unity in diversity
By Paul Bawden
February is Black History month. Ramadan for Muslims began on February 17 of this month and will end on March 19. Lent for many Christians began on February 18 and will end on April 2.
Is there a common denominator that can bring all peoples together world-wide?
Let me approach that answer this way? In fact, only a biblical approach can really provide the answer that is needed. I realize that when I wrote that sentence there will be disagreements. Regardless, hear me out on the following.
It all starts with origins. All people on the planet were created in the image of the biblical God regardless of race, creed, or religion. This means that all people have the stamp of God upon them spiritually with a mind, emotion and will, so they can relate to God and others, while also having a physical makeup. This is the reason why humanity has accomplished so much good in the world because they are endowed with God’s creative ability.
At the same time, we are certainly aware that displayed through humanity is pride, hatred, jealousy, immorality, and war – nations have risen and fallen. This pride continues in our day as tensions and war continue between countries.
So, we have mankind sending astronauts into space, now developing AI, while on earth people can’t get along with each other, even killing one another, trying in certain situations to rule dictatorially over people by force if necessary.
What a dilemma!! Such has plagued mankind for thousands of years. Man has tried to reform himself through education in different ways but to no avail. Could he need a transformation? It appears that something is wrong with man’s heart – his spiritual life given to him by the biblical God.
Could it be as the prophet of old stated that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked? (Jeremiah17:9). This goes way back to Adam when he disobeyed His Creator and sin came into the human race (Romans 5:12). Our spiritual lives don’t need reformation, then, but rather transformation, being given a new life center from which can come humility, selflessness, forgiveness, strength, and courage, peace, with eternal purpose and hope.
Where is such a transformation found? Many may deny this, ignore this, or go another way, but the eyewitnesses tell us that there is the Savior, the God-man, who came into the world and offered His forgiveness and eternal life to those who would accept Him as Savior and live for Him. He didn’t just offer His kind of life, eternal life, but He won that for all humanity through His death, burial, and bodily resurrection.
Now believers have a new center from which to live – by relying on God’s inner power, they can display His love, forgiveness, humility, selflessness, acceptance, purity, strength, purpose, self-control, and peace. Such a transformation is for any believer in Christ, regardless of one’s background, ethnicity, or religion, which transformation will change individuals, families, people in nations, along with leaders of nations to live for Christ bringing His peace.
Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know others may disagree, and that’s one’s privilege, but He is the only One who can unite all different peoples in the world as they accept Him as Savior and Lord and live for Him! He is the Unifier in the diversity of humanity. And some day gathered around God’s throne (Revelation 5:9) will be all those who have been ransomed by Christ from every tribe, language, people, and nation – all to the glory of God!
Paul Bawden is married and served in the full-time pastoral ministry for 45 years, retiring in 2011, after which he and his wife served in four interims, three in Wisconsin and one in Iowa. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in Speech and attended Dallas Theological Seminary, receiving a Master of Theology. He has taken counseling courses at Trinity Evangelical Seminary in Deerfield, Illinois. Paul is a lifetime member of the Evangelical Free Church of America, as well as being a member of Interim Pastor Ministries (IPM), which serves churches during their time of transition in searching for a new pastor. He is also a volunteer writer for GotQuestions.org. Paul likes to write, read, and work in the yard. The Bawdens have had the privilege to travel to Mexico and Romania on mission trips and visited various countries in Europe. They have three daughters and five grandchildren.
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