There is certainly some hesitation when developing a biblical perspective of diversity. It was not so long ago that passages such as the curse against Ham’s son Canaan (Genesis 9:20-27) were taken as a justification for discrimination against African American. Many Old Testament scriptures not only show that God has a soft spot for one particular nation, Israel, but also that He at times has instructed people to not marry those of other nations and even more difficult passages in which He demands that they kill all people, even children, in some of the nations and cities that they conquer (Deuteronomy 7:1-6). So often these passages have been used to form worldviews that discourage amnesty amongst ethnic groups. Understandably, therefore, there is often a hesitation and near defensiveness towards the Scriptures when the issue of diversity is addressed.
As any serious biblical scholar would affirm, however, extreme caution should be taken in the interpretation of scriptures as to discern the meaning of the text apart from any personal or cultural bias or prejudice of the reader. In looking at the aforementioned passages, a more balanced and accurate interpretation would observe that these scriptures had far more to do with the holiness of God and faithfulness of Israel than with ethnicity and diversity. As the Bible is God’s word and cannot contradict itself, we must trust more explicit scriptures that address diversity rather than the stretched and biased interpretation of a few passages.
Paul is very clear in his epistles that ethnicity, civil liberties and gender are not barriers between man and God, and should not cause division among the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:13 it is written, “For we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body –whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free –and we are all given one Spirit to drink.” Again it is stated in Galatians 3:23, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
In addition to these more direct passages, there are countless references throughout both the Old and New Testaments that show the worth of all people regardless of ethnicity, ability and gender as well as the value of intercultural relationships. God created all people in His image, and after creating humankind, He declared them to be very good (Genesis 1:26-31). He did not distinguish between race, class, ability, but rather from this one man who was determined very good and made in the image of God, people of all cultures have come. Therefore, as each person is a direct descendent of Adam, created in the image of God, declared to be very good, and known even before birth (Psalm 139), to determine another human being as unworthy of dignity and respect is to declare that they are not made in the image of God, that the Lord’s beloved creation is not good, and that when He stated they were, God lied. Disrespect for human diversity is thus not only harmful to relationships between fellow men and women, but also severely mars the relationship between an individual and God.
The value of all people is shown again and again throughout the scriptures. Although he was born illegitimately, God promises Hagar that Ishmael will become the father of a great nation (Genesis21:17-18). Moses was an incredibly significant leader in both the Jewish and Christian faiths and is still respected today, but he had a difficult time with speaking (a disability) and was married to a woman of a different ethnicity (Exodus 4:10; Exodus 3:21). Rahab was a Canaanite from Jericho, but though she was not Jewish, was a woman and was sexually immoral, her life was spared because of her faith, and she became a foremother of Jesus (Joshua 2-6). Ruth too is applauded as a heroine of faith and though a Moabite and a woman, is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Ruth 1:4; Matthew 1:5). Uriah, husband of Bathsheba, was a Hittite but acted more honorably than King David one of the most honored and respected Jews (2 Samuel 11).
Jesus healed the servant of a Roman centurion, even though the officer was of a different ethnic group (Matthew 8:5-13). He ministered to a sexually immoral Samaritan woman, who by birth was of a different ethnicity religion and by action was of a different ideology regarding the sanctity of sexual intercourse. Still, despite her vast differences, she had faith that Jesus was Messiah and became a powerful witness to her people (John 4:1-26, 39-42). In addition to interacting with and serving people of different ethnicities, cultures and lifestyles, Jesus ministered to people of various abilities, those who were blind, lame, lepers and who had various other diseases that alienated them from the rest of society (Luke 13:10-17; 17:11-19; 18:35-43).
Significant references regarding diversity extend beyond the Gospels and into the rest of the New Testament as well. The Apostle Peter, along with many other early Christians, was known at one point in the early church to show favoritism towards Jewish believers, especially in regards to the cultural and religious factors of circumcision and dietary requirements. Multiple times, however, in the book of Acts and other epistles, these prejudices were denounced as ungodly attitudes (Acts 10:28; Galatians 2:11-14; Galatians 5:11-12)
God’s desire for all of his children, regardless of ethnicity, gender and location, to return to Him is reinforced in passages like John 3:16 that states that God so loved the whole world, and the great commission which calls us to go out and make disciples of all nations (Matthew28:19). One particular incident that supports the argument that God cares for all people is that of Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8. The eunuch was both of a different race and culture, as well as one who had compromised his gender, yet he was a man seeking to know God. Phillip was sent a considerable distance to preach the Gospel to this one man and baptize him into the Church. Despite characteristics that even today would make him a minority and different from the rest of the church and society, the Ethiopian eunuch was acceptable in God’s eyes (Acts 8:26-40).
Looking at the whole of creation and all of the innumerable ways in which God has created diversity in all things, it is understandable that God would create people as a diverse race a well. He created each snowflake and each leaf on each tree entirely unique; He created even mere rocks and sand so differently from one location to the next. As stewards of God’s creation (Genesis 1:28-30; Genesis 2:15), we are to love and care for it in all its beauty and diversity. So too, should we love and care for others not in spite of our differences, but because of them.
God has created each individual uniquely and with love and just as He has created us with diverse gifts, personalities and purposes, He has also created us with diverse cultures, genders and abilities. Nothing about what He has created is a mistake. Each individual, culture and ethnic subpopulation is able to represent many different aspects of who God is and reflect his image to the world. Therefore, rejecting one of God’s people is an offense against God’s most beloved creation as well as against the Lord Himself whose character is in some way represented in each human being, regardless of ethnicity, gender or ability.
A truly Biblical perspective on human diversity is therefore one that takes into account the sacredness of human life as we are all beings created in God’s image. It respects the dignity, individuality and purpose of each person, acknowledging that no ethnicity or culture or gender or physical or mental level of ability could ever represent God fully and it takes a vast array of unique individuals to even reflect his glory in part. This perspective must acknowledge the variety of people who are members of God’s kingdom and who have contributed to His great plan for the world as can be read throughout the Bible. Finally, a truly biblical perspective calls for unity in the Church among all people. “For He is our peace, who has made the two into one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).
