Faith Integration

Post a substantive response to Forum prompts by  11:59 PM  Tuesday night.  Include information from the weekly readings to support your response.

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Prompt:

Diversity is essentially variety. In recent times, the word diversity has taken on the specific connotation of variety of people within a groupthe differences among the people being racial, cultural, gender-based, etc. Diversity was Gods idea. Even a cursory study of science reveals an amazing variety of plant and animal life. People, Gods final creation, are diverse, too.  He created two different genders (Mark 10:6 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/mark/10/6). The creation of male and female is diversity at its most basicthe sexes are very different, yet complementary.

Diversity is part of being human. God delights in the plethora of differences His human creatures possess. The book of Revelation (https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Revelation.html) describes the final gathering of Gods people from every nation, tribe, and tongue (Revelation 7:9 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/revelation/7/9). God enjoys the diversity within the human race.  He designed us the way we are and delights in His handiwork (Psalm 139:1316 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/psalm/139/13-16

However, in our modern culture, the focus on diversity can become its own god. Diversity itself is revered rather than the One who created that diversity. An emphasis on diversity tends to highlight our differences. God is more concerned with unity (Ephesians 4:3 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/ephesians/4/3). Galatians 3:28 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/galatians/3/28) says, There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. God is saying that our differences are not what should define the children of God. Those who belong to the Lord Jesus should first define themselves as Gods children. We must be willing to set diversity aside in favor of unity in spirit.

So, what does it mean to be one? When we are born again (John 3:3 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/john/3/3), we are created anew in Christ Jesus. Our fleshly differences become secondary to our new nature in Christ. We are unified around the centrality of Gods Word. We have one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:5 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/ephesians/4/5). Regardless of racial, cultural, or gender differences, Gods children hold to His Word as their final authority on all matters, including cultural and social issues. Some try to use diversity as an excuse to justify immorality. While we all have different sin strongholds, we cannot allow unrepentant sin to continue under the guise of diversity. The diversity God created is good; sin can indeed be diverse, but God has nothing to do with it.

Human differences such as race, temperament, and culture are to be celebrated, tolerated, and incorporated in our goal of being one in Christ (John 17:2023 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/john/17/20-23). However, when diversity is made into an idol, we become self-centered and divisive. When every difference is treated as sacred, selfishness rules and oneness is sacrificed in favor of individual preference. When we exalt our preferences over unity, we become demanding and proud, rather than selfless and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/ephesians/4/32); Philippians 2:4 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/philippians/2/4). John 17:23 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/john/17/23 encapsulates the desire of Jesus for all His children. In this last, long, recorded prayer before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed, I in them and you in meso that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. While we can and should appreciate the value of the various nuances of being human, our goal must always be to become more like Jesus (Romans 8:29 (https://biblia.com/bible/esv/romans/8/29).

https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-diversity.html (Links to an external site.)

Analyze your workplace utilizing the three paradigm shifts found in the Reinventing Diversity book. Describe your findings. Link five of the eight basic principles of organizational community (Reinventing Diversity, chapter 11) with scripture to identify and explain the key elements of success in organizational community. Describe and explain your analysis.