Wasson: Unity through diversity

One of the greatest privileges of being a church member is the opportunity to learn from and relate to a diverse range of people. Our congregation is a beautiful tapestry of different generations, races and international members, all bound together by our shared faith in Jesus. Each member, regardless of age or background, plays a vital role in our community, and it is through mutual respect that we can truly appreciate the value each person brings.

Sometimes, our younger members need to be instructed on how to relate to senior citizens. When it comes to what they wear to church, it is not a matter of having to wear your best Easter outfit every Sunday but showing respect. For many older people, T-shirts with offensive slogans or immodest clothing can be distracting.

Older members may need help handing leadership over to younger people. However, wise people understand that part of discipleship is that the student becomes a teacher. Someone said the only people who like change are babies, and they cry about it. While the Word of God never changes, our methods sometimes change.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 instructs us in this area. “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”

We see that the unchurched generation struggles with social skills and respect. They seldom encounter people from different backgrounds and demand that everyone agree with them. However, it is healthy to have disagreements about sports, politics and other topics. What's important is that we approach these discussions with civility, understanding that these things do not have to divide us.

One of my pastor friends used to substitute teach in Georgia. He noticed that the public school began the day with the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. To his dismay, most of the students will sit through it disrespectfully.

He would take the opportunity to lecture the students about why he stands for the pledge by sharing facts about our nation’s founding and how Christian principles directed the framing of our Constitution. He would talk about how people worldwide desire to live in the United States of America for freedom and opportunity.

It may surprise you that instead of correcting the students’ disrespectful behavior, he was the one who got in trouble. Repeatedly, he would be called to the office and reprimanded for stating why he stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. This happened each place he taught.

Sadly, many students are taught that America is not a good country. This is frustrating to those of us who have traveled the world. In other nations, you will always be an outsider if you do not look like the majority. You cannot define an American by race. Out of many, we are one people.

The Kingdom of God is reflected on earth in the local church. We will see people from every race and nation when we get to heaven.

“After this, I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” Revelation 7:9-10.

When we pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we seek revival and spiritual renewal so that the world will know Jesus.

We must stand united against those who would divide us or remove freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news.’” Romans 10:14-15.

Shawn Wasson, D.Min., is the pastor of Bethany Baptist Church.