Dwelling in Unity

²⁰“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³I in them and you in me—so 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.~John 17:20-23

As I headed into the voting polls yesterday morning this Scripture rang in my head. It was a beautiful picture to see a strong representation of all people from all walks of life taking advantage of their voting right as Americans. However, I still couldn’t help but feel saddened by they fact that as a nation we are divided in hate, and as the church we don’t look much different.

It was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said that Sunday mornings in America are some of the most segregated hours of the week. Things may have improved since the 1960s, but we can probably all agree we still have a long way to go when it comes to making our churches places where people of every race, background, and socioeconomic status can feel like they belong.

On August 25th this past year, I participated in one of the most amazing expression of racial reconciliation in my lifetime. On that day thousands gathered at Stone Mountain and vowed to end racism and hatred, and promote faith and unity. It was a diverse gathering, racially, all ages and from various denominations. The event was put on by group of pastors and leaders rallying people from all over the region to do their part, to take up their position in the OneRace Movement. I am thankful for this movement of justice in my city, but I know I have a part to play. And, as a Jesus-follower, how I treat people matters.

While this is a big conversation, there are some simple things we can all do, right now, to make our ministries and even our neighborhoods more friendly to a diverse audience:

BE INCLUSIVE – Find common threads among our cultures and elevate them in conversation to bring people together and make them feel known. Yet, while being broad prevents anyone from being excluded, being specific celebrates diversity by highlighting the variety in your group. With a little research, you can get to know the things that each culture values.
BE RELATABLE – If you can create “relatable” moments for a diverse audience, you will win them every time. Why? Because people tend to trust people they feel understand them. Don’t you?
BE FUNNY – Laughter relieves tension. It helps us let our guards down. Laughter connects us. And, when it comes to bridging the gaps that inevitably arise when you have a diverse group, connection is everything.
BE CAUTIOUS – When you’re speaking to a diverse audience, there’s a lot of potential for unforeseen tension. Consider historical tragedies, unchangeable limitations, and cultural no-nos, for starters.
BE COMPASSIONATE – Compassion comes from your heart . Understand who you are talking to. Understand their problems, understand their fears, understand their journeys. As you understand them you will start to care for them. And once you truly understand them, compassion is inevitable.

Being “one” doesn’t mean that our differences disappear. Oneness isn’t the same as sameness. Oneness means living in awareness of our racial differences without letting them determine our value or worth.