April 2021

               I think we all know the story of Noah and the Ark. Do you know what happens next? Genesis 11 verses 1 through 9 tell us the story of the Tower of Babel.

               As the descendants of Noah started to repopulate the earth they all lived together in the land of Shinar. Genesis 11:4, “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower…lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.’”

               God saw what mankind was doing, “Behold, they are one people, and they have one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do.” (Gen 11:6) God knew that this was only the beginning, but if all men lived the same, thought the same, spoke the same, came from the same background; they would never reach the full potential of his design for them.

               “Come, let us go down and confuse their language, so they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of the whole earth…” (Gen 11:7-8) God’s plan for his creation has always been; diversity. When people come together with different ideas, different viewpoints, different beliefs and thoughts; then they can push each other to new heights. When people of different cultures and different perspectives come together; only then can they come up with fresh and innovative approaches to life and the world.

               People who come from different parts of the world, people who look different, people who live different, people with different cultural starting points; all of this is by God’s design. God created us this way so that we can come together in ways that will fulfill our purpose and in ways that will rise up all of mankind.

               Fear of those who are different has permeated our thoughts since the time God pushed us out of the Tower of Babel. Recently this fear and a blaming of others for our problems have increased. Men have forgotten that diversity is by God’s design.

               Let us start here and let us call out to all Christians to see God’s great gift of diversity. I ask that Christians all over the world stand up and proclaim “I will not listen to the deceiver, I will embrace God’s glorious plan of diversity. I will not give in to hate and distrust. I will love my neighbor as Jesus commands without thought of their country of origin, without thought of physical differences, without thought of their culture, without thought of their lifestyle.”

               As followers of Christ it is up to us to show the world God’s love through our words and actions. As Christians it is our responsibility to stand arm in arm with all mankind and proclaim, “I love my neighbor because they are a creation of the Most High God. They, as am I, are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

Pastor Jim