Fostering unity and diversity through learning

Bob Whitesel Jan. 12, 2017

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One of the hallmarks of the early church was that Christians were growing in trust and unity. Luke said, “All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them” (Acts 2:44–45). The verses below also underscore that trust and unity should be a trademark of Christians:¹⁵ 

• “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other” (John 13:34–35).

• “Now I encourage you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: agree with each other and don’t be divided into rival groups. Instead be restored with the same mind and the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

• “Finally, brothers and sisters, good-bye. Put things in order, respond to my encouragement, be in harmony with each other, and live in peace—and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

A visible outcome of spiritual learning should be a heightened unity and agreement in a congregation. Sadly, this is often not the case. But if our churches begin to focus on making active, ongoing learners as the goal in lieu of inconsequential differences, then unity can result. Let me explain why. 

Learning creates respect 

When different cultures, ethnicities, and traditions start to learn about one another, respect and tolerance usually grow.¹⁶ And so, spending more of a church’s time on making active, ongoing learners about one another and our differences can foster more respectful people. 

However, I am not talking about tolerating open sin in a congregation (see Paul’s harsh reprimand about this in 1 Corinthians 5 and 6). Rather, I am talking about learning about other cultures, ethnicities, and religions to create open, honest, and helpful dialogue. This is the traditional meaning of tolerance, for according to Webster tolerance means “to recognize and respect [other’s beliefs and practices] without sharing them,” and “to bear or put up with [someone or something not especially liked].”¹⁷ One author commenting on traditional tolerance said, “This attitude is basically what Paul expressed in 1 Corinthians 13:7, when he said that love ‘endureth all things’ (KJV).”¹⁸ 

Learning creates a respect for traditions, preferences, and customs without accepting or supporting sinful practices, ideas, or principles. Such respect allows an Anglo church to host a Hispanic worship service in its building once the Anglo church understands the background, history, and differences that a Hispanic congregation might prefer. As a result, the learning church can respect a different form of worship because it has studied its origin, rationale, and power. 

Such respect is critical to growing an uncommon church. Our churches today are commonly monocultural enclaves, where biases and preconceived notions can inadvertently be nurtured.¹⁹ Yet, the Scriptures above remind us that Christians are to be known by their unity and love. Thus, the place where questions and learning about cultural differences, practices, and customs should be fostered (with resultant unity) is the church. 

Respect creates multi-cultural community 

Once respect has been established, a church can begin to dialogue with other cultures and eventually partner with them in spiritual and kingdom growth. For instance, multiethnic churches have developed when people of different cultures connect and partner in the same church to advance God’s kingdom. Researchers also know that biases are overcome and harmful stereotypes are reduced when people of different cultures fellowship with one another.²⁰ Before that fellowship emerges, respect sets the tone. In a world that is increasingly segmented, the church can and should be a place where understanding is created amid different cultures. 

Multicultural community creates agreement 

When life is lived together (such as in a multicultural church),²¹ people have to learn how to get along to run the church. Learning goes both ways between cultures as they partner to expand God’s kingdom. A byproduct of this partnering is that stereotypes are further broken down and biases addressed. 

Still, sometimes people think that learning will create walls and divisions. And, when learning is one way (only from a leader to followers) then learning can become slanted, stifled, and divisive. But learning based upon candid, honest, and two-way dialogue between teacher and pupil accelerates learning. The result of such openness, candidness, and community dialogue is usually more unity, which is a sorely needed testimony in an increasingly factional world. 

Agreement results in an uncommon congregation 

Churches today are commonly regarded as divisive and narrow-minded. But in the above Scriptures we saw that Jesus had no such intention for his church. And so, to be an uncommon church today means to demonstrate respect, dialogue, and unity that gains the respect of the divided non-churchgoing world. And once this begins in our small groups, it can then expand throughout a congregation and into a community. 

Instead of talking about our minor preferences and trivial differences, uncommon churches nurture knowledge seekers with a congregational focus on active, ongoing learners.The Bible reminds us, “An understanding heart seeks knowledge; but fools feed on folly” (Proverbs 15:14), and “An understanding mind gains knowledge; the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15). Agreement amid diversity is a needed and welcomed outcome of the learning church. 

Excerpted from Cure For The Common Church: God’s Plan to Restore Church Health, by Bob Whitesel (Wesleyan Publishing House 2012). 

For further online notes: See Chapter 6 Complete Notes. 

Photo source: istock

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Bob Whitesel (D.Min., Ph.D.) is a foresight coach, professor, and award-winning author of 14 books. For over 30 years, he has guided leaders and churches to pivot and engage what’s next. He holds two earned doctorates from Fuller Theological Seminary and teaches on leadership foresight, church health, and organizational change. His website is www.ChurchForesight.com. Learn More »

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