This week we celebrate World Day for Cultural Diversity. As the picture above shows clearly, our world is made up of people with diverse religious, social, political, gender and ethnic cultures. (pic: Alexander Khimushin and his collection of “The World in Faces”)
Diversity, by definition, focuses on our differences. Most of us tend to judge differences in a negative light. When people are different than we are it makes us uncomfortable. Instead of trying to understand our differences, we tend to judge and shun one another. We separate ourselves from people that we don’t understand. Much of our judgement comes from a lack of knowledge of other people’s cultures and beliefs. And much of our judgement comes from placing ourselves above others that don’t think the same as we do. It is much easier to love people that are like us than to love people that are different from us. But we are all created in the image of God.
Buryat Man, Ivolginsk, Buryatia, Russia (Alexander Khimushin)
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
Japanese Girl, Nara, Japan (Alexander Khimushin)
The world is filled with people that are as different as night is from day. But just as God created day and night, so he also created mankind. God chose for mankind to speak different languages, knowing full well that the people would be scattered all over the earth and wouldn’t be able to understand one another. He knew that each culture would separate themselves from others and would judge one another because of their differences. He knew that the poor and oppressed would be mistreated by others richer and stronger than themselves. So why did He do it? Why did He choose this route for mankind? The answer is quite simple. He created us in His image. He created us with a free will to choose for ourselves the way we conduct our lives. With that said, He didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves; He laid out a plan for how we are to live and how we are to treat one another, despite being in different cultures. The Bible gives us all we need to know about life, love and relationships. It also tells us the difference between what is good and what is evil. With that understanding God gives us the freedom to choose how we will live our lives; whether individually, as a community, or as a nation.
Xhosa woman, Mgxotyeni, South Africa (Alexander Khimushin)
If we are all made in the image of God, then let’s look to His example. All of us are equal before a holy God. He is not partial. He is righteous and just with all people. “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” Deut. 10:17-18. This is a mandate to all people to follow God’s lead. How wonderful it would be to live in a world where people were fair and loving and kind to all cultures no matter their differences!
We are encouraged to love the stranger among us and to live in equality with them. “For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord. One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.” Numbers 15:15-16. The mandate for a community to accept the foreigner as one of their own, and to live under the same rules, is a statute that has the word “forever” attached to it. That is pretty serious business. Something worth taking note of.
Samoan boy, Savaii Island, Samoa (Alexander Khimushin)
Regarding the nations, the mandate is just as important. While nations can choose their laws and decide how they treat their own people, or the stranger among them, those nations will be judged. “For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.” Obadiah 1:15-16. It is a wise leader will heed those words and lead his people towards good and not evil.
From every type of cultural diversity there is a way for all of us to choose a route that will enable us to cross the barriers that separate us. This route is not difficult, but on the contrary, it is very simple. It is something we teach our children from the time they are toddlers. It is something we should practice with everyone that comes into our lives. If the individual, the community and the nations can find a way to live by this route, the diversity that separates us will in fact be what bridges the gap to peace. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12
