I have been thinking a great deal about DEI or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. I served for several years on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team for New Hanover County Schools. It was enlightening and challenging work that was also incredibly rewarding! However,
in today’s world, conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) can be polarizing. Some, like me, embrace these principles as fundamental to justice and community, while others view them with skepticism, seeing them as politically charged buzzwords. Yet, long before DEI became part of corporate or social frameworks, they were already embedded in the character of God and the mission of the Church. The biblical narrative reveals a God who creates diversity, commands justice, and invites all people into divine love and community.
As a Pastor, I can’t help but put my thoughts in theological terms. As Christians, we are called to mirror God’s heart in how we treat one another. Scripture, tradition, and theological reflection all affirm that diversity is God’s design, equity is God’s justice, and inclusion is God’s invitation to all.God’s Diversity: Creation as a Tapestry of Difference
From the very first pages of the Bible, we see that God delights in diversity. The creation story in Genesis paints a picture of a world filled with difference—light and dark, land and sea, animals of every kind. The pinnacle of creation is humanity, made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), yet expressed in male and female, in a multitude of cultures, languages, and identities.
The diversity of humanity is not accidental—it is intentional. The Psalmist declares, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). Every person is intricately formed by God, reflecting divine creativity and purpose.
This divine design is evident in the grand vision of Revelation. John describes a heavenly scene where “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” worships before the throne of God (Revelation 7:9). This vision is not of a homogenous group but a beautifully diverse community, unified in worship yet distinct in identity.
The Church as a Diverse Body
Paul expands this vision in his letters, most notably in 1 Corinthians 12, where he describes the Church as the Body of Christ. He writes,“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
Each part is necessary, and no part can claim superiority over another. Paul further emphasizes this by stating, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’” (1 Corinthians 12:21). In God’s design, diversity is not a problem to be solved but a gift to be celebrated.
Theologian Howard Thurman, a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., wrote:
“There is a spirit in man that grows stronger when it meets the spirit in another, and each of us has something to give to the other.”
Diversity is not just about difference; it is about interdependence. The Church is strongest when it reflects the full breadth of God’s creation, embracing people of different races, cultures, abilities, and backgrounds.
God’s Equity: Justice as a Divine Mandate
Diversity without equity is mere tokenism. The biblical vision of justice demands that all people not only be included but treated with fairness and dignity. Scripture repeatedly portrays God as a defender of the marginalized, calling His people to act with justice.
Justice in the Law and the Prophets
In Deuteronomy 10:17-18, Moses proclaims:
“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.”
God’s justice is not passive; it actively uplifts the vulnerable. This theme is echoed by the prophets. Amos thunders:
“Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24).
Isaiah commands:
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17).
These commands are not mere suggestions but divine imperatives. God demands a society where all have access to what they need to flourish.
Jesus and the Call to Equity
Jesus embodies God’s justice in His ministry. He consistently elevates those whom society devalues—the poor, the sick, women, tax collectors, and even enemies like the Samaritans. When Jesus reads from Isaiah in the synagogue, He declares His mission:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Luke 4:18).
This is not a spiritualized justice alone but a tangible, lived reality. Jesus calls His followers to a faith that dismantles oppression and lifts up those who are cast aside.
Theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez, the father of Liberation Theology, writes:
“To know God is to do justice.”
Faith without justice is hollow. To truly follow Christ, we must work to create a world where all people have equal opportunities to thrive.
God’s Inclusion: A Radical Welcome to All
Inclusion is at the heart of the Gospel. Jesus’ ministry is filled with moments where He embraces those others reject. Whether dining with sinners, touching lepers, or speaking with a Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus models radical hospitality.
The Early Church’s Struggle for Inclusion
One of the earliest challenges of the Church was whether Gentiles (non-Jews) could fully belong. Some Jewish Christians believed that Gentiles had to adopt Jewish customs to be included. But in Acts 10, God gives Peter a vision, showing that no person is unclean. Peter then declares:
“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (Acts 10:34-35).
The inclusion of Gentiles was a seismic shift, demonstrating that God’s Kingdom transcends cultural and ethnic barriers.
Paul reinforces this in Galatians 3:28:
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
God’s inclusion breaks down walls of division. The church is not an exclusive club but a wide-open table where all are welcome.
The Call to Inclusive Love
Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest and theologian, wrote:
“Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy.”
The call of the Church is to embody this kind of radical hospitality. Inclusion is not about mere tolerance—it is about belonging. It is about ensuring that all people, regardless of race, gender, ability, or status, know they are loved and valued in the family of God.
Conclusion: Living God’s DEI Vision
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not secular concepts forced onto Christianity; they are woven into the very fabric of God’s story.
- God’s diversity is evident in creation and the Church.
- God’s equity demands justice and fairness for all.
- God’s inclusion calls us to radical hospitality and belonging.
And while those who claim no religion or do not claim Christianity may believe DEI is bad, as followers of Christ, we are called to reflect these divine attributes in our communities, workplaces, and churches.
May we be people who see the image of God in every person, who work for justice with relentless love, and who create spaces where all are truly welcome.
In the words of John Wesley:
“The world is my parish.”
May our love, like God’s, know no boundaries.
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