The Birth of Christ Diversity is Not a Fix All

The Birth of Christ

Diversity is Not a Fix All

The angel who announced to the shepherds the birth of Jesus said

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

  Jesus came not only in peace but to bring peace

Jesus did not accept diversity for diversity sake

Diversity is not a fix all

All matter, not one group over another 

Jesus was born to bring joy and peace

And diversity is working in His church around the world

There is no greater model of diversity than the church

That is living out the message of Jesus

All of us should realize that “we can come as we are” but “not remain as we were”

Look at the message of diversity from the cultures of our world

It is a message of division

Look at the message of diversity Jesus was born for

 It is a message of unity  

Only the God who created us can unite us

When He does, we become better families, cultures, males and females

This is where God’s favor rests

 Diversity is Not a Fix All

From heaven God the Father

sent His Son in love to the world.

Jesus came in the full image

of God, the image of love.

His love was for all

people, Jews and Gentiles.

The message Jesus spoke and the

things He did focused on two things…

Love God and Love One Another

Jesus’ message of love was more

than an acceptance of all people.

Jesus’ message dealt with the issues that

affected us from loving one another.

The angel who announced to the

shepherds the birth of Jesus said…

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

 Luke 2:14

Jesus came not only in peace

but to bring peace.

Although Jesus’ desire and work was for

peace on earth, His message also brought division.

Jesus could only bring peace

to those His favor rest upon.

This may sound like Jesus would only have

peace with those who were in His culture.

This is far from the truth.

 Jesus went about Jews and Gentiles

(all people groups).

He healed the sick and doing good to all people.

 One of the big issues Jesus dealt with

among the Jews, His own people, was

their customs and laws that separated

them from other people groups.

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for putting

on the people unnecessary requirements.

Customs and traditions can be wonderful things,

 but Jesus saw they can also be divisive.

 

 “Diversity is not a fix all”

Jesus had some hard saying about

diversity that hinders eternal truths.

Jesus came with a message of liberty,

but when it came to liberty for bad

behavior, He took a stand against it.

Jesus recognized culture differences and also

recognized that in every culture there were problems.

You don’t see Jesus lifting

up one culture over another.

What you see is Jesus lifting up a higher standard.

A standard not made of laws

and culture, traditions, or status.

Jesus recognized we all come from Adam

and Eve who were created by God.

Jesus’ message from beginning to

end was the Kingdom of God.

A standard not made of laws of dos and don’ts.

But a change of heart.

A heart like the heart of God.

A heart of love for God and others.

It is interesting that the message of Jesus is

working in different cultures all over the world.

Where the message of Jesus is

working there is peace and joy.

Diversity is not compromised but enhanced.

Sadly, there was in Jesus’ time and every other time

AD and BC, those who only embraced their culture.

They may cry out for diversity, but what they

really want is for everybody else to accept them.

But in doing so, they do not promote

love and peace, but division.

Where ever there is diversity

there will be division.

Because people’s hearts are not in the right place.

God has always been a God of equal opportunity.

God sees, as we do, there are differences between Jews

and Greeks, a difference between male and female.

But spiritually God sees we are all one…

Created in His image.  

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free,

male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

Anything less than the image of God

in us or our culture falls short of the

glory God who created us has for us.

Jesus did not accept

diversity for diversity sake. 

Diversity is not a fix all.

All matter…

Not one group over another.

  

Jesus was born to bring joy and peace and

diversity is working in His church around the world.

There is no greater model of diversity than the

church that is living out the message of Jesus.

All of us should realize that “we can come

as we are” but “not remain as we were”.

Look at the message of diversity

from the cultures of our world,..

 It is a message of division.

Look at the message of diversity Jesus was born for…

 It is a message of unity.

  

Only the God who created us can unite us.

When He does, we become better

families, cultures, males and females.

 

Scripture Reading

Luke 2:8-20 NIV

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.