Diverse but not divided

The scripture calls us to live in such a way that shows honor, unconditional love for our neighbor and love, appears daily. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul encourages us to live out our everyday life situations and emotions «rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep» (Romans 12:15).

At the very heart of what loving our neighbor is all about, being willing to stand alongside one another throughout all of life’s ebbs and flows. Being there for each other, standing alongside, though expressing it, has to mean enough to do the work of understanding the situation the neighbors are facing.

Though it may not appear so to the world around us, we live in a verse community. But our diversity is a treasure from God, not a curse, well as pressures come from beyond our borders and lead our differences to feel that, in many ways, they are alone and not understood. For many, that is what is often crisscrossed outlined in the news media about a lot of people’s lives, but to others they are very real.

In our personal lives we have become a part of everyday life. Just a few months ago, I was hurt from a friend and colleague asking to share how we go about unity/diversity. This brother was hurting, deeply concerned, and when, after he called, I was greeted by a voice that was deeply concerned, expressing a feeling that was beyond my ability to fully understand.

The deep concern was the voice of my brother-in-Christ, Saul Sauceda, pastoring at Rose Garden Recovery Community in Cromwell. Saul was intent on having someone understand his concern and his pain. Here was a reality that was not my own, I had to stop in my tracks and recognize my own lack of understanding. The deep pain here was about this brother Saul is my brother. He needed me to simply listen. The reality that, like Saul, is hurting and desires a lot.

Over breakfast the next day, I heard a fully active, daily reality that many in our community are facing. I was challenged to not be so ignorant of the depth of the hurt others in my community face. This was a test for me. As if through Paul, Paul was asking me, «Will you take the time to understand your brother’s deep sadness as he weeps, stand alongside him? Will you weep with your brother as he weeps? Will you stand with him so he knows he does not stand alone?»

Throughout our community our Lord is challenging us to identify the hurt and suffering alone surrounded by those who just don’t understand the fear or sadness they are facing. It is time, as Jesus’ disciples, to stand alongside, being subject to suspicion and questioning of even the most innocent or language barrier. The call to stand with all of us must be the initiative and step across the perceived division. We might have to hear our neighbor’s cares and sorrows, together, as one body—put a time for building higher walls, but a time for better understanding rather than dividing, in order to reach out and love our neighbors and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

There are lots of layers of issues that has people within our community, feeling marginalized and alone, misunderstood and unloved. We must take time to not only weep to be willing to do the work of understanding, but also to share in their joys, their sorrows and their fears, standing in the gap for others or to stand together.

Our community is indeed diverse, but not divided, by Christ. Jesus Christ, the head of the church, does not necessitate uniformity. Truly, beauty comes from the whole spectrum of diversity amidst our diversity. There is no private ownership of the body of Christ, nor is there a rich or needy part. We are all one, a unique, glorious, one body of Christ. Through this unity is made beautiful in our diversity. Our neighbor in the community may know his love for each as one who does not need to hurt or suffer alone.

Since Jesus, the Christ, Jesus emphasizes to his disciples the need for believers to reflect the unity within the Trinity (John 17:21). This unity is not merely organizational (like we have through the Ministerial Association), but spiritual, rooted in shared faith and love.

The Body of Christ is to remember: to be a future united body of believers to be a united spiritual diverse unity, showing the vital spiritual connection between the Father and The Son.

Sadly, we have all too often been bombarded with political views about things we can divide rather than unite. It’s easy to forget we have the gifts of Christ’s Tears, purchased by the blood of Jesus, and can be found in him from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. It is our hope to call us to fulfill God’s calling in these last days. We are called to establish his kingdom.

We need to understand that from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force (Matthew 11:12). Every member of Christ manifests his glory and his unity and is the heart of God’s plan since the foundation of the world. We cannot and must not stand on the sidelines; our participation must determine to be the men and women of God who will courageously establish his kingdom.

**Pastors, Ministers, Ministerial Association pastors want to invite all the people (Church leaders, and prayer warriors of the Waukesee area) to a Prayer Event focused on Hispanic pastors, trials and tribulations, as a new beginning Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at 7 PM. It will be at S.S. New Beginning Church.