Christian Response to Diversity Paper

Diversity is a crucial aspect of human society. Some of the characteristics of human diversity include gender, race, and sexual preferences. These characteristics form the basis of individual or group uniqueness. Interpersonal connections and intercultural exchanges rely heavily on diversity because it is a construct that shapes debates on gender, race, and sexual preferences. The question of diversity is prominent in Christianity with different teachings and views defining debates on gender, race, and sexual preferences. There are different and opposing schools of thought among Christians concerning the mentioned elements of diversity, an aspect that underscores the weightiness of the topic. Across the entire spectrum of diversity and the associated conversation, especially from a Christian perspective and factoring the controversies that surround the subject, one acknowledges the need to extrapolate these issues based on Biblical teachings. For example, the issue of same-sex marriages has triggered raging debates among Christianity scholars, which proves that the subject of diversity is essential. The controversies surrounding the above aspects of diversity, notwithstanding, any conversations must be premised on Biblical teachings. Gender, race, and sexual preferences, which are key definitive elements of diversity, are associated with controversial perspectives that conflict with Christian teachings and can trigger extreme religious divisions if not addressed from a Biblical viewpoint. 

Sexual Preferences: Addressing the Conflict between Heterosexuality and Same-gender from a Christian Perspective 

Sexuality is a crucial definitive aspect of humanity that is God-given. With modernity becoming entrenched worldwide, sexual preference has become a sensitive subject, especially among Christians. The heightened revolution on sexual preferences can be traced to the mid-20th century, the post-gender era, when the Western world became liberally advanced. Social campaigns to force society to accept other types of sexuality besides heterosexual relationships were popular in the 1960s. These included free love and transgenderism, and they have advanced to the modern-day debates on lesbianism, gay relationship, bisexual, and transgender and queer personalities (LGBTQ) (Butterfield, 2016). For example, in the recent past, the courts have made several landmark rulings that favored unrestrained sexual preferences explorations. As such, there are heightened campaigns for LGBTQ in the media and internet platforms. What people could not openly debate has now become celebrated and promoted across the world. Countries that were considered conservative are currently experiencing an influx of liberal sexual ideologies. The rise of these movements has caused disunions in the Church because the Bible teaches against them. However, since there are members of the LGBTQ movement within the Church, Christians need to accommodate and guide them with love and understanding.

The Church has positioned itself at the center of the debate on sexual preferences. There are those Christians who think that being in same-sex relationships is wrong, while others, including members of the LGBTQ, feel that the Church should be accommodative. Christianity scholars, leaders, and opinion shapers are engaged in fierce debates on what position should take, which has resulted in cracks emerging within the Church. LGBTQ movement is rapidly growing, and it is not justifiable to ignore their place in society. A section of Christian fraternity has been a significant source of antigay rhetoric, with groups such as the Moral Majority being a prominent supporter of heterosexual ideologies (Rodriguez, 2010). It is common Christian teaching to love one's neighbor, which also translates to being accommodative of individual human behaviors. People have diverse behaviors which Christians should not use to judge each other since judgment is only for God. Nevertheless, it is essential to have Biblical perspectives on sexual preferences. From the beginning of creation in Genesis 2:24, God defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman with Jesus Christ in Matthew 19:5 upholding this marriage position. In Mark 7:21, any sexual activity that is not heterosexual is described as "sexual immorality." Such Biblical teachings inform the stance Christians have towards people in same-sex intimate relationships such as gays and lesbians. According to Rodriguez (2010), it is difficult for those who uphold religious morality concerning sexual preference to accommodate those St. Mark describes as living in sexual immorality. It is common for Christians, including their religious leaders, to influence people with LGBTQ tendencies to become straight and engage in heterosexual relationships.

However, one would question the moral standing of Christians and their leaders to judge others based on sexuality. The Bible teaches that Christianity should thrive on love, and Christians should leave judgment to God. Joo (2015) writes that the 21st-century society faces a host of social problems with marriage and sexuality having been severely distorted. The author terms the LGBTQ movement as a champion of sexual corruption, one of the leading foundations on which God will judge people. However, although homosexuality is a sin, according to the Bible, the Church should accommodate LGBTQ individuals with love and help address their problem. Acts 8:26-39, the Bible talks about inclusion and not exclusion, whereby St. Luke discusses establishing a foundation for the inclusion of Eunuchs in the Christian society. The teaching on inclusion can be expanded to encompass the acceptance of people with other odd sexual preferences. Inclusion should be based on the premises of love and not judgment, with prayers and Christian counseling being the tools used to guide gays, queers, lesbians, and bisexuals to conform to God's teachings. Christian scholars have not only focused on the LGBTQ aspect of sexual preferences, but they study other areas such as premarital sex and teenage pregnancies. Joo (2015) emphasizes that God has bestowed on Christians the work of alleviating the social issues facing modern society. Christians are mandated with the responsibility of educating people to live according to God's word. Christians must learn to base their sexual preferences and other associated issues on Biblical teachings. Christian leaders and opinion shapers must concentrate their efforts on guiding Christians and especially teenagers and adults on the correct approach to sexuality. 

The Church should focus on establishing a foundation on which they will help those in sexual immorality, especially LGBTQ individuals. It is, however, important to note of the contradictory relationship between Christianity and conversations on sexual preferences. Such a conflict forms the basis on which future generation will be misguided, thus leading to the total disintegration of moral fabrics which Christians teaching are struggling to establish. There is a need to address same-sex relationships in society and endeavor, based on Biblical teachings. For instance, according to Nkosi and Masson (2017), young people, especially those in universities, face numerous challenges that touch on psychological wellness, self-esteem, and identity. The Church should make concerted efforts to teach those with immoral sexual preferences of God’s wrath. In Roman 3: 18-20, Paul talks about God's anger to the Gentile society, which in verse 28, he says they have shifted from natural to unnatural relationships. The need for youths to fit in due to influence from the media and the internet and peer pressure places them in a precarious self-destruction path. The distorted desires of same-sex relationships are evidence that those who practice them have turned away from God. 1 Corinthians6:9-10 says that those who are not righteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Paul explicitly states that neither the “sexually immoral” … “nor men who practice homosexuality” will inherit God’s Kingdom. Principles of Christianity concerning heterosexuality have always promoted heterosexuality and do not advocate for same-sex relationships or heterosexuality (Nkosi & Masson, 2017). All Christians should uphold this; however, for those in same-gender and other queer sexual behaviors; the Church should handle them with love. The Church should end the conflicting debates among its members on sexual preferences by making the Biblical position known and working to have inclusivity mechanisms.

For Christianity researchers to elevate the divide between sexuality and religion, they must base their efforts on theories that underlie the two subjects (Rodriguez, 2010). These modern theories provide a new paradigm that will allow Christians to view all people despite their sexual inclination as spiritual beings. The Church should consider establishing an accommodative environment where each person feels safe without encountering judgmental attitudes from the rest of congregations and its leadership. For instance, churches should be LGBTQ friendly and LGBTQ positive. Also, churches should consider empowering LGBTQ members by helping them understand God's purpose in their sexual preferences. On the other hand, scholars should assist the Church's leadership in achieving the inclusivity agenda where all persons are welcome to the Lord's sanctuary. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. The Church has no basis for segregating some members due to their sexuality. God loves all people, and the Church should welcome all people and use scriptures and prayers to guide those who have been misled by modern trends. In Romans 3:23, Christ Jesus says that all have sinned and transgressed from God's glory. Indeed, this verse affirms that all humans are sinners, and there is no greater sin than the other. From this Biblical principle, the Church should not direct destructive criticism at those who have sexual preferences that do not align with Christ's teaching but should use Biblical teachings to guide them.

Gender: Issue of Gender Inequality from a Christian Perspective 

In contemporary society, gender equality is at the center of Christian conversations. Gender concerns in a society undergoing immense globalization aim to highlight the gender divide between men and women. Particularly, the efforts focus on human rights as society aims to reduce the gender gap that has been in existence for a long time. Across the religion spectrum, gender inequality has largely been a nonissue until its acknowledgment in recent times. Roman Catholics and evangelical protestants began to implement ideologies geared at addressing the gender gap in recent decades. The Christian religion's continued ignorance of gender equality shows that the Church was not ready to address gender diversity. A 2014 research conducted by Pew Research Center, women in the US, were more likely to remain Christianity that men as the latter accepted to have a lukewarm attitude towards prayers ( Pew Research Center, 2016 ). However, the research established that churches in the US are gradually implementing measures to bridge this gap. Churches are changing décor, music, worship styles, and preaching approaches to accommodate all gender differences. Gender diversity plays a crucial in shaping the identity of members of the society, providing a platform for participation in decision making, and informing conversations around domestic dynamics. Gender inequality is deeply entrenched in society, with different studies attempting to explain this social construct. Also, one will find that different Biblical teachings have different outlooks on gender and its associated subject on equality. 

Over the years, the gender divide has increasingly attracted attention from different spheres of human society, including the Church. Fundamentally, women's gender issues, especially on violence and inequality, have gained growing recognition from Christian scholars. Kohm (2008) attempts to explain gender equality in the context of law while basing her arguments on the Christianity worldview. The author established that today Christianity has a significant impact on gender equality since, in different jurisprudences, Christian teachings have profoundly influenced the law. In Ephesians 5:22, the Bible teaches that there a should be no divisions dividing God's people and particularly states that "there is neither male nor female. In this book, Apostle Paul makes a case for equality between the genders, stating that Christians should not let any divisions emerge between men and women. However, Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14:34, authorizes women to take a backseat in Church and submit to their husbands at home as unto they do unto to the Lord. In this verse, the Bible gives more power to men both in Church and at home, while in Ephesians 5:22, the Bible commands that there should be no greater gender than the other. From these two Bible verses, one recognizes the conflict that can be drawn from Biblical Christian teaching. Kohm (2012) writes that the gender divide is prominent among Christian scholars, with women scholars relegated to a weak second position. Much of women's Christian scholarly work has not been recognized, which evidences the huge divide between places bestowed on women and men by society.

Race: Issue of Racism and Christian Viewpoint 

Similar to gender equality and sexual preference issues, the subject on race is sensitive, especially when it comes to the racism that defines modern-day society. The world is made up of different races, with some viewing others as inferior to them. Scholars and church leaders are ever trying to find ways of articulating the racialized society's spiritual impact. Racism is all about making a judgment of a race to label them as inferior or superior. Due to these labels, racist people come off as having partiality towards people from particular races. Racism is a societal problem that cannot be ignored despite persisting throughout history. Christianity, as one of the mainstream religions, has, over the years, been at the center of racism debates, and today, Church leaders are positioning themselves as opinion shapers. Brown (2019) writes that it is an oxymoron to have debates about racism in the Church since the doctrines of Christianity do not advocate for the principles of racism. It is important to note that racism has been in the Church throughout history with its impacts rocking the Church from the inside. Racism has made it difficult for Christians to profess Christianity while maintaining prejudiced principles that support racists ideologies. In the US, the Church focuses on rising from the racist issues created by the institution of slavery, which were partly supported by the Christian Church. Christ Jesus teaches that people should not be divided but should remain together in God's love.

Christian teachings on racism, especially in the New Testament, are hinged on the principle unity among followers of Christ Jesus. In the first century AD, it was common to assign different labels to different races whereby foreigners could be enslaved, making it difficult for them to live freely. Jesus mentions this in Matthew 18:21-25, whereby he talks about the King, who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. During this time, the Church was characterized by a key division between Jews and Gentiles, with the former forcing the latter to convert to Jewish rituals. The Jewish position was that their way of worship was superior to that of the Gentiles. However, Paul in Romans 10:2 addresses this fragmentation along racial lines by saying, "There is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him. However, historians have records showing that during the birth of countries such as the US, the Church was highly biased towards certain races despite the countries founded on the principle of religious freedom (Brown, 2019). Due to the corrupted will of human beings, Christians find it difficult to shun the acceptable wrong but opt for difficult moral behavior. Consequently, the Church has become significantly complacent toward vices such as racism, appearing like it supports racist ideologies. It is the prerogative of the Church leadership to enlighten and awaken Christians' consciences about the negative impact of racism.

Racism, as a vice, should not be entrenched in Christianity. Still, Church leaders should help Christians shun it just as Philip helped the Ethiopian Eunuch understand Christ's teachings. Similarly, Christians who understand the impacts of racism should help those who do not know have that knowledge. In Genesis 1:27, God says that each person was created in his own image while in James 2:9, the scripture says that "But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors." God acknowledges that all humans have a Godly disposition and that having racist tendencies, which is tantamount to partiality, will disconnect one from God because it is a sin and also result in punishment by law. Christianity should not be about separation. Rather Christians should base their thoughts and actions on inclusion and unity since, in Galatians 3:28, Jesus Christ laid a foundation on which all people would be included in the people and promises of God. Racism among Christians manifests itself through conflicting attitudes, intolerance, and prejudice towards other races (Pontifical Justice and Peace, 2017). The aforementioned aspects contain racist elements. Brown (2019) notes that the Church in the Western world is already accustomed to the social and political realities of race because the conceptualization of race as a social construct did not happen in a vacuum. As the Western Church was taking root in Europe, Europeans had already shipped Africans to their countries and labeled them as heathens. The Church focused on converting slaves to Christianity without alleviating the economic status or helping cushion them from racist tendencies. The Church today should find solutions that will address the debate among Christians concerning racism.

Summary

Diversity is a significant identifier of the human society that people of all walks of life must understand and purpose to integrate its principles in their lives. Regarding diversity, there are several key definitive traits that are characteristic of modern society. These include race, gender, and sexual preferences. Today, one will find that these aspects of human diversity elicit sensitive debates across the globe, especially due to the current trends of modernization. The Church and, therefore, Christians are the center of these debates, and in some cases, Christians find themselves advancing ideologies of exclusion due to the diversity of fellow human beings. The issue of sexual preferences particularly elicits conversations on heterosexuals and LGBTQ, with the latter facing challenges integrating with the rest of Christian congregations. Heterosexual Christians view their LGBTQ colleagues as not living according to Biblical teaching. However, Christianity should be about love, inclusion, and prayers, which are effective tools to change one's wayward behaviors. Concerning race, the challenge of racism emerges, which is also a concern in the Church. God, through the teachings of the Bible, commands the Church to remove any divisions that exist along the lines of race. Last, the gender aspect of diversity creates the issue of the gender of equality, and similar to the other two elements, God's dictates are that the society should ensure that men and women should have equal chances, and no gender should be superior to the other. Diversity from a Christian perspective should be all about inclusion, love, and understanding. Diversity in society and thus in Church calls for Christian leaders, opinion shapers, and Christians to follow the teachings of the Bible, which emphasize on love and understanding. With these two, it will be possible to achieve the needed inclusion of human diverseness.

References

Brown, A. (2019). Racism and the Christian Church in America: Caught between the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Social Work in Public Health ,  34 (1), 134-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2019.1566111

Butterfield, R. (2016).  How Sexual Orientation Became the Idol of Our Day and What Christians Need to Do About It . FRC. Retrieved 13 September 2020, from www.frc.org/university/how-sexual-orientation-became-the-idol-of-our-day-and-what-christians-need-to-do-about-it .

English Standard Version, 2016, Bible.com. www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.1.ESV

Joo, C. (2015). Marriage and Sexuality in Terms of Christian Theological Education.  Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences ,  174 , 3940-3947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.1137

Kohm, L. M. (2008). A Christian perspective on gender equality.  Duke J. Gender L. & Pol'y ,  15 , 339.

Nkosi, S., & Masson, F. (2017). Christianity and homosexuality: Contradictory or complementary? A qualitative study of the experiences of Christian homosexual university students.  South African Journal of Higher Education ,  31 (4), 72-93.

Pew Research Center (2016) . The Gender Gap in Religion Around the World . Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved 13 September 2020, from www.pewforum.org/2016/03/22/the-gender-gap-in-religion-around-the-world/ .

Pontifical Justice and Peace . (2017). The Church and Racism: Toward a More Fraternal Society.  The Catholic Lawyer ,  32 (4), 2.

Rodriguez, E. (2010). At the Intersection of Church and Gay: A Review of the Psychological Research on Gay and Lesbian Christians.  Journal of Homosexuality ,  57 (1), 5-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918360903445806