I was recently invited to present a seminar on ‘Diversity in the Kingdom’ at a conference.1 Why is cultural/ethnic diversity so significant? And why is it part and parcel of the Christian life? It’s a bit of a primer, but I thought I’d share some snippets. (Scroll down for some cool stats of global Christianity, accompanied by swanky neon-coloured slides.)
It was also encouraging to receive feedback that my seminar unlocked something for several ethnic minority participants from the Global South. Something ‘clicked’ and they finally ‘got it’ – i.e. they weren’t just here in the UK to adapt and assimilate, but also to bring and share their vital contribution. I’m all for educating and empowering, so that felt like a big win.
Biblical Basis for Diversity
The Bible says a lot about diversity. Here are five key points of how the Bible advocates its importance:2
All humans created in God’s image (Genesis 1.27)
If you’re a human, you have status and value that results from the image of God. Everyone’s a bearer of God’s image, and worthy of dignity.
Great Commission (Matthew 28.19-20)
Jesus’ Great Commission to his disciples – including us – emphasises that mission transcends nations and borders, cultures and ethnicities. No nation is excluded from the good news and call of Jesus, and God ‘desires everyone to be saved’ (1 Timothy 2.4).
Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2)
The Holy Spirit was first poured out on all flesh at Pentecost (and still is today). The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began testifying about Jesus in multiple languages. This was the birth of the Church, which spread far and wide from West Asia to the ends of the earth.
Body of Christ is inclusive and diverse (1 Corinthians 12)
The Church is one body with many members. Every single member of the body is vital and indispensable. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to each member to build us up.
Prophetic vision of God’s people (Revelation 7.9-10)
This vision of the end times when Jesus returns again reveals that God’s Kingdom comprises and will comprise every people group, language and nation. It’s a beautiful picture of God’s Kingdom that we pray and strive for now so we can have a foretaste of heaven.
The Bible attests to the beauty and significance of diversity, right from the very beginning in Genesis, all the way to the very end in Revelation. The whole sweep of scripture testifies to God’s love and salvation for everyone.
Western vs Global Context
What’s our current context in the UK? Christianity is now a minority religion. There are 67 million people in the UK. In the 2021 Census, 46% said they were Christian – less than half the population. In contrast, 22.2 million said they have ‘no religion’ – that’s one third of the population.
Now let’s zoom out and look at the wider world. Here are some astonishing stats of the make-up of Christians worldwide in 1910 and 2010 (according to a 2011 report by the Pew Research Center):
1910: % of Global Christianity – GLOBAL NORTH
2010: % of Global Christianity – GLOBAL NORTH
2010: % of Global Christianity – GLOBAL SOUTH
We see an astounding shift that took place over 100 years: the majority of Christians worldwide now come from the Global South instead of the Global North.
Here are even more mind-blowing stats of the current global Christian population and distribution (according to a 2021 study by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary):
How many Christians are there in the GLOBAL NORTH?
How many Christians are there in the GLOBAL SOUTH?
It’s hard to grasp such big numbers, but consider how there are 80 million Christians in Nigeria alone – which is more than the entire UK population. Or 67 million Christians in China – again, that’s the entire UK population. Christianity is no longer a white and western religion – it was never meant to be – and it’s growing and thriving in so many different parts of the world. There’s a commonly quoted saying:
Let’s return to the UK context. Sure, numbers might be declining, but there are still churches which are growing and thriving. Many are immigrant churches, such as Nigerian Pentecostal churches. In fact, the fastest-growing church in the UK right now is actually the Chinese church, which rose 29% in just two years. According to a 2023 report by Bible Society, 27 new congregations were established, boosted by Hong Kong migrants (total of 184,700 in the last three years).
The UK is only going to get more diverse, and so is the whole of the West. Ethnic minority numbers have already risen to 18.3% in the UK (2021 Census), and in the US to 40% (2020 Census). And churches are places where people from all backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures are drawn to; churches are actual living testimonies of unity in diversity.
‘Bringing to the Table’
We’ve seen shifts in western society towards accepting and embracing people’s cultural/ethnic backgrounds. It’s beautiful to see diverse communities striving to live together in peace and harmony. And churches should be the first to model this: one common identity in Christ, yet so diverse. But it’s not just enough being multiethnic or multicultural. We need to proactively learn from each other’s cultures – a mutual sharing and blessing.
Everything is contextual. People have different ways of being and doing, including church and faith expressions. And sometimes that can be uncomfortable because it grates against our understanding or expectation of what is ‘normal’ or ‘common sense’. But we – all together – form the body of Christ. We are a diverse people made in the image of a diverse God. The more we learn about/from each other, the more we learn about the God in whose image we’ve all been made – and then we can love God and love our neighbour better.
I like the phrase of ‘bringing to the table’ – like an international potluck, where everyone brings something to contribute, to share the riches of their cultures and experiences, so others can enjoy it too. Picture a dining table with foods from around the world. Some things you’ll lap up and find delicious even if new; other things you might not necessarily like, but if you keep at it, it can become an acquired taste.
Those who’ve been marginalised: be confident and proud of what you bring to the table!
Those already used to being at the table and having your voice heard: make space at the table for others!
Our cultures are beautiful. But remember that culture isn’t ultimate or perfect. God is transforming all of us – including our cultures. All cultures and peoples need redeeming. So let’s be open, let’s be teachable, let’s have ‘cultural humility’. No one person or culture has got it all figured out about the Christian faith. We all have our weaknesses and blind spots, which is why we need each other to help point them out. Let’s listen and learn from each other – get to know each person you meet, listen to their story, understand their point of view. The more perspectives we learn, the more we see and understand God better.
Conclusion: Unity in Diversity
We are inherently relational because we are made in the image of a relational God. We need each other, and although that has its challenges, that should also serve as a comfort to us. We’re all siblings, all companions. The one Holy Spirit dwells in each of us, unifying us as the one body of Christ.
What do we aim for? Unity in diversity, not unity in conformity. We’re not all the same. Yes, our identity in Christ is ultimate, but that doesn’t mean we dismiss, erase or ignore other aspects of our identity. They matter. You matter, God created you as you. This same God sent Jesus to be a real-life person in a real-life context. No, the goal isn’t to erase our differences and be all the same. The goal is to learn about and from each other’s unique experiences and perspectives. Remember, we are a diverse people made in the image of a diverse God, a global Church composed of all 2.6 billion of us.
‘Kingdom’ refers to the sphere of God’s reign. When we pray ‘Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’, we want to see God’s Kingdom on earth – characterised by perfect justice and righteousness and joy and peace and healing and everything else that’s part of God’s goodness. We don’t see God’s Kingdom fully on earth yet – the world is still very broken, full of sin and evil – but Jesus began to usher in the Kingdom 2,000 years ago, and he partners with us, his Church, to carry on that mission.
I’ve adapted and expanded J. Daniel Hays’ three points found in his book From every People and Nation: A biblical theology of race (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003).