Diversity in the church

https://odb.org/2026/01/19/from-every-nation

Acts 10:30–35 (NIV): 30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

London is a cosmopolitan city, with people from many nations living side by side. This coming together of people from around the world can bring richness—including amazing food—but also challenges. For instance, I was saddened that friends from one European country felt they were the least respected in London because their country had been admitted to the European Union more recently. They felt overlooked, blamed for problems, and resented for the jobs they secured. Since God doesn’t show favoritism, neither should we. He breaks down barriers between people. We see His Spirit at work in Peter’s vision while praying on the rooftop, and how Peter was called to Cornelius, a God-fearing gentile. (Amy Boucher Pye, Our Daily Bread 19th January 2026)

The experience of the first generation Christians, in particular, the Apostles, in dealing with non-Jewish believers is testament to God’s acceptance of diversity in His family. In fact, God raised Paul, the brightest amongst the early Christians, to preach and reach out to the Greek-speaking world as Greek was the dominant language beyond Jerusalem and Samaria. In fact, John wrote about logos as the Word of God at the beginning in John 1 which, in a way, connected Greek philosophy with Jewish thought.

It is part of God’s plan that Peter accepted that the Way (as the faith was then known) should extend beyond the Jews because in the end, most Jews rejected Christ then and still do. If Christianity had remained a sect within Judaism, it would have died a natural death. The Old Covenant would remain in force and the era of grace through justification by faith in Christ would not have materialised. Instead the faith broke free from the clutches of the old and ancient ways and reached nearly every nation on earth that millions throughout the generations since the first century believed in and worshipped the name that is above all names!

Diversity in the church doesn’t extend to same-sex relationships and marriages. We accept the LBGT community if they repent and accept Christ but not their unnatural ways. We hold on to the bible standards that intimacy is between man and woman as God had intended for procreation and the building of the family unit. It is fortunate that although the West has largely given in to same-sex rights, the East remains conservative and traditional. Our disagreement to homosexuality doesn’t extend to the souls of those in the community. We still love everyone regardless of their background and sexual orientation but we draw the line when it comes to same-sex relationships no matter how unpopular we may be to Western eyes.

Have a good week ahead, everyone! May the wisdom and patience of God be upon us as we deal with the many issues at work! Amen!