A larger image of God

One thing that I dream of is being part of a diverse “congregation.” I’m using that term loosely. I’m told by many people that it’s just not realistic in South Central PA to have a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-lingual “congregation” in a mainline denomination such as the ELCA, which is what I’m a part of.

I think that’s sad.

And I take that as a bit of a challenge too.

See, I don’t desire diversity for its own sake. Or for some kind of political agenda (I’m not sure what agenda that would be actually). Or because such a congregation would somehow be without problems (it would be made up of people and anywhere there are people, there are problems — the problems might look different, but there would certainly be problems).

None of that or a whole host of reasons. Nope. The main reason I yearn for such diversity in a religious setting is simple. When I’m in a setting that is all one race, one culture, one language, I only get to experience one small sliver of the image of God. And I miss experiencing the wider spectrum of who God is. Why wouldn’t I want to encounter and experience more of who God is?

If humans are made in the image and likeness of God, then when I encounter more diversity in humanity, I am encountering more diversity in the image and likeness of God. That brings me great joy. It challenges me. It causes me to learn and grow. It makes me think. I have to stop and unlearn some things. I have to look at what I’m assuming and expecting and see how reality…