whose worldviews are at odds with
yours with the kind of love described in 1
Corinthians 13. But what does that look
like in practical terms? What follows are
some practical strategies that will help
you transform the rancor and ugliness
sometimes associated with diversity
into positive, productive dialogue and
engagement.
• Look for Common Ground. There is
almost always more common ground
between people than differences. Even
people of different races, genders, sexual
identities, religions, and political views
share more similarities than differences.
Regardless of their worldviews, people
tend to share similar desires, ambitions,
hopes, fears, and needs. The key to
bridging gaps that might be created by
human differences is to look for common
ground with people. Commonalities like
children, grandchildren, hobbies, work,
and sports can give people of vastly
different worldviews enough in common
to build relationships that allow them
to turn down the volume on issues of
disagreement, start listening to each
other, and even disagree without being
disagreeable.
• Relate to People as Individuals.
Regardless of diversity factors, people are
individuals. Consequently, the appropriate
way to deal with people is as individuals
created by God, not as members of groups
defined by race, gender, culture, politics,
sexual identity, or religion. God not only
created every person who ever lived,
He created them as individuals. This is
the message of Psalms 139:13-14. God
created us as individuals, not as members
of groups defined by diversity-related
traits. Consequently, it is incumbent on us
to treat each other as individuals created
by God rather than as members of groups.
• Associate, Don’t Validate. When the
great theologian, Charles Spurgeon, said
words to the effect that all Christians are
missionaries, he didn’t mean we are all
called to travel to far-off lands to spread
the Gospel. Rather, he meant that we are
to serve where God plants us. Wherever
“
Until people on both sides
are willing to stop the
outrage and start to engage,
no progress will be made.
18 • Solutions