Different

Who are you spending time with?

A friend came to hear me sing at an event a few summers ago. During a break, she made a thoughtful observation. “It’s very Caucasian here,” she said. She meant, of course, that nearly everyone in the crowd was white, like me.

Her comments caused me to be more observant of the people around me. What I have noticed is something I think is true for most of us. We are most comfortable being around those with whom we can identify. We would rather spend time with people who are in the same lifestage that we are in or speak a common language, as opposed to those different from us.

While there is nothing wrong with that, the danger comes when we surround ourselves all day, every day, with people who think just like us. We might begin to believe that our way of thinking is the only right way of thinking. It can breed intolerance toward others.

Perhaps the greatest tragedy in this phenomenon is that many churches are no different. There are several devices that the enemy uses to separate God's children from each other⸺not just ethnic differences, but also our opposing opinions and political stances. How can we reflect the beauty of the Church, an unlikely community of Jews and Gentiles, brought together by the saving work of Jesus?

It’s easy to make friends with someone who talks, lives and looks like us. But in a world where differences of opinion are often criticized, maybe we Christians can make more of an effort to befriend someone different from us.

Lord, help me be more deliberate about spending time with someone who looks, thinks and lives differently than I do. Guide me to listen to understand before sharing my opinions. Amen.

Throughout this Day: Begin to pray about how you can learn from those around you. When you come across Christians who talk, look or live differently from you, ask the Lord for humility and to open your eyes to see the beauty of his children.

Additional Resources: "When we learn to identify in Christ rather than in our commonalities, we begin to experience the depth and power of gospel unity." The book United by Trillia Newbell will inspire, challenge and encourage you to pursue the joys of a theology of diversity lived out. Another great book turned film is Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, the story of life-changing love in a very unlikely friendship.