I confess. I can be nitpicky when it comes to words. I’ll blame it in part on my linguistics training and on my annoying preference for verbal precision.
But please don’t get me wrong either. When I say that “diversity” shouldn’t have a prominent place in the church’s vocabulary, I am not referring the wonderful and beautiful mosaic we celebrate in our Covenant church as a whole. Nor am I wanting to venture into the fraught political scuffles that are testing the patience of our country. Though unfortunately some readers may have already shut me out for merely mentioning such a loaded, volatile word which is making notorious headlines these days.
I am talking about biblically faithful terminology, especially the English words that we commonly use, not the reality that we mean to describe when we use such words. I simply would like to make the case that “diversity” does not appropriately reflect the biblical image and message about creation, humanity, and especially the church. I want us to experiment with using a different word altogether.
First, we’re using the wrong word.
Why do we in the church talk about diversity among us at all? Diversity means differing, it means unlikeness. The word may sound innocent enough when we use it for, say, “diversity of languages” or “diversity of races”. But what about the phrase “diversity of opinions”? “Diverse opinions” means differing viewpoints which are headed in different directions, often conflicting directions. What about when the Scriptures call us to be of one mind of one spirit?
The word diversity is related to the verb “to divert”. To divert means to turn in opposite directions or to turn off course. The idea of diversity connotes the idea of moving outward and apart and away from the center.
Biblically speaking, diversity is connected to the story of the Tower of Babel. Think of the diversity which God imposed on the human race. It was intended to confound and confuse. The Lord scattered humanity (Genesis 11:8,9). The Hebrew word translated as “scatter” is puutz. Puutz is also sometimes translated “disperse” or even “dash to pieces”. The Greek word here in the LXX is diaspeiro from which we get the word diaspora. All this diversity is God’s judgment against human arrogance at Babel.
But God graciously reversed the effects of all this complicating diversity. God through the Holy Spirit overcame this confusion of languages in the miracle of Pentecost when he brought dispersed people of diverse languages together. His powerful outpouring helped each one to hear the same unifying message of the gospel. They came together, believed, and the universal Church, the one true Church, was born.
Diversity in general means to be different and distinct. There may be times when this is desirable and times when this is not. But the words “diverse” and “diversity” never occur anywhere in the NIV or the NASB. When God’s people are told to seek diversity or to be different, it is only for one of two purposes: first, to keep themselves distinct from those who are not God’s people and “the world” (i.e., to be set apart and holy) or second, to exercise the different gifts of the Holy Spirit in ministry. (1 Corinthians 12:4-12; Hebrews 2:4) Differentiation—or “diversity” if we must use the word—is appropriate when talking about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is so that the singular Body of Christ can be complete as its various members serve as the eyes or hands or ears of the Body. We need to diversify our gifts and ministries to be more effective and to carry out our mission.
If “diversity” is the wrong word, what should we say instead? I suggest the preferred word is “variety”.
Variety is rooted in the creative work of God. “And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:11-12, 20-21). Variety was an essential element preserved on Noah’s ark through the Flood (Genesis 7:2-3). The word “various” (a form of the word “variety”) is used repeatedly throughout both the NIV and NASB though admittedly not referring to or describing the Church.
Variety is the nature of the environment out of which and in which life on this planet goes forward. Variety is a testimony of God’s wonderful creativity. Variety is the spice of life (see 2 Chr 16:14). Variety of materials, colors, sizes, textures, shapes come together and are useful in a craftsman’s hands (see 1 Chr 29:2). All smells and sights and sounds and sensations contrast and blend and show forth beauty. Psalm 104 celebrates the wondrous variety of God’s universe which serves to clothe him with splendor and majesty. All of it, from the distant galaxies down to a wild donkey drinking water in a remote mountain ravine, has the unified purpose of glorifying the Lord. Variety. Together.
In the Covenant we capture this idea of beautiful variety when we describe Christ’s church as a mosaic. We are of many colors and languages and cultures united in one tableau.
Is it just me, or doesn’t “variety of languages” seem more pleasant and desirable than “diversity of languages”? To me “a variety of colors” just sounds more appealing than “a diversity of colors”. It just sounds nicer, more appealing.
When trying to make an important decision in a group doesn’t it seem more constructive to say we are “listening for a variety of points of view” than “calling for a diversity of opinions”? Variety opens possibilities, diversity leads to tensions.
Second, we’re aiming for the wrong goal.
Even if we agree to drop the word “diversity” and replacing it with “variety”, we miss the point. Diversity is not our intended goal and neither is variety. The word “variety” does not carry with it any connotation of direction or movement towards or away from our real goal or a purpose. Variety just is.
But variety is not necessarily better than a lack of variety. I find that a bouquet of flowers with reds and yellows and pinks and violets is a feast for the eyes. But I also find that a bouquet of only red roses is wonderfully beautiful; as is a bouquet of nothing but daisies.
Likewise, a solo trumpet when played well is marvelous. A brass quartet adds depth and richness but loses clarity. And a full orchestra with the complete variety of strings and woodwinds and percussion has the greatest versatility and power but loses simplicity.
Likewise, also, there can be great beauty in a monochromatic, monolingual and monocultural celebration of the Lord’s Supper. And, there is great beauty in a multichromatic, multilingual, multicultural expression of the same if it is carried forward in an orderly fashion. Why? Because in both the goal is unity of devotion. It’s all about harmony and blending and worship, not variety. And certainly not diversity.
Since variety is simply a descriptor word. It has value, but it is not the goal or the prize. Variety should be appreciated and enjoyed as a beautiful thing but never targeted as an end in itself.
A composer begins with a musical idea in mind and seeks out the right instrumentation to reach that idea. Sometimes variety and sometimes not. And even the transitions from many instruments to one soloist and back again to full orchestra provide variety -- a variety of styles.
If the aim of an orchestra is merely a diversity of sounds, then the result is a horrid cacophony. But if the goal of an assembly of various (not diverse) musicians is to express the musical idea of a composer faithfully, then they will learn to orchestrate their various instruments and talents. And beautiful harmony will flow forth. And unity of purpose will prevail.
Variety is like colors on a painter’s palette. But the goal is the final painting, not the palette. If we say our goal is either variety, then we are focusing on the palette. It is the canvas and the masterpiece we want to behold.
As a church what should our goal be? Read the Bible. What does it say? Our goal in this regard ought to be unity. Many passages call us to unity. (Psalms 133; John 17:22-23; Romans 15:5-6; Ephesians 4:2-6,11-13; Colossians 3:12-15). These six scriptures contain every occurrence where the word “unity” appears in the NIV. There are scores of other passages where the idea of unity is presented using other terminology.
The goal is never diversity, it is always unity. If we can enjoy and celebrate some variety along the way, ah, so much the better.