Martin Luther King, Jr., and a Look at Diversity

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. The holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Born in 1929, King’s actual birthday is January 15.

Like all men, Rev. Marin Luther King, Jr. had his strengths and weaknesses. His greatest strength was calling the church and society in the United States to recognize all African Americans as fully human, emphasizing that “all men are created in the image of God.”

All Men’s Ministries Need A Diversity of Men

Martin Luther King battled against racism and promoted diversity. All men’s ministries in our various churches should also speak out against the sin of racism. Diversity in the body of Christ is a beautiful and optimal component.

Jesus longs for Christian men to befriend those from various social, economic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as from differing races and ethnicities, just as he did. All are welcome and needed in the body of Christ, the Church.

The Apostle James, one of the first church leaders, warned: “For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?” (James 2:2-4).

Therefore, men of all levels of economic standing are to be welcomed in the Church. Financial distinctions never promote unity in the body.

The same prohibition against discrimination applies to age. The Apostle Paul encouraged his protégé in the ministry: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12). Men of all ages and experiences should also be welcomed in the Church. Age discrimination never promotes unity in the body.

Finally, the same prohibition against discrimination applies to race. Before his Ascension, Jesus personally reminded His disciples: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Men of all nations are welcome in the Church. Geographic and racial discrimination never promote unity in the body.

All Men’s Ministries Need A Diversity of Gifts

Not only should the body of Christ exhibit a diversity of men, it should also exhibit a diversity of gifts. This is because believers in Jesus, each Christ-follower, possesses different gifts and talents that, when activated and employed with the proper motives, encourage unity in the body. Paul wrote, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). You and your gifts are vitally important in the body of Christ! You may not yet know what you do best in the body. Have you prayed, and discussed with other men, discovering the critical contribution you must make?

Paul wrote, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8).

A Diversity of Men and Gifts in Men’s Ministries Helps Them Exhibit the Beauty of the Kingdom of God

Each of us should strive for unity in the body of Christ. Further, the person and work of Jesus Christ serves as the basis for that desired unity. Moreover, since Jesus is calling all men to Himself, a diversity of men and gifts is required. There is no partiality with God; he uses men from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Both unity and diversity are beautiful components of the in-breaking Kingdom.

Are You and Your Men’s Ministry Working to Promote These Values?

So, this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day ask yourself if you and your men’s ministry are working to promote the following values: 

Promoting Unity: Promoting one body, in Christ, with all men who have all kinds of backgrounds and gifts working toward the same purpose of reaching lost people and building up believers. All working together in humility to bring glory to God, just as Jesus prayed to the Father, “…that they may be one even as We are” (John 17:11b).

Promoting Diversity: Promoting the many different people and gifts that make up the body of Christ. The great variety of nationalities, ethnicities, styles, and temperaments that comprise the Church. “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function…” (Romans 12:4).

Promoting Reconciliation: Promoting the restoration of friendly relations. Through the shed blood of Christ, we are reconciled to the Father. Since we are reconciled to God, we should be reconciled and work at being reconciled to others. “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

Rejecting Prejudice, Racism, and Bigotry: Rejecting preconceived thoughts and opinions not based on reason or actual experience (prejudice). Rejecting discrimination and antagonism based on race (racism). Rejecting obstinate and unreasonable opinions about a group of people (bigotry). Prejudice, racism and bigotry have no place in the life of the Christian or the Church. “For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:11).

© Dr. Paul Pettit

This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.

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