Why is it important to welcome diverse groups into our church family today? Roots in the Exodus Story “A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with the flocks and herds, a great number of livestock.” (Exodus 12:38) • Israel’s very first steps as a redeemed nation were taken shoulder-to-shoulder with non-Israelites. • God did not complain about the “mixed multitude”; He inspired Moses to record their presence as an integral fact. • From the outset, salvation history has never been ethnically sealed. The LORD’s deliverance naturally drew in anyone who trusted His word and sheltered under the Passover blood. God’s Heart for All Peoples Throughout Scripture • Genesis 12:3 — “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” The Abrahamic covenant already eyed global inclusion. • Isaiah 56:6-7 — “Foreigners who join themselves to the LORD… these I will bring to My holy mountain.” • Psalm 87:4-6 — Gentiles are poetically registered as citizens of Zion. • Revelation 7:9 — A redeemed multitude “from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue” stands before the throne. Our Sunday gatherings are rehearsals for that scene. Why Welcoming Diversity Still Matters 1. Reflecting God’s Character • Romans 15:7 — “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” • Welcoming others mirrors the hospitable heart of the Father who gladly adopted us. 2. Showcasing the Power of the Gospel • Ephesians 2:14-16 — Christ “has made both one… breaking down the dividing wall.” • When racial, cultural, or social barriers crumble in our pews, the watching world sees tangible evidence that Jesus saves and reconciles. 3. Guarding Against Self-Centered Religion • Israel often stumbled when it forgot the sojourners in its midst (Deuteronomy 10:18-19). • An inward-only church risks shrinking into a cultural club instead of a kingdom outpost. 4. Strengthening the Body • 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 — “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’” • Diverse gifts, experiences, and perspectives complete what would otherwise be missing in congregational life. 5. Preparing for Eternity • Welcoming varied backgrounds now trains our hearts for the eternal worship scene already promised in Revelation 7:9-10. • Each new believer from a different language or culture is a living preview of heaven’s choir. Practical Steps for the Local Church • Speak the gospel plainly, not just in insider vocabulary, so newcomers of any background can understand. • Celebrate testimonies from different cultures; make space for songs or Scripture readings in multiple languages where possible. • Appoint greeters and small-group leaders who intentionally cross demographic lines. • Budget for ministries that serve immigrants, refugees, and other under-reached neighbors. • Train members to listen well and avoid assumptions, remembering James 1:19. • Keep communion at the center: one table, one Savior, one body. The Takeaway From the mixed multitude at the Exodus to the countless multitude in Revelation, God is gathering a family that looks like the whole world. Welcoming diverse groups is not a trendy add-on; it is the storyline of Scripture and the mission Christ entrusted to His church today. |
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