Advent Photo #19 Diversity

'Diversity'
   This is more elusive than it sounds... there's a lot of 'warm fuzzies' about the idea of diversity that are often not our/my lived reality. I chose this photo because a box of coloured pencils are often used in relation to this idea. The pencils here are all raw timber and very much smoothish cylindrical shapes so they convey the happy splash of colours within. In practice how do we maintain community and relationships in human diversity? I'm not even sure this is how I want things to look, maybe metaphorically, maybe not...
   Because I choose to be part of a community of people seeking variously to 'follow' the call of Jesus in the world, according to the values of God, I am immediately challenged by diversity. History, how people understand 'God', their interpretation of the place of the Bible and 'what it says', what the purpose of all this is and how their story connects to the story are all points of difference as well as points of 'unity.'
   The assertion 'that's what the Bible says' is a loaded statement and any serious discussion about that has to acknowledge:
- it's beginnings in an oral culture through a variety of authors
- the presence of literary style from myth to parable for effect and stories told through many eyes
- people attempting to describe the indescribable then claiming inerrancy in doing so
- translation of language
- that it always has 'an address' or a cultural and contextual location including the one in which it is read
- it seems some things change and some never change, that doesn't make sense
- the life, example, storytelling, death and resurrection of Jesus have things to say about 'what the Bible says'
- the community of faith I belong to believes the Bible is 'unique, prophetic & apostolic'
- And that Jesus is the 'Word of God'
- In this way our call is to continue seeking to understand that 'word' in our 'address' culturally, contextually etc

   Issues of sexuality are a flashpoint stretching that unity in 'diversity.' But it's not just different 'understandings of God' that are problematic. These discussions are about people, have an audience and at the moment are also up for grabs in our society. Strongly held views as 'the truth' are judging people and situations with bias and are a rough edge of diversity. For my part I believe it's clear we are called to understand sexuality in all it's facets and complexity today that at least includes:
- beyond Bible verse quotes but interpreting Scripture through many lenses
- mindful of who we are speaking about an who is listening
- 'truth' claims are fraught
- it's more than 'spirit good' and 'flesh bad' and Paul's writing is a product of his worldview and standpoint
- we understand so much more about homosexuality and that it's not as simple as 'a choice'
- youth suicide around struggling with identity and being judged in this area is a huge concern
- there's plenty of depravity & immorality in the world without singling out one group
- we're all part of the diverse and unique nature of God reflected in life and need to get on with being creative, connected and positive in creating life giving communities of justice and peace
- and much more... diversity

As a postscript I am still struggling through the book that Bill Loader has written as a culmination/reflection of up to four previous writings and I have to read and re read lots of it on the way through...
"Making Sense of Sex: Attitudes towards Sexuality in Early Jewish and Christian Literature" William Loader