I believe in a Creator God
For whom all of life is beautiful
A God who is diverse yet united within God-self
Who created and holds in perfect unity the wonderful diversity that is all around us
I believe in a God who does not regard one person or group as better than another
But who allowed a Moabite Ruth to be incorporated into a Hebrew family
And who used a Persian Cyrus to help liberate his people.
I believe in Jesus who was born as a human being in the Middle East
Who not only embraced and inhabited diversity within himself
But also privileged this reality within his Being and ministry
When at his birth he was visited and blessed by three visitors from the East
When he was protected by the Egyptians when those in power wanted to kill him
Who chose a diverse group of people to be his apostles and disciples
Who proclaimed it in his Luke 4 meditation
When he highlighted the woman of Zarepath and Naaman the Syrian;
Who was not accepted by his own but angered them because of his inclusiveness and big heart;
Who cured the Romans daughter and was proclaimed as Lord by the Roman soldier.
Who mixed with the sinners, the prostitutes and the tax-collectors
Who made it clear that the sun shines on the good and the evil
Who allows the wheat and the weeds to grow together
Whose cross was carried by Simon of Cyrene
and whose resurrection was first proclaimed by women
Who made forgiveness and righteousness a cornerstone of the new beloved community
Who proclaimed a reign where all would be welcomed and none would be rejected;
Who inspired Paul to say that in Christ there is no Jew nor Greek
But that we are all one in Christ Jesus.
I believe in the Holy Spirit who came on Pentecost Sunday
To create a deep unity of people of different cultures and languages
Thereby breaking down all the walls that divide us
and who still continue to unite us, especially in our diversity;
Because of all of this,
I believe that the Church and society exists for all people whom God has created on this earth
That diversity should be valued, treasured and nurtured by all
And not be allowed to lead to division, but rather celebrated
That the marginalised should be centred
That those at the centre take a leap of faith to become whole
So that the joy and justice that only the Holy Spirit can give
Should be and will be experienced by all. Amen
(Written by Rev Edwin Arrison, South Africa, 2018)