You Don’t Belong in our Diversity Club!
If you want to get accepted today in the typical American workplace then just throw out words like “diversity” and “inclusiveness.” Now you’ve joined the club. Diversity means, no one can discriminate in hiring or functioning in the workplace on the grounds of their age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual preference or self-conception. We grant that this must function in a business to maintain cohesion. The purpose of a business is to make sure it keeps revenue flowing, so hiring the right ‘horses’ makes a better company. This inclusiveness necessarily suggests people will come from diverse walks. As Christian’s we understandably embrace (or shall I say tolerate) this concept, as we are called to be in the world of sinners, and to be compassionate to them all (of whom we once were – Titus 3:1-3); in order to proclaim Christ to them and establish the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20). So as Christian’s we expect to see some unusual things and face peculiar people, belief systems, and behavior.
But, this new American ‘diversity model’ requires more than the Christian can consent to, and actually threatens the Christians end game. After all, the basis of hiring in America is not founded on Christian standards of holiness, but on the evolving ethics of human rights. In fact the words “God” and “sin” are heard as much as a pin drop in the human rights vernacular! The human rights agenda continues to add and embrace new participants under workplace safety laws that will fence out how freely Christians speak their convictions. 40 years ago, we lived in a more pro-Christian era. Now we are in a more post-Christian era. New ‘diversity’ training standards now legally protect those whose self-concept is transgendered or homosexual. So at work, if a person talks about their longing for a gender change and is “gently admonished” by a Christian that this behavior dishonors God; should they feel offended and HR is contacted, then this can become grounds for workplace harassment by the Christian. And diversity laws will call foul on the Christian. The transgender seeker is more free to speak her mind, but we are less free to condemn it. Anticipate the penalties growing in severity.
Where does the diversity model stem from? Partly, the Preamble…”That all men are created equal…and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…of which include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This is part of our Declaration of Independence. The diversity model champions ‘all being created equal, and all having unalienable rights.’ However, the gospel adds that their Creator has also endowed them with His law and a conscience to guard equality and unalienable rights from turning into moral chaos. The gospel teaches that Jesus came to save sinners, people in choas. That sinners in choas must turn to him to be saved or else face unbearable judgment one day (Romans 14:10; Mark 9:43-49). It may be the topic of another article, but isn’t it interesting that Christian freedom and American liberty are heading towards a furious collision course!
Now here’s my point…the Christian must be aware the he is becoming an unpopular minority, and I anticipate the following freedoms will be surrendered as a result of this new morality called ‘diversity’:
1.) Speaking out – for example at the water fountain where people still talk politics at work; but the Christian will be pressured into airplane mode. You say, ‘but doesn’t our 1st Amendment privileges of free speech, doesn’t it welcome and accept all viewpoints including the Christian gospel discussion?‘ No, because as Hebrews 4:12 suggests, when Christians speak it enters into uncomfortably deep places. It offends. Are Christians subtly being asked to keep silent like Peter and John in Acts 4:17-18? The new morality wants us to shut up and “get over it”? No one wants to hear of wrath and condemnation over people ‘we apparently hate’. ‘Christian (says the world) we are past your ancient religious extremes. We have lapped your antiquated ethics. If you can’t play tolerantly at our table, then we’ll have to ask you to leave.’ Which is not very inclusive is it? Has business profitability become such the golden calf, that speaking out on important issues is not tolerated? I fear the Christian witness is being secularized and stifled. Worse, that Christians would choose income and security over the speaking the truth with an occasional well-framed interjection. Now, most controversial arguments the believer is wise to avoid (2Tim. 2:16), but God will always provide a few opportunities to speak light to darkness, and life where there is death. My point so far? Expect to be the minority, excluded from ethical conversations.
2.) Naming sin – This habit is a comedy of errors, how every man judges each other; and this is the brunt of workplace conversation…lashing invectives against people they don’t understand or agree with (Romans 2:1-3); but let a Christian call sin referencing scripture and the days are coming (or maybe they are already here) where he will be be ignored, suspended, or fired. (e.g.- a Christian tells a non-Christian co-worker who bragged about his weekend drinking binge “my friend, you’re destroying your life, your family, and worse, God’s judgement is upon this. You need a Savior!”) The right of free speech and liberty are slowly restricting Christians from preaching the gospel of liberty. My point: the diversity culture hates the Christian view of righteousness, it does not understand it, because it does not know God. But don’t stop proclaiming righteousness and the need of a Savior!
3.) Freedom at work – we will be watched more closely. I strongly advocate that a Christian earn the right to use words, FIRST by his contagious work ethic! Be busy at tent-making in the workplace, not evangelizing. We are paid to work hard for the work cause, and unto Christ our all-seeing Master. Having said that, the workplace allows for ‘team-building’, ‘and the typical offline conversations’ between co-workers. To expect that Christians would not express their passion, their life, their all in Christ in the workplace, is the “diversity system” showing it’s exclusionary fangs to Christians who on few occasions plead for a co-worker to come to Christ in repentance and faith. My point: Earn the Right to give an answer for your hope.
4.) Being Respected – being a tolerant person gets ‘mad respect’ today. So, anything less, is seen as intolerant. Intolerance will no longer be tolerated and less…respected. Praise God for those times when Christ glory and righteousness is shown in our manners, integrity and conversation and it unintentionally convicts or ruffles feathers in the workplace. I remember Paul reasoning with Felix about purity, self-control, and the judgment in Acts 24:25; I believe we’ll see more Christians unemployed if they stand up to this diversity model. When holiness is called hate, we can be certain that we are being excluded from the inclusion group. While we may be disrespected, God’s name will be feared. My point: We must engage our co-workers, be great listeners, and speak gentle convincing truth to all diverse people (Col. 4:5-6)!
Christian, there’s little we can do to stop this tide or rewrite this reconstruction of diversity. I simply wanted to prepare you, for what the new corporate morality calls diversity actually confines and shackles Christians, and excludes them from mainstream ethics, and prevents them from acting out their calling. To make disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to observe all that He commanded us. But press on we must.
