Almost everyone on the political right is weary of hearing about “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Yet it remains one of those topics that won’t go quietly into the night. Or, to quote Welsh poet Dylan Thomas more precisely, it appears nearly impossible for this DEI to “go gentle into that good night.”
Despite widespread rejection of its value, there are those who are hanging onto it for dear life, as well as others who will do almost anything to elevate its relevance in the public square. This week is a prime example. During the abbreviated Democratic National Committee’s summer meeting, Tennessee member and former state senator Bill Owen made a preposterous assertion: “[T]o my Republican friends and fellow citizens…who profess to be active Christians, I remind them that DEI is the very foundation of the Christian church.”
Conservatives quickly got the point. What Owen was implying is that you are not a Christian if you don’t uphold the values of DEI. In fact, a case can be made that there is no natural nexus between the DEI philosophy and believers in Jesus Christ.
DEI and Connecting the Dots
The first tenet of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion concept is that disparate people should work together to promote harmony in society and the workplace. As the website Diversityresources.com put it, “If we push away these beautifully unique attributes, we eliminate opportunities for growth and success as a team and business.” The overarching point is that a diverse society is superior to one that does not include all persons. This type of forced multiculturalism is a far cry from the biblical text.
Throughout the Bible, the cultures that prospered were not necessarily those that promoted diversity; people were often separated by tribes, territories, and multiple conquests in which one group ruled over another. This is not to say that the texts necessarily promoted sectarianism, though a valid argument could be made that it did. They undoubtedly understood that bringing all the people of the ancient world together was not necessarily beneficial to God’s people, nor was it specifically called for. In other words, the biblical texts are not filled with expectations of diversity resulting in the ultimate kumbaya moment sought by God. While Jesus moved among his people and foreigners freely, he neither promoted nor denigrated other people groups.
Equity Does Not Equal Equality
Equity is a nuanced concept, distinct from equality. In promoting equity, one must provide for those in society who lack the same resources as others. Put simply, equity is essentially a Robin Hood manifesto – take from the rich and give to the poor. It entirely quashes the element of private property and gives power to others to distribute your wealth to whomever they see fit. Equality, on the other hand, provides individuals with the same opportunities and perhaps even resources to get started, but it does not guarantee an equitable outcome. Here is where the teachings of Jesus stand most at odds with the concept of equity.
The Bible contains numerous parables that explore these themes. The Parable of the Three Coins is one of them. This story has the master giving different amounts of money to his three servants. He tells them to invest it wisely, but upon return, he finds that the two servants who were given more did well, and the one who was given less “buried” his and thus had no return on investment to report. The parable does not end with the master taking the wise servants' money and giving it to the one who did not rise to the challenge. Instead, it ends with the master admonishing the one who was given less for being slothful.
The Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son teaches us that God goes the extra mile to bring home the one who is undeserving but repentant. The elder son was well aware of the lack of equity in the father’s behavior when the father welcomed his young son back with the fatted calf, robe, and ring – something presumably not given to the older brother. Although both these parables carry more profound, spiritual lessons, one can see that Jesus’ most famous teachings did not promote equity.
Including Inclusion in the Equation
Inclusion is quite a different element in DEI philosophy. The goal here is to promote a feeling. The desired outcome is for individuals to experience the emotion of being included, valued, supported, and empowered based on what others say and do. It seeks to promote a judgment-free zone, but is very difficult to actualize, thus making it less authentic in practice. If an individual fears their compliment will be taken as a potential insult, there is little to no way to rectify the situation other than to remain quiet. It puts the burden of someone else’s feelings upon the majority class and is very challenging to achieve.
On the one hand, it could be said that Jesus practiced inclusion throughout his ministry. He befriended prostitutes and tax collectors alike. He asserted, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone …” But again, these statements come to the reader with deeper spiritual meaning.
Above all, Jesus was a straight shooter. Often, his words came as a challenge and cannot be made into an attempt to make everyone feel good: “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” does not signal inclusion. To the apostle Peter, he admonished: “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” In Matthew 26:40, he queried: “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” There was disappointment in his tone when he remarked to his disciples, “Ye of little faith.”
Jesus tells us he came for his people – by its very nature, this remark suggests an inequity. As these texts and many others demonstrate, Christianity is not based on diversity, equity, or inclusion but rather on truth and God’s merciful and everlasting love for his people.
