Posted by: Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
Diversity and the Development of Christocentric Virtue: An Opportunity, A Necessity
The challenge of diversity both invites change and requires change. A Christian community such as ours will fail to progress in love, peace, and unity if we are unwilling to practice repentance, embrace renewal, or deepen relationships with others, and with God. In his address to the Colossians (chapter 3), the Apostle Paul acknowledges the diverse make-up of this 1st century faith community. There were inherent challenges in being a multi-ethnic and heterogeneous socio-economic community. There were additional pressures related to a context in which there existed religious pluralism and intellectual elitism. All of this led Paul to remind the believers of the deep truths of Christ-centered life-together and of the profound need for Christ-centered virtues and their attendant practices. The presentation will offer probing commentary from this rich passage of Scripture, making application to our current situation. Also, participants will be invited to listen to the passage contemplatively as a means for God to offer particular instruction for our individual lives.