Beatrice Bruteau of Fordham University asks the
postmodern question, “How big is your we?” In other words, in today’s culture
and world, the basic paradigm is plural rather than singular. We are a global village
first and foremost, made up of multitudes of individual tribes and nations. Imagine
the rich diversity!
Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners, an
evangelical Christian organization dedicated to the eradication of global
poverty, hunger and other pressing human needs, puts it this way: “Can we
expand our vision of community beyond our own skin, family, race, tribe,
culture, country and species? Spiritual life is more than what we believe, it
also includes how we relate.” (Wallis, p. 86) That’s a very profound paradigm. Spirituality
cannot be separated from our world view and our human relations experience. There
must be a corresponding valuing of diversity in how we think, talk and behave toward
others. That is, in fact, true spirituality.
One of the prolific authors in the Christian New
Testament, Paul, expressed this continuity by using a fascinating metaphor to
describe this value in religious community. Here’s the way he articulated it:
“The human body has many parts, but the many
parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ … Yes, the body
has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, ‘I am not a part
of the body because I am not a hand,’ that does not make it any less a part of
the body. And if the ear says, ‘I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,’
would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye,
how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell
anything?
“But our bodies have many parts, and God has put
each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only
one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say
to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’ The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need
you.’
“In fact, some parts of the body that seem
weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we
regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we
carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable
parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that
extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This
makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each
other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is
honored, all the parts are glad.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-22, New Living
Translation)
So what is the author suggesting by using the
metaphor of the human body to describe community? Several paradigms can be
noted. First, diversity is a God-given reality. God placed the parts of the
body where each one finds itself. Our individual value is a statement of being,
not doing.
Second, every part has an important place. There
is significance to each person. We all have a special role in life. And that
role’s function is to contribute to the whole.
Third, we must honor each role as significant
and valuable. Function doesn’t determine value; but it does contribute value to
the whole.
Fourth, there must be intentionality to honoring
others. To those body parts that are sometimes seen as less dignified
(therefore they’re covered up and not publicly exposed or shamed) we give
honor. What would that look like in community with people? It means that we
seek out those who might be typically considered as the “unseen” or the “undeserving”
and give them dignity – honor them, acknowledge their importance and value.
Fifth, our interdependence with others
encourages us to live in solidarity with each other – when one suffers, we all
suffer; when one is honored, we all are honored and celebrate that honor. We
acknowledge that we are an inter-connected whole. As theoretical physics states,
one action always produces a reaction. Our universe is intertwined and
inter-related. So we need to live in harmony with that reality. What affects
one affects all. And when we refuse to embrace that, the whole world suffers.
And finally, life the way God designed it works
best when there’s harmony and unity in the midst of diversity. Our differences
don’t negate wholeness, they enhance it. It’s not either/or but both/and. When
we see ourselves as parts of the same human body, we can value our individual
uniqueness as well as our similarities. We bring everything to the same table
of life to enhance all of life. We become advocates for each other no matter who
we are or where we live – different parts of the same “body.”
Native Americans of the Southwest don’t talk
about “tolerating” one another. Toleration is not the issue. They talk about
“honoring” each other. Here’s how they do it. They gather in talking circles,
in which everyone contributes his or her perspective about situations and
events. When they “honor someone,” they first hear them, affirm them, and understand
them. Only then do they themselves expect to be heard, affirmed and understood.
(Sweet, p. 383)
Imagine how that one simple community discipline
would transform our inter-relationships – person to person, group to group,
nation to nation. Imagine intentionally creating “talking circles” where people
were actually listened to and affirmed for their values and views before being
lectured to. Imagine conducting foreign policy this way. Imagine living in
community where all people were not just tolerated but honored equally.
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