Celebrating Our Cultural Differences 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28

This article is the second part of a series about making our school, Valley Christian Schools (VCS), a culturally inclusive community. In the first part, we talked about how building community should be based on the Bible. Now, we’ll look at how we can get along and build strong friendships with people from different backgrounds.

At VCS, the Office of Spiritual Formation collaborates with Biblical Unity to help us learn about and celebrate different cultures from a Christian worldview. We know that God loves all people, no matter where they come from. To have a good, thriving community, we need to understand how God wants us to include everyone.

God’s Big Picture: Everyone Together 

The Bible says, “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9). This means God wants people from all over the world to be part of His family. Jesus, the Lamb, came for everyone, and we should welcome everyone, too. 

What Does “Cultural Inclusion” Mean? 

Cultural inclusion means more than just being nice to people who are different. It means working to remove barriers and make sure everyone feels like they belong. It’s not about making everyone the same but about celebrating our differences and ultimately finding a place for diversity in the fellowship and community of God. 

Our Challenge and Opportunity 

As a Christian school, we want everyone to feel at home—like they belong. This means sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones. It can be challenging, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to learn and grow. We need to be humble, brave, and trust in God. 

God’s Love for All Nations 

God has always loved all people. In the Bible, He promised Abraham that “all nations” would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). He also told the Israelites to be kind to foreigners (Leviticus 19:34). Remember the story of Jonah? God told him to preach to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah didn’t want to do that because he hated the Ninevites—sworn enemies of Israel. He didn’t want our compassionate God to show mercy for people who were different from him. This story teaches us that we need to be kind and compassionate to everyone. The Bible teaches us that being fair and including everyone is important to God. 

The Church: A Family of Many Cultures 

When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, people from different countries could understand each other (Acts 2). The Jewish and Gentile people who were affected became united despite their differences. This showed that the Good News is for everyone. At VCS, we celebrate the many languages and cultures in our school. 

The Apostle Paul wrote letters to the early church, telling them to be united even though they were different. He said that in Christ, we are all one, and each culture brings something special (Galatians 3:28). In the book of Acts, we see how the apostles chose leaders from different backgrounds (Acts 6:1-7). Our Director of Biblical Unity helps us understand each other and build bridges between cultures. 

How We Can Include Everyone 

Here are some things we do at VCS to make sure everyone feels included: 

• Learn About Each Other: We have workshops and training to help us understand different cultures. You can learn more about our Biblical Unity initiative.
• Invite Everyone to Celebrate Different Cultures: We have cultural events like Carnaval (Hispanic), Lunar New Year (Asian), and Desi Dhamaal (South Asian) to invite our friends and families from different cultures to celebrate together. You can read more about these events.
• Include Everyone in Leadership: We make sure our leaders reflect a diversity of backgrounds.
• Create Safe Places to Talk: We have discussions where everyone feels safe to share their experiences.
• Serve Others Together: We participate in service projects that help people from different backgrounds. You can learn more about our high school service and junior high school service.

By doing these things, we can build a stronger community that shows God’s love. We can show the world that we are united in Christ, celebrating the wonderful variety that God created. Jesus prayed that we would be one so that the world would believe He was sent by God. “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21).

Reflect & Respond 

1. Which practical steps resonate most with you? Why?
2. How can you take an active role in fostering biblical inclusion within the VCS community?
3. In what ways might God be calling you to include others in your community, especially when that feels uncomfortable?

Prayer

Dear God, may we be a school community that reflects heaven, where every nation, tribe, people, and language stands before Jesus. May we not settle for superficial diversity but pursue true belonging and justice in Christ’s name. May we walk in humility, listening, learning, and loving across every cultural line until the world sees the beauty of the Gospel.

Learn More

If you would like more information about how the Bible shows inclusion is a part of God’s design, a relationship with Jesus Christ, or support for your spiritual journey, please visit our Biblical Unity and Spiritual Formation website resources. Feel free to contact Dr. Steven McGriff, Director of Biblical Unity, or Pastor Steve Dang, Chief Ministry Officer, for a personal conversation.