by David Phelps

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa

December, 2025

Last month, I found myself in the position of having to explain what “Hispanic” meant to a young child. Seven-year-old Eli is bright and curious, and when he said his Halloween costume had been Miles Morales, Tawanna, another adult in the room, wanted to know who that was. I explained that Miles is the Hispanic version of Spider-Man. Young Eli then wanted to know what the word “Hispanic” meant. I told him that the word described a group of people, and explained our human tendency to label groups of people, such as “Asian,” “Hispanic,” etc. I also told him that in spite of our differences, we’re all basically the same.

The Bible story of the Tower of Babel says that “At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words.” (Gen. 11:1 New Living Translation). In this account, God confused people’s languages and, “In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the world,” (vs. 8a NLT). This story says God did this to make sure humans wouldn’t be a threat to God’s sovereignty (vs. 6). Here, diversity is a punishment from God. Today, some people still regard differences as negative. Why, they wonder, can’t we all just be the same? Of course, what they mean is, “Why can’t everyone look, think, and believe like I do?”

As we celebrate Jesus’ birth, we remember that he was born into a world that was divided, much like our world today. There were Jews and Gentiles, sinners and the righteous, clean and unclean, citizens and non-citizens, people who belonged and others who didn’t. Most importantly, for us, there were people who were considered heirs of God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 17) and others who were excluded. If you weren’t included, you didn’t count.

Jesus came for the people who were excluded: tax collectors, people with “demons,” women, “sinners,” and others (Mark 2:13-17; 5:1-20, 25-34; Luke 7:36-50) and challenged those who took it for granted that they belonged (Matt. 12:10-14; Mark 7:1-13; Luke 18:9-14). As Jesus prepared for his public ministry, John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees, “‘Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, “We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.” That means nothing,’” (Matt. 3:8-9a NLT).

Like John before him, Jesus told the Jews that being God’s people was about more than ancestry (John 8:39b). Later, referring to his disciples, he said, “‘Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!’” (Matt. 12:50 NLT). Surely, if we are Jesus’ brothers and sisters, we are God’s people.

Unfortunately, divisions among believers are nothing new. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “. . . there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!” (1 Cor. 11:19b NLT). It’s a cliché that “What unites us is stronger than what divides us,” but for Christians, it’s true. Our unity is not based on doctrine but on Christ. Everyone who receives Christ and trusts in him is a child of God (John 1:12-13). If we have received and trusted him, that includes both you and me.

Before he was tried and crucified, Jesus prayed for his disciples, “‘I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.’” (John 17:21 NLT). Paul wrote to the Galatians, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” (Gal. 4:4-5 NLT). This is the message of Christmas: not carols or candy canes, but God made flesh to purchase salvation for all who believe. The world already sees our differences; perhaps it’s time for the world to see our unity.


“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” (Gal. 3:26-29 NLT.)

Copyright © 2025 by David Phelps