1. ‘The church is unity in diversity ’ ICEL, Leuven February 7, 2016 Pieter Boersema

2. ICEL Introduction The specific characteristic of ICEL is that it is a church of plurality: different ethnic and national backgrounds different Christian denominational backgrounds different working backgrounds These qualities of difference in ICEL can be a hardship by miscommunication and understanding the difference in worldviews. ICEL is aware of this and knows that the unity of this diversity can only be answered by the love of Jesus Christ, the uniqueness of the Church.

3. ICEL Diversity versus Uniformity The opposite of ‘unity in diversity’ is ‘dictatorship’ = an absolute ruler.The opposite of ‘unity in diversity’ is ‘dictatorship’ = an absolute ruler. this looks attractive when he/she has good ideas.this looks attractive when he/she has good ideas. The Bible knows many stories about this dilemma. We will summarize these by Genesis, the Gospels and the last chapter of the Bible.The Bible knows many stories about this dilemma. We will summarize these by Genesis, the Gospels and the last chapter of the Bible. The connecting theme is 1 Corinthians 12 and 13: ‘one body, many parts’. Closing by verse 13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”.The connecting theme is 1 Corinthians 12 and 13: ‘one body, many parts’. Closing by verse 13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”.

4. ICEL Part 1 The start: “the faith in the creation by God” The principle of diversity: Gen. 2: 18. The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him”.The principle of diversity: Gen. 2: 18. The Lord God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him”. Verse 23: “This is now bones of my bones and flesh of my flesh”. Verse 24: “and they will become one flesh”. The first reference to unity in diversity in the realm of human mankind.Verse 23: “This is now bones of my bones and flesh of my flesh”. Verse 24: “and they will become one flesh”. The first reference to unity in diversity in the realm of human mankind. They both are very different to each other and they stay in need of each other. They both are very different to each other and they stay in need of each other. The human identity: needing each other.The human identity: needing each other.

5. ICEL The Tower of Babel. Pieter Bruegel the elder, 1565

6. ICEL Genesis 11: The tower of Babel The human problem: to fix it self, I can do it.The human problem: to fix it self, I can do it. Genesis 3: 4 “Do you want to be like God?” as the serpent / devil suggested. Then eat from the tree of knowledge to know good and evil.Genesis 3: 4 “Do you want to be like God?” as the serpent / devil suggested. Then eat from the tree of knowledge to know good and evil. The tower of Babel as a symbol of Man’s creation.The tower of Babel as a symbol of Man’s creation. Genesis 11: 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth”.Genesis 11: 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth”. There is no room for the minority: those wo speak another language and have a different culture.There is no room for the minority: those wo speak another language and have a different culture.

7. ICEL Part 2 The center: “The love is in the Middle” John 3:16: The love of God for this world by sending His only Son.John 3:16: The love of God for this world by sending His only Son. The power of Mankind can only be crushed by the Great Commandment: “Love God and your neighbor”.The power of Mankind can only be crushed by the Great Commandment: “Love God and your neighbor”. John 15: 16-17: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other”.John 15: 16-17: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other”.

8. ICEL The way to Calvary Pieter Bruegel the elder, 1564

9. ICEL The story of the world packed in love God is in charge by countering evil and sin. Not by power as used by dictators, not by a selected group with their privileges, but love for the world, for everyone who believes in His Son: John 3:16God is in charge by countering evil and sin. Not by power as used by dictators, not by a selected group with their privileges, but love for the world, for everyone who believes in His Son: John 3:16 The three trees: the middle one is the cross. Jesus gave His live for everyone who believes in Him.The three trees: the middle one is the cross. Jesus gave His live for everyone who believes in Him. Also the murderer on the other cross, also the red coated enemy when they chose to follow Jesus and all the people who really see the men of sorrow carrying our sins. Also the murderer on the other cross, also the red coated enemy when they chose to follow Jesus and all the people who really see the men of sorrow carrying our sins.

10. ICEL Part 3 The end: “The hope in the future as the vision for today” The Love of Jesus explained in the live of His followers. This can only when we see the difference, already explained in the creation and in the cultural diversity of the Christians.The Love of Jesus explained in the live of His followers. This can only when we see the difference, already explained in the creation and in the cultural diversity of the Christians. Ephesians 3: 17-19.Ephesians 3: 17-19. “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”.“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”.

11. ICEL The Lamb of God, van Eyck 1432

12. ICEL The Adoration of the Lamb Hubert and Jan van Eyck, 1432, St. Bavo, Gent

13. ICEL Revelation 22: 1-6 ‘The River of Life’ The river of Life from the throne of God and of the Lamb feeding the trees of life.The river of Life from the throne of God and of the Lamb feeding the trees of life. And the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations.And the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations. Closing: Holy Supper. The place to get reconfirmed in God’s love. Together as church.Closing: Holy Supper. The place to get reconfirmed in God’s love. Together as church. The Holy Spirit who established the hope in us.The Holy Spirit who established the hope in us. Romans 5:5: “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”.Romans 5:5: “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”.