[Eric Medina]

A few weeks ago, my wife and I had dinner with a friend who is currently trying to find a new church to attend. She is looking for a church that is rooted in biblical accuracy, but at the same time, wants a church that is focused on diversity. Besides having people of various skin color involved in church leadership, this friend also wants to have a church with female preachers. That sort of thinking goes against Scripture (1 Tim. 2:12), which means that particular church is not focused on biblical accuracy or biblical representation. I did not agree with my friend. With patience and respect, I reminded her of what Scripture says and that she should not put diversity or cultural ideas over Scripture. My friend then asked me about the concept of modesty and that women in the church are being oppressed by men to look a certain way. For that issue, I referred my friend to Proverbs 31 where the Bible doesn’t tell women how to live, but how a woman who loves God would want to live. I asked my friend about her priorities and if she is willing to be part of a church that is okay dismissing parts of the Bible. Of course, this was a bit of a tough conversation as it was during the middle of dinner in an open restaurant. I could have just agreed with my friend to end the conversation, but, as a fellow Christian, I just couldn’t allow someone I know be led down a path of lies. Living in the 21st century, young adults are all about diversity and inclusivity. They are willing to sacrifice the word of God for the sake of feminism, racial equality, and social justice. As Christians, we must be able to remind each other of God’s truth, not the cultural “truth.”