COLUMN: Grey Matters – Made for more than sameness

“God’s purpose is now to show the rulers and powers in the heavens the many different varieties of his wisdom through the church.” – Ephesians 3:10

One of the most beautiful truths about the Church is that God never intended it to be a gathering of people who all look alike, think alike, vote alike, worship alike, or come from the same background. His plan was always much bigger than uniformity. God’s vision is unity with diversity.

In Ephesians 3:10, Apostle Paul uses the fascinating Greek word ‘polupoikilos’ which means many-sided, richly varied, multi-faceted, infinitely diverse. It describes something so complex and beautiful that it cannot be understood from a single angle. Like the story of the six blind men describing an elephant based on what they feel with their hands. A large snake says one, a wall says another, a spear says the third, a pillar says the fourth and finally the one at the end says it feels like a rope. Each believed that he knew just how the animal looked and they quarrelled ever after.

God’s wisdom is not monochrome. It is a masterpiece of countless colors, perspectives, stories, gifts, cultures, personalities, and experiences woven together into something glorious. And according to Paul, that wisdom is displayed through the church.

Imagine a choir singing. There are basses, tenors, altos, sopranos, and every voice in between. Some sing melody while others provide harmony. One voice alone can be beautiful, but the full richness emerges when different voices join. Add a piano, then a guitar, maybe some percussion. Perhaps clapping, stomping, or other body rhythms. The combinations are endless. No conductor aims to make every voice and instrument sound identical. The beauty lies in harmonizing the variety.

So, what does God’s multi-faceted wisdom look like? Paul answers the question, which becomes clearer when we look at the Worldwide English translation of Ephesians 3:10: “Now he wants those who rule and have power in the sky to know how very wise God is. They will know this when they look at the church people.”

The wisdom of God is not displayed when everyone becomes copies of one another. It is revealed when diverse people all around the world are united by Christ while retaining the unique gifts and perspectives He placed within them.

The wisdom is you all. The answer is you all. We spend much of our lives looking for external solutions. Yet God often calls us to become the answer He has already planted within our hearts. Through transformed lives, reconciled relationships, and united communities, His wisdom becomes visible.

The EASY translation of Ephesians 3:10 captures it beautifully: “To show to all the rulers in heaven how perfectly wise he is when all of his family – Jews and Gentiles alike – are seen to be joined together in his Church.”

If we are going to display God’s many-sided wisdom, we must deepen our connections with God and with one another. Healthy relationships develop through the layers of attachment that God has woven into our human nature. Trust grows when people can be their true selves and still experience grace. This is the kind of community Christ is building.

Think about that. Every act of forgiveness. Every restored relationship. Every barrier overcome. Every expression of grace. These are not merely physical earthly events, but something that displays God’s wisdom all the way into the heavens.

Creator God, thank You for creating each person uniquely and intentionally. Help us move beyond mere tolerance into genuine appreciation for one another. Deepen our roots of belonging, significance, love, and trust. Make our churches living demonstrations of Your many-sided wisdom. May our unity in Christ display Your glory not only on earth, but also before the powers and authorities in the heavens. Amen.

Gary Dyck is a chaplain and spiritual care provider at a hospital and personal care home in the Southeast. He is also a candidate for Steinbach city council.