Diversity?

Richard Hollerman

Some time ago, I was in the local Kroger store to carry on a transaction. I may have wanted to send something by Western Union or some other purpose.  Behind the counter, on the wall, I noticed in large letters the slogan for this well-known food store.  Among other things, it said that Kroger stands for and pursues “Diversity.”

I must admit that I was somewhat naïve and at first didn’t “catch on” to the meaning.  I assumed the best, although I must admit that this pronouncement was a bit disarming. Why would a company advertise that they believe in “diversity”? I’ve looked up the word and find that its meaning is not too telling: “The fact or quality of being diverse; difference. A point or respect in which things differ. Variety or multiformity” (The American Heritage College Dictionary).  This is not necessarily bad—for we are to stand for different things, providing those things are good and right.

But as I have thought about this and notice the way that the word has been used for several years, I must say that this is not a neutral word at all! No, it is a very wicked and corrupt word. It is used to draw together all kinds of evil things. For instance, the term must be used (by Kroger and others) to indicate that they glory in “diverse” lifestyles, diverse “orientations,” as well as diverse views and perspectives. Probably diverse sexual activities and diverse understandings. In point of fact, it is a term particularly liked by those with evil views expressed by sodomites along with all kinds of aberrant sexual views and relationships. In other words, Kroger must mean that it actively promotes and accepts different sexual relationships and views. Sodomites, adulterers, fornicators, “transgender” people, “transsexual” people, and the like are freely accepted. And the store glories in all of these depraved and immoral views and relationships!

Probably someone may seek to differ with me and defend this slogan. Although we think that this is unlikely in this year of extreme “liberation” and “freedom,” it may be that someone may say that I should not “read into” this Kroger slogan. They may say that this is an entirely innocent term and I should not think evil of it. But my contention (based on realism) is that the term is used by this store and others like it to promote an immoral agenda! In other words, I am led to think that Kroger is saying that it is an “enlightened” store that accepts all kinds of wicked persons—such as homosexuals (both men and women), adulterers, transgenderism, etc. I don’t know if this has come to mean pedophilia, but I wouldn’t doubt this either.

And if this is true of Kroger (with their “progressive” views), could it also be true of Walmart, Albertson’s, Piggly Wiggly, Giant Eagle and other food stores? Frankly, this country has become so liberal that it seems to allow for all sorts of “diverse” views and lifestyles—whether righteous or wicked.

Just today I was paying my water bill with the leaflet entitled, “City Times”! I had known already that the city offices, the police department, and many like departments had “opened their doors” to many different sins. This may be hard for you to understand if you come from a smaller town or maybe more conservative states (e.g., Mississippi, Idaho, South Dakota, Alabama, Tennessee, and others). But I’ve discovered that larger states (such as California, Oregon, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, etc.) do accept wicked lifestyles as a general rule. And this would include “diversity” of all kinds of sins!

In the leaflet I mentioned above (“City Times”), we read, “City employees completed educational workshops on two city core values diversity and mutual respect. Plans are in place to expand educational opportunities for I.D.E.A. (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Certification for staff and community.” You may think that I am “reading into” such words, but it would seem that “diversity” alone has not become an evil term, but other terms such as “Inclusion” or “Equity” or “Access” have also become evil words in this context. Could it be that employees in this city department would be forced to endure “training” and “education” that would suggest that various sins would be accepted—and the employee must also accept the sins?

If you are seeking holiness, as I am (for without this we cannot be saved—Hebrews 12:14), does this grieve you? I hope so. Let us do what we can to stem the tide of all of this immorality and filth that has become public. We are living for God and not for ourselves—or for other people. We are here on earth to lift up God’s will and His standards and not American standards. Let us seek holiness in life and in our communities—for only those who are holy will see God (cf. Matthew 5:8; Hebrews 12:14).