Why DEI?

"What does success look like in DEI?"

In recent years, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) has become an uncommonly controversial topic. The rhetoric used to dismantle DEI suggests that merit alone should determine success. However, as believers, we know that nothing about who we are is merit-based. Mercy is unmerited. Grace is unearned. Favor is unfair. Salvation is a gift. We didn’t work for it, and we don’t deserve it — yet God freely gives it.

DEI is not a new concept. It is rooted in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. It didn't appear overnight. The practice of DEI has been evolving and thriving for decades. The work of making spaces equitable, just, and accessible has been ongoing for over 60 years, yet it faces backlash today.

If DEI has been around this long, why are people fighting against it? The question isn’t about the validity of DEI but about the resistance to change and progress.

Though political correctness appears to be present in parts of the DEI framework, its truest attributes point toward biblical righteousness. For instance, God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), yet He intentionally made us different (Psalm 139:14).

How then can we ignore diversity, equity, and inclusion in our faith and daily lives if the goal is to ensure that all people have the opportunity to thrive as God intended?

I once asked a client — a high-ranking executive at a Fortune 500 — “As we undergo this new DEI effort, what does success look like for your organization?” His response was, “Dr. Ellis, we’re not sure what success looks like. We’re going to depend on you and your team to help us. We just know that this DEI thing is worth fighting for.”

That’s how we should see DEI — worth fighting for. Though the practice of DEI is imperfect and critique-worthy as are the systems that have hindered it, the work still remains worth fighting for. The practice is as imperfect as the humanity that DEI advocates for.

Humanity is God's creation.

All different. All God's creation. And all worth fighting for.

Biblical Example

• In Acts 6:1-7, the early church faced complaints that certain widows were being neglected in daily food distribution. The apostles acted immediately, appointing seven men to ensure fairness—demonstrating that equity and inclusion have always been part of God’s design for His people.
• Oholiab and Bezalel (Exodus 31:1-11) – These two craftsmen were chosen by God to design and build the Tabernacle. They didn’t set their own vision for success—God did. Their work was guided by divine instruction, emphasizing that success is fulfilling God’s purpose, not just our own ambitions.
• The Daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1-11) – These five sisters challenged the inheritance laws in Israel, advocating for their right to receive their father’s land. Their success wasn’t measured by wealth but by changing an unjust system. Sometimes, success is fighting for what is right, even when you don’t fully know the outcome.

Reflection Questions

1. How have you seen the rhetoric around DEI challenge biblical principles?
2. In what ways do you see God's grace reflected in DEI efforts?
3. How does understanding that salvation is unearned shift your view of merit-based systems?