Love in Action: Embracing Cultural Sensitivity in Every Space
Love in Action: Embracing Cultural Sensitivity in Every Space
Recently, I came across a post that emphasized the cultural disparities as they related to a specific race. I started to comment, and I thought, “This is true, but it is not a one-type-of-race problem; it is a human problem.” So, I decided to come at this from a different angle by addressing the wider problem of cultural insensitivity amongst all races. My goal is to create awareness, healthy dialogue, and remind us all that, whether someone says it or not, we are all aware of the disparities.
Therefore, my simple input in this space is to highlight what is widely known and to challenge us to be intentional in our churches, workplaces, communities, and even in our families to make all people feel loved, valued, celebrated, and included. Now I know this is not an easy feat, but with set intentions, intentional designs, and plans that support growth in these areas, it can be done.
My Story
For me, this conversation goes far beyond racial lines. My identity is layered. I am a Christian, Caribbean American Black Woman, Jamaican by birth and culture, One Love to All. Yet, above all of that, I am deeply rooted in Jesus Christ. Because no matter what space I enter, I choose to be Christlike first. My greatest goal in life is to represent Jesus Christ in everything I do and speak. I do not elevate any part of who I am, whether race, culture, or nationality, above the Holy and Majestic Name of Jesus Christ.
That being said, I have now spent thirty-six years living in the United States of America. My husband and children are Americans, so my immersion, acceptance, and appreciation for culture began in my own home. One of the most beautiful aspects of living here has been the privilege of meeting people from so many different backgrounds, traditions, and walks of life, both personally and professionally. I find great joy in embracing and learning about cultures other than my own.
The way I lean into that is simple but meaningful. Through conversations, through finding common ground in our experiences, and through the universal language of food. I consider myself a foodie with a curious and open palate. While I cannot say I love everything I try, I am always willing to inquire, learn, and at least taste something new as long as it aligns with my dietary needs and standards. For me, trying food is not just about the flavors; it is about honoring someone’s story and the culture it represents.
Yet, even with my love for culture and connection, I cannot ignore the reality that disparities exist. I have experienced them firsthand, sometimes in spaces that reflect my same demographics and other times in spaces that do not. What I have come to recognize is that these issues are not “their problem” or “someone else’s issue.” They are ours. Bias, exclusion, and division can show up everywhere. In the church, at work, in community spaces, and sadly, even within our own families.
It is always easier to point out the blind spots in others, but the real question is, can we see them in ourselves? That is where true growth and change begin. Self-examination requires humility, honesty, and a willingness to surrender our pride before God. When we allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts, He not only reveals the places where we fall short, but He also equips us to be reconcilers, peacemakers, and bridge builders.
As a believer, I know that God calls us to reflect His Kingdom. A Kingdom where every nation, tribe, and tongue is valued and represented before the throne of grace. If that is what heaven looks like, then that is what we should be striving to model here on earth.
So yes, I proudly carry my heritage and my culture, but my ultimate identity and allegiance are to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. My prayer is that wherever I go, others see Him in me, and that my posture always remains one of openness, humility, and love. So, let’s get into it.
The Subtle Nature of Exclusion
Exclusion does not always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it slips in quietly, shaping environments in ways that leave people feeling unseen, undervalued, or tolerated instead of embraced. It can look like:
• Who gets appointed or promoted: When the same group of people is consistently chosen for leadership, while others are overlooked, not because of ability but because of bias.
• Whose voices are heard: When certain perspectives are valued while others are dismissed, interrupted, or ignored.
• Ethnocentrism (the belief that one’s own cultural way is superior to others) can show up anywhere, in the workplace, in families, in community spaces, and in churches. It happens when one culture’s traditions, foods, perspectives, or communication styles are treated as the “right way,” while others are quietly dismissed as less valuable or less professional.
• Tokenism happens when someone is invited into a space only to check a diversity box, without being given real influence or the freedom to be themselves. For example, at work someone may be placed on a committee for the sake of appearances but their input is ignored, or in a family gathering, a person’s culture is mentioned but never fully embraced.
• Manipulation occurs when people are told they are included but are pressured to conform until they sound and act more like the majority than their authentic selves. In communities, this might look like expecting people to “fit in” by setting aside their own customs, expressions, or perspectives to avoid rocking the boat.
• Exploitation shows up when someone’s cultural uniqueness is highlighted only when it benefits the group, such as using their skills, image, or background for a company’s promotion, a community event, or even a family narrative, but not valuing their voice when real decisions are being made.
• Exclusion is perhaps the most obvious, where certain people are simply left out of opportunities, conversations, leadership roles, or family decisions because of unspoken biases about their culture, background, or differences.
• Food and fellowship: When cultural expressions like food or traditions are not welcomed or are treated as “less than.”
• Blind spots: When leaders or decision-makers never pause to ask, “Who is missing from this table and why?”
These may not always be intentional acts of harm, but the impact can still wound deeply.
The Power of Inclusion
Just as exclusion can be subtle, so can inclusion, but with a life-giving impact. Inclusion looks like:
• Genuine representation: Not just adding people to the table but giving them influence in decisions.
• Celebrating cultural expressions: Welcoming music, food, clothing, and traditions from all backgrounds.
• Rotating opportunities: Sharing leadership, preaching, planning, and visibility so many voices are heard.
• Honoring talent and gifting: Recognizing and affirming abilities without bias.
• Speaking up: Advocating for others when blind spots surface, even when it is uncomfortable.
These are not “diversity trends,” they are acts of love.
Humility: The Path to True Growth
When we approach others from a place of pride and a savior-like superiority complex, we automatically fail to see them as equals or as valuable. Instead of honoring their worth, we exalt ourselves above them and convince ourselves that they need us to be whole or to succeed. This mindset does not truly help others; it only feeds our egos.
But true growth, both personally and spiritually, requires a different posture. We must choose humility. We must continually ask ourselves, what can I learn from this person? That question changes everything. It takes the focus off of ourselves and places value on the God-given dignity, wisdom, and experiences of the other person.
Yes, you may find yourself in the room as the teacher, the leader, the expert, or even the rescuer in a moment of need. But never forget that in every situation, you are also called to remain a student. There is always something you can learn, whether from someone’s perspective, their story, their culture, their pain, or their triumphs.
This is where real growth and humility live. Not in exalting ourselves above others, but in seeing the imago Dei, the image of God, in every person we encounter. True humility acknowledges that every human being carries a piece of God’s wisdom that can enrich us if we are willing to listen, observe, and receive.
When we approach people with this kind of humility, we create space for authentic connection, mutual respect, and transformation. It dismantles the barriers of superiority and paves the way for unity, empathy, and love, the very qualities that reflect Jesus Christ Himself.
Why This Matters
Inclusion is not only about fairness; it is about reflecting something bigger. When people feel excluded in our churches, workplaces, communities, or even families, the message is often, “You do not fully belong.” But when we intentionally create inclusive spaces, the opposite happens. People show up authentically, bring their gifts, and thrive.
For people of faith, this connects to the Kingdom vision. Heaven will not be uniform but beautifully diverse, with every tribe, tongue, and nation standing together in worship.
Revelation 7:9 (NIV) says, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”
And God promised long ago that His house would be open to all nations.
Isaiah 56:7 (NIV) says, “These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
But at the center of all this is love. Real love is not empty words or nice statements; it is action. Love shows up when we choose sensitivity over indifference, when we open our doors wider, and when we make space for one another.
John 13:34-35 (NIV) says, “A new command I give you, Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Inclusion and cultural sensitivity are love in action, and that love is what reveals Christ to the world.
Reflection Questions
1. Where have I unintentionally overlooked or excluded someone because of cultural differences?
2. How can I use my influence, at church, at work, in my family, or community, to make space for others?
3. Am I willing to let others challenge my blind spots without becoming defensive?
4. Do my everyday actions reflect love in action, not just words?
5. If someone looked at the spaces I lead or participate in, would they see genuine diversity and inclusion?
A Call to Action
Be intentional. Look around your table and ask yourself: Who is missing, and why? Create opportunities for voices that are often underrepresented. Celebrate culture, do not just tolerate it. If you hold a position of influence, advocate for inclusion in tangible and measurable ways.
And remember, inclusion is not about shaping people into another version of you. If someone is invited to the table but their identity is silenced, erased, or reshaped until they no longer sound like themselves, that is not the spirit of love or inclusion. It is manipulation, exploitation, and exclusion.
If instead their presence is tolerated but parts of who they are are suppressed or diminished until they blend in and lose their authentic voice, that is not love or inclusion. It is control and exclusion.
And if their uniqueness is muted, flattened, or pressed into a mold that is not theirs, that is not inclusion at all. It is the opposite of love.
If you find yourself at the table but remain silent instead of speaking up for others, or if you stay in the room only to agree without advocating for justice, you may be intentionally or unintentionally part of the problem. You, too, are called to love one another, to stand for righteousness, and to seek justice not only for yourself and your family but for all.
The Bible Reminds Us…
Proverbs 31:8–9 (NIV): “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
John 13:34–35 (NIV): “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Summary
Cultural sensitivity is not about being “politically correct,” it is about being spiritually and relationally intentional. It is about love in action, honoring the image of God in every person, and creating spaces where all people can thrive regardless of the color of their skin. Whether in church, work, family, or community, we have the opportunity to model what heaven looks like, a place where every tribe, tongue, and nation belongs.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading. My hope and prayer is that you are already part of the solution, or that you will choose to become part of the solution. Remember, heaven is the goal, so let’s live lives that are pleasing to our Lord and King Jesus, so that one day we can all stand before Him in righteousness.
If this post resonates with you, please share it with someone.
Always with love,
Waydia