Living Our Values: Personal Ways to Incorporate Inclusion and Justice into Your Everyday Life

At Perry Highway Lutheran Church, we believe in living out our faith through love, compassion, and service to others. But how do we translate these principles into our daily lives? How do we find personal ways of living out the values of inclusion and justice we hold dear as a community of faith?

Here are a few ways that you can incorporate these principles into your everyday life:

Listen to others: To create a truly inclusive community, we must listen to the perspectives and experiences of those who may be different from us. Listen to the stories of people of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, and backgrounds. Seek to understand their experiences and learn from them. “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” – James 1:19

Speak up: Don’t stay silent when you hear someone make a derogatory or exclusionary remark. Speak up and challenge those attitudes. Use your voice to advocate for all people’s rights and dignity and create a culture of inclusivity and respect. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” – Proverbs 31:8-9

Volunteer: Look for ways to get involved in your community, whether volunteering at a local organization, participating in a protest or march, or advocating for social justice causes. Use your time and energy to positively impact the world and work towards a more just and equitable society. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

Practice empathy: Put yourself in the shoes of others, and try to see the world from their perspective. This can help you develop a deeper sense of compassion and understanding and can help you build more meaningful relationships with people of different backgrounds and identities. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” – Romans 12:15

Educate yourself: Take time to learn about the issues that affect marginalized communities, and educate yourself on ways to be a better ally and advocate. Read books, articles, and blogs by people of different backgrounds, and attend workshops or training on topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

By incorporating these principles into our daily lives, we can create a more just and equitable society and live out the values of inclusion and justice that we hold dear as a community of faith. At Perry Highway Lutheran Church, we seek to live out these principles every day, and we invite you to join us in this journey toward a more loving, compassionate, and just world.  If you want to connect with like-minded people, visit us this Sunday – or check out one of the events below.