A couple of years ago, I was in Atlanta for a conference and I visited the Coca-Cola museum there. If you are in sales or marketing, you need to visit this place. It is impressive. At the beginning of the museum tour, they show you the most manipulative video I’ve ever seen. The video shows many different happy moments in life for different people all over the world: the first kiss, getting engaged, surprise birthday parties, and so on. And a bottle of Coke is always subtly in the background, telling you Coke is an important part of your life. I knew my emotions were being manipulated, but I could still feel tears coming to my eyes. It was brilliant.
At the end of the tour, you watch one more video and they tell you that they’re going reveal the secret ingredient of Coke. Ready for it? According to the fine people at the Coca-Cola museum, Coke is the one thing that unites people across every language and culture and social difference. As I was sitting there, I was reminded that we are all looking for something that will transcend national and economic boundaries, language, and cultural differences.
But Coca-Cola is not the thing that brings us together. It is Jesus-those who are united to him can look forward to the day when we will live in the new creation forever in God’s presence, rejoicing in him.
In the song of praise to the Lamb in Rev 5:9, the living creatures and elders surrounding the throne sing, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
When we gather in that new creation, there will be Jews and Gentiles, French and English, Hutus and Tutsis, Samoans and Hawaiians, and every other people group, gathered before God’s throne, living in his presence forever. Because we are all united by faith to Jesus.
So our unity in Christ gives us a greater reason to celebrate other cultures than Coke, Pepsi, McDonalds, or anything else. As followers of Jesus, our primary identity is certainly not what we eat and drink. It is not our race, gender, social status, or job. Our primary identity is our union with Christ. And when we are united to brothers and sisters across many cultures and races, we have the greatest reason to celebrate the many diverse cultures on our island and in our school. The culture of Hawaii truly does this well. And we know as Christians, we can celebrate Hawaiian culture even if we are not Hawaiian ourselves because we have many Hawaiian brothers and sisters who love Jesus and we will worship him together forever. I can’t think of a greater reason to celebrate!
Chris Bruno
Director of Advancement