MORE THAN A DREAM ...
The Biblical Mandate for the Multi-Ethnic Church
While government and educational programs, together with the efforts of countless individuals, groups and agencies, have long-sought to eliminate prejudice and the disparaging consequences of institutional racism still deeply imbedded within our society, it is time to recognize that systemic change cannot be achieved apart from the establishment of local churches that intentionally and joyfully reflect the passion of Christ for all people of the world.* For it is not the institutions of government nor of education throughout America that have been called by God to the task, but rather it is the local church, the bride of Christ … we His people (John 17:1-3, 20-23; Acts 11:19-26, 13:1, 16ff.; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 4:1-6; Revelation 5:9-10).
Yet the growing fascination with the potential for multi-ethnic local churches throughout America and beyond must not be focused on racial reconciliation. Rather, multi-ethnic church planters and reformers must be focused fundamentally on reconciling men and women to God through faith in Jesus Christ and, consequently then, on reconciling local congregations with the pattern of the New Testament local church; in and through which men and women of diverse background worshipped God together as one. For as Chris Rice, writing in his book, More Than Equals, has observed ...
Concerning the movement of American Christianity towards racial reconciliation in the 1990's, author Chris Rice - in his book, More Than Equals - wrote the following profound words ...
"Yes, deep reconciliation will produce justice, and new relationships between the races. Yes this will lead Christians to become a bright light in the public square. But I have become convinced that God is not very interested in the church healing the race problem. I believe it is more true that God is using race to heal the church."
The Passion of Christ
In John 17:1-5ff., Christ clearly defined His mission. He was sent to the world to bring hope and the promise of eternal life to all mankind, to those who would believe. Reaching the lost is what it was all about; it remains today the passion of His heart.
So after first interceding for the apostles (John 17:6-19), He prayed for you and me (“…those also who believe in Me through their word,” John 17:20). Specifically and repeatedly (three times in the next three verses, John 17:21-23), He prayed that we would be one, or "perfected in unity," so that the world would know God’s love and believe. Our unity, He declared, would be a visible witness to the world of God's love for all people: Our unity would demonstrate to all mankind that He is, indeed, the Messiah who alone brings peace to the world, salvation to men.
On the night before He died, then, Christ not only defined His mission, but also delivered to us the most effective means of reaching the world with the Gospel. He did not ask us to write books, publish tracts or develop programs (helpful as such things may be); rather, He called us (specifically) to be one – “on earth as it is in heaven” - so that the world would know God's love and believe.
The Pattern of the New Testament Church
Have you ever wondered why you have to read eight chapters into the Book of Acts to find anyone willing to leave Jerusalem for the sake of the Gospel? Consider, too, that the apostle. Peter, is later challenged to explain the fact that he has converted a Roman soldier to Christianity (Acts 11). Again, the question is why?
It was, indeed, difficult for the early believers to understand that Christ intended for His kingdom to extend beyond Jewish borders, to encompass people from every nation, tongue and tribe. Even into Acts 11, they still don't get it! For in various towns, those being scattered from Jerusalem/Judea by way of persecution speak of Christ only to Jews (Acts 11:19).
But in Acts 11:20, a significant step is taken when men of Cyprus (an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea) and Cyrene (a city in North Africa) intentionally take the Gospel to Antioch (the third largest city in the Roman empire) and speak of Christ to both Jews and Greeks alike. As a result, considerable numbers there (mentioned three times in the next six verses, Acts 11: 21-27) come to Christ. Barnabus is sent from Jerusalem to investigate and later, brings Paul himself to minister in this diverse environment. In time, three missionary journeys are launched from this local church and the Gospel is spread throughout all of Asia Minor and into Europe as well, making Antioch, perhaps, the most influential church of the entire New Testament!
Why did the church at Antioch care about the world? Because the church at Antioch reflected the world; they were a multi-ethnic people with a multi-ethnic leadership** (Acts 13:1) who considered it essential to send their money, their men and message of hope abroad - to friends, family and countrymen - in obedience to Christ (Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8).
With this in mind, it is not coincidental that believers were first called "Christians" at Antioch (Acts 11:26). For as Jesus Himself made clear, He would be most clearly recognized via the unity of His children.
Conclusion
In their book, Divided By Faith, sociologists Michael Emerson and Christian Smith find that evangelical churches may actually (though unintentionally) be perpetuating institutional racism throughout America. For not only did their research confirm (to no one's surprise) that most American evangelicals attend ethnically and/or economically segregated churches, but more significantly, that they spend more than 70% of their time relationally with others who attend their own local church (i.e., time outside of work, school, sports, etc.). Thus they concluded that evangelical Christians are not only racially segregated, but relationally segregated from one another, as well.
So how does this perpetuate the problem?
Apart from ethnically and economically diverse relationships, we will not fully encounter the condition of those different than our own. Apart from such informed understanding, we are less likely to get involved in genuine community transformation. Without involvement, nothing changes and hence, systemic inequities are unintentionally perpetuated by sleeping giants, namely, the evangelical churches of America (whether they be predominately black or white, churches according to their research).
Through the Biblical transformation of our minds and wills, we will be able to emotionally engage the concept of a multi-ethnic/economically diverse local church. Indeed, we will not only come to understand the passion of Christ for local church unity as described above, we will desire to pursue it for the sake of the Gospel! Yes, it is Christ’s will that we be one with believers different than ourselves so that the world would know God’s love and believe. As a by-product, society will be affected and the church restored to a place of prominence in the minds and hearts of those outside its walls. This is the power of unity; this is the Gospel of Christ.
Footnotes
*According to the latest research, 93 1/2% of all churches throughout America (Catholic and Protestant combined) are segregated in such a way. 7 1/2% of the churches have achieved 20% diversity within their body; only 2-3% have been found to be without a predominant ethnic majority.
** In Acts 13:1, it is interesting that the leadership of the church at Antioch is not only listed, but also listed with reference to cultural distinction. Two men, Simeon and Lucius, are described as being from Africa. Manaen is apparently from Judea and economically privileged (having “been brought up with Herod the tetrarch.”) Of course, biographical information concerning Barnabus (of Cyprus) and Saul (of Tarsus) had already been provided by Luke (Acts 4:36, 37; Acts 11:25); thus, there was no need to repeat it here.
c. 2001, 2005 / Mark DeYmaz