Every Tongue, Tribe, People, and Nation
Why work for diversity in the Church? I've seen this question posed a couple times. Partly out of concern for tokenism, partly out of concern for creating a new legalism.
As I see it, there are three major reasons for seeking diversity and racial reconciliation: coming to terms with our own history, a vision for maturity in the American church, and the Eschatological Church.
Reckoning with our own history (especially the SBC)
I don't remember where I got this observation (I think it was Tim Mackie), but here it is: In chapter nine of the book of Daniel, Daniel offers a prayer of repentance for Israel's past sins -- the corporate sins that culminate in the Babylonian exile that contextualizes the book. Daniel has acted uprightly in every dilemma presented him, so why should he have to repent for others? It's a strange idea for our autonomous age. The Southern Baptist Convention broke off from the American Baptist over the preservation of slavery. Chattel slavery as practiced in the United States was one of its founding principles. Since then the SBC has repented and apologized. The efforts within the SBC (particularly Russell Moore and the ERLC) and elsewhere are aimed at the next step: reconciliation.
Consider the Israelite laws for theft: a thief had to pay back double the amount stolen. Restitution is not incompatible with grace and forgiveness. If this is so with theft, how much more with the systematic dehumanization inflicted upon our darker brothers? Restitution in this case is unattainable: only God can restore what man took from man. Although the institutions of slavery and segregation may have been lifted, the cultural impact cannot be small or short lived. Jesus told us to be salt and we have been reminded many a time that salt is a preservative. The Gospel does not preserve evil. The salt keeps bacteria from growing. We seek a new approach toward culture.
I don't have any Southern roots that I know of: my maternal ancestors were immigrants and frontiersmen and my paternal ancestors where Yankees. And if you want to press the argument that Yankees were just as racist as Southerners, I accept. My ancestor, Charles Applegate, was a drunk and a womanizer, quite capable of any and every sin. Although his brother, Jesse, is supposed to have had more progressive views, I suspect that my ancestors' sins need repenting of as much as any Southerner.
Reconciliation means more than asking forgiveness for slavery and segregation. It requires rethinking our entire American history altogether and the mythos we cling to of the City on a Hill. We can confront the faults of our past without demonizing our founding fathers.
(My husband recently questioned Patrick Henry's famous, "Give me liberty or give me death." Is that really a Christian statement? Is it one that the Apostle Paul would have sympathized with while he lived in a Roman prison? Or the Apostle John exiled on the island of Patmos? Or even Joseph and Daniel?)
Wrestling with American Christianity and maturing the American Church
Here I'm going to speak where I have less knowledge. Several times in the last year we've seen the observation from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning. This stems from the cultural impact of slavery and institutionalized segregation. Our segregated churches in America stem from different roots than, say, England.
Have we not seen acknowledged that American black church has often run aground in prosperity gospel, intellectually shallow pentecostalism, or trite inspirationalism? Is that not also true for the majority of American churches as well? Probably no one thinks that American church is a beacon on a hill, except of course for one's own church. The stereotype of the black church as a hub for leftist politics is particularly sticky for conservative white churches. In both cases (I believe) we have retreated from Biblical language and categories and fallen into tribalism.
I was first exposed to the distinctive style of black preaching at a Southern Baptist Convention: vigorous, beautiful, and passionate. If you are ever in New Orleans, you must visit Franklin Avenue Baptist. When you see the average smug, irascible, overfed white Evangelical muffin such as seen in some of the non-charismatic church services seen on TV . . . well. What couldn't we gain from challenging one another however awkward the getting-to-know-you?
But if your favorite church hobby is paedocommunion, exclusive psalmody, great coffee, a particular style of music, picketing, social programs, or growing your social media presence, then growing a multicultural congregation might require you to flex on those goals. What I don't want to compromise on is first tier doctrine. The Book of Acts shows us that we don't have to compromise.
The Eschatological Church
Revelation shows us every tongue, tribe, people, and nation gathered together to celebrate and worship the Lamb that was slain. Why shouldn't we strive for our churches to look like this? -- Depending of course on what your area looks like. (I'm guessing Montana isn't a terribly diverse place.) Economics will play a part in this too. But we strive to make our calling and election sure. We study to show ourselves approved. The sanctification worked by the Holy Spirit begins the perfection that will be completed after death. That it will surely happen later is no reason to remain stagnant now, in pursuing personal holiness or seeking greater fellowship. We are running joyfully to the prize of the upward call of God.
It was a joy to see the many styles of dress (and headdress!) at Metropolitan Tabernacle in London.
We have a glorious calling of maturity. The Father is seeking worshippers. We want no one left behind.
As I see it, there are three major reasons for seeking diversity and racial reconciliation: coming to terms with our own history, a vision for maturity in the American church, and the Eschatological Church.
Reckoning with our own history (especially the SBC)
I don't remember where I got this observation (I think it was Tim Mackie), but here it is: In chapter nine of the book of Daniel, Daniel offers a prayer of repentance for Israel's past sins -- the corporate sins that culminate in the Babylonian exile that contextualizes the book. Daniel has acted uprightly in every dilemma presented him, so why should he have to repent for others? It's a strange idea for our autonomous age. The Southern Baptist Convention broke off from the American Baptist over the preservation of slavery. Chattel slavery as practiced in the United States was one of its founding principles. Since then the SBC has repented and apologized. The efforts within the SBC (particularly Russell Moore and the ERLC) and elsewhere are aimed at the next step: reconciliation.
Consider the Israelite laws for theft: a thief had to pay back double the amount stolen. Restitution is not incompatible with grace and forgiveness. If this is so with theft, how much more with the systematic dehumanization inflicted upon our darker brothers? Restitution in this case is unattainable: only God can restore what man took from man. Although the institutions of slavery and segregation may have been lifted, the cultural impact cannot be small or short lived. Jesus told us to be salt and we have been reminded many a time that salt is a preservative. The Gospel does not preserve evil. The salt keeps bacteria from growing. We seek a new approach toward culture.
I don't have any Southern roots that I know of: my maternal ancestors were immigrants and frontiersmen and my paternal ancestors where Yankees. And if you want to press the argument that Yankees were just as racist as Southerners, I accept. My ancestor, Charles Applegate, was a drunk and a womanizer, quite capable of any and every sin. Although his brother, Jesse, is supposed to have had more progressive views, I suspect that my ancestors' sins need repenting of as much as any Southerner.
Reconciliation means more than asking forgiveness for slavery and segregation. It requires rethinking our entire American history altogether and the mythos we cling to of the City on a Hill. We can confront the faults of our past without demonizing our founding fathers.
(My husband recently questioned Patrick Henry's famous, "Give me liberty or give me death." Is that really a Christian statement? Is it one that the Apostle Paul would have sympathized with while he lived in a Roman prison? Or the Apostle John exiled on the island of Patmos? Or even Joseph and Daniel?)
Wrestling with American Christianity and maturing the American Church
Here I'm going to speak where I have less knowledge. Several times in the last year we've seen the observation from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning. This stems from the cultural impact of slavery and institutionalized segregation. Our segregated churches in America stem from different roots than, say, England.
Have we not seen acknowledged that American black church has often run aground in prosperity gospel, intellectually shallow pentecostalism, or trite inspirationalism? Is that not also true for the majority of American churches as well? Probably no one thinks that American church is a beacon on a hill, except of course for one's own church. The stereotype of the black church as a hub for leftist politics is particularly sticky for conservative white churches. In both cases (I believe) we have retreated from Biblical language and categories and fallen into tribalism.
I was first exposed to the distinctive style of black preaching at a Southern Baptist Convention: vigorous, beautiful, and passionate. If you are ever in New Orleans, you must visit Franklin Avenue Baptist. When you see the average smug, irascible, overfed white Evangelical muffin such as seen in some of the non-charismatic church services seen on TV . . . well. What couldn't we gain from challenging one another however awkward the getting-to-know-you?
But if your favorite church hobby is paedocommunion, exclusive psalmody, great coffee, a particular style of music, picketing, social programs, or growing your social media presence, then growing a multicultural congregation might require you to flex on those goals. What I don't want to compromise on is first tier doctrine. The Book of Acts shows us that we don't have to compromise.
The Eschatological Church
Revelation shows us every tongue, tribe, people, and nation gathered together to celebrate and worship the Lamb that was slain. Why shouldn't we strive for our churches to look like this? -- Depending of course on what your area looks like. (I'm guessing Montana isn't a terribly diverse place.) Economics will play a part in this too. But we strive to make our calling and election sure. We study to show ourselves approved. The sanctification worked by the Holy Spirit begins the perfection that will be completed after death. That it will surely happen later is no reason to remain stagnant now, in pursuing personal holiness or seeking greater fellowship. We are running joyfully to the prize of the upward call of God.
It was a joy to see the many styles of dress (and headdress!) at Metropolitan Tabernacle in London.
We have a glorious calling of maturity. The Father is seeking worshippers. We want no one left behind.
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