June 2020 — pg. 9
like denial (“You must be talking about someone else.”),
defensiveness (“You don’t know anything about me.”), or
the tendency to minimize the problem (“Can’t we just get
past the past?”). But when a person experiences diversity
unexpectedly, the message often gets through.
So what does “doing diversity” look like? It might mean
establishing a ministry presence in a diverse neighborhood,
starting racially diverse small groups, or sharing life stories
that just happen to involve people who don’t look alike.
Without question, it means developing and deploying
a diverse group of leaders. We saw very little growth in
diversity at Christ Community until our stage, staff and
church board reflected racial diversity. When people enter
a community and see no one in leadership who looks like
they do, the message they receive is, “You are welcome to
join us.” But when a person enters a community and sees
people in leadership who look like they do, the message is,
“We are in this together.”
Lastly, I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge that
intentionally cultivating racial diversity within a local
church is hard work — not because those who are different
will make it hard, but because there is something in all of
us that clings to comfort and familiarity. Let’s be candid:
Racially diverse community sometimes feels awkward and
uncomfortable, especially in the early stages.
I should also acknowledge that there is legitimate
pushback from some who argue for the preservation of
distinct racial cultures, particularly when it comes to things
like worship style. To be fair, when Paul speaks of our unity
in Christ (i.e., Ephesians 2:14–15; Galatians 3:28), he never
suggests that one group must adopt the culture of another.
In fact, he does the opposite in Acts 15 when he defends
the rights of Gentiles to reject most aspects of Jewish
culture. Without question, one of the most challenging
issues facing churches that would embrace racial diversity
has to do with worship style preferences. Do you go for a
blended style that may not connect at a heart level with
anyone? Is it possible to embrace multiple styles in a single
community? Could a new style emerge out of a racially
diverse community? These are difficult questions without
easy answers.
Why Pursue It?
So, why should we pursue the more difficult path of
racial diversity when an easier path exists? I would respond
in three ways:
First, a racially diverse community is a reflection of
God’s nature as Creator. It is God who created different
genders and races and called them “good.” In a similar
way, Paul reminds us of the diversity of gifts that define the
body of Christ. When we also consider the fact that no two
persons are exactly alike, it becomes clear that beauty in
the eyes of God must be understood in terms of diversity.
Second, a racially diverse church demonstrates the power
of the gospel to a lost world. I believe it can be argued one
of the reasons the church has lost much of its influence
in American culture is because we have failed to live our
own message, especially when it comes to racial unity. It
must not be lost on us that Jesus specifically prayed that
God would make us one “so that the world may know that
you have sent me” (John 17:21). Our unity as brothers and
sisters in Christ is one of our most powerful testimonies to
the truthfulness of the gospel.
Finally, a racially diverse community prepares us for
eternity.
When Jesus allowed John a glimpse of heaven, he saw
the 24 elders before the throne of God, singing, “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, and
you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9–10).
This is our future. May it increasingly become our
current reality.+
“It is God
who created
different
genders and
races and
called them
‘good.’”
“A racially diverse
community prepares us
for eternity.”