Growing up, from 1981-86, I had the privilege of living in West Berlin, Germany, during the Cold War. While in Berlin, my family attended Berlin Baptist Church, an international church whose members came from England, Lebanon, Vietnam, Indonesia, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia, Germany and Cambodia. Being a part of such a diverse body of believers taught me two important lessons.
First, I learned to celebrate the beauty of cultural diversity as a gift of God. Each culture at our church possessed different customs and cultural expressions. Even though we had English in common, our native languages differed. We listened to different styles of music and ate different food. Rather than ignore these cultural differences, we celebrated them. We came to worship in different styles of dress in accordance with our cultures. Worshiping at Berlin Baptist reminded me of a scene from the book of Revelation where Christians “from all tribes and peoples and languages” surround the throne of Christ in a heavenly worship service (Revelation 7:9).
If we Christ followers seek to pursue racial equality and reconciliation, we must start by acknowledging and celebrating the diversity we find in people from different racial backgrounds represented in our communities. In our efforts to pursue racial equality, we must avoid failing to recognize the cultural distinctions and characteristics of neighbors of different ethnic backgrounds. In an article in Relevant magazine, journalist Trillia Newbell warns against overlooking these cultural differences in the pursuit of racial equality. She writes, “Because we have tried to move past color, we’ve minimized our cultural differences, which can lead to a lack of understanding and grace.”
Rather than looking past color and culture, we must seek to understand the victories and challenges our neighbors of different cultures have experienced. We need to listen to their stories to seek to understand the pain and anger they may have experienced due to racism. We must practice the admonition in Scripture to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Such understanding comes from dialogue between believers of various cultural backgrounds. Are you participating in such dialogues in your church and your community?
Second, I learned, while celebrating the beauty of cultural diversity, to celebrate the greater beauty of the unity the Gospel brings within that diversity. We find our ultimate identity in Jesus Christ. The heavenly scene in Revelation, while revealing the diversity of Christians “from all tribes and peoples and languages,” paints a picture of unity in worship before the throne of Christ. Paul explains that the Body of Christ is comprised of many members who work together for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom. Regarding their interdependency, Paul explains, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV).
This picture of the unity and interdependency of the Body of Christ prompts a number of questions regarding the issues of racial equality and reconciliation as they relate to the Church. First, does your congregation reflect the diversity of cultures evident in your community? Is it a picture of the heavenly scene where people “from all tribes and peoples and languages” are worshiping and living out the Gospel together? Second, when you see brothers and sisters in Christ from different cultures suffering, do you suffer along with them? When they experience persecution and tragedy, do you stand with them? Do you celebrate with them when they rejoice? Such unity only occurs when we live in relationship together in Christ Jesus for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel.
So let us celebrate the beauty of cultural diversity as a gift of God. Let us join our brothers and sisters of different races in dialogue, seeking to understand our differences, victories, challenges and pain. Let us reach out to people of every race and culture in our communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Within our diversity, let us find our identity and unity in Christ. Let us work together, as unique members of one body, for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.