Can the Church Achieve Racial Diversity?

Developing Racial Diversity in the Church

 

Since we are celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and legacy, I thought I would examine how well the American church is doing in striving towards racial diversity.

 

Looking at a recent LifeWay study, while 85 percent of Protestant pastors say every church should strive for racial diversity, 86 percent say that their congregations are predominantly one racial or ethnic group.[1] This reality once led Martin Luther King, Jr. to call Sunday mornings the most segregated time of the week.[2]

 

The importance of the American church becoming truly multiethnic is revealed in date from the U.S. Census Bureau. Roughly 17 percent of Americans identify themselves as Hispanic. African Americans make up 13 percent of the population, followed by Asian American (5 percent), and 1 percent Native American or Native Alaskan. Another 2.4 percent identify with more than one racial group.[3]

 

Why should the American church strive towards racial diversity? It there a theological foundation for this? Let me share some biblical reasons why this should become a top priority for all churches.

1.     We are called to participate in the reconciling work of the cross, that tore down racial, gender and class divisions (Galatians 3:28).

2.     We are called to love our neighbors regardless of whether they look, think, talk or worship like us (Matthew 22:34-40).

3.     We are called to expand our culturally-limited notions of brother, sister, neighbor and friend to include all members of the diverse family of God (Matthew 12:50).

4.     We are called to multiethnic, multinational, multilingual worship (Revelations 7:9).

5.     We are called to humble cross-cultural interdependence (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).[4]

Mark DeYmaz, pastor of Mosaic Church, a multiethnic church in central Arkansas believes pastors are not always aware of how diverse their communities have become. He gives some interesting advice that I believe all pastors should try. DeYmaz suggests that pastors look at nearby public schools and gauge this against the diversity of their church to understand their context. He also suggests spending an hour sitting in the parking lot of a nearby Wal-Mart or grocery store in their area to see if their church truly reflects the community they are in.[5]

So, how can pastors attempt to change their church culture to begin striving for racial diversity?

1.     Get an up-to-date demographic report of your city or town. The first step in achieving racial diversity is to get an accurate assessment of the makeup of your local population. This is easier than ever, thanks to the internet. You can go to www.cubitplanning.com and get a full demographic report to share with your leadership. This will give you a true measuring stick by which you can gauge if your congregation is really reflecting your community.

 

2.     Preach a series of messages from the Book of Acts. One of the fundamental changes that must take place is in the area of discipleship. The book of Acts is about the Holy Spirit advancing the gospel across racial lines and establishing the New Testament church. Highlight how God through the Holy Spirit drew people from various races and socio-economic backgrounds to form churches across Asia Minor. The evangelistic and discipleship methodology in the book of Acts has not changed. It is still relevant and applicable to our culture and time today.

 

3.     Based on your demographic information, pick a segment of the population you are not currently reaching and prayerfully seek God’s direction on building bridges to those people. Find out who the community leaders are in these ethnic groups and ask the following two questions: “What are your greatest needs in this community?” “How can we meet those needs?”

 

4.     Begin putting those needs before your congregation and develop ministries to meet those needs. It could take many different forms. There is no “cut and paste” options. It must be unique to your community and context.

          This raises another question, are there any exceptions to a church striving for racial diversity? The only situation I can think a church may not be able to really have racial diversity is in rural areas. In some instances, churches located in extremely rural areas may have difficulty in this regard. However, God has called us to be as faithful as possible in the community and context He has placed us in.

Racial diversity has eluded the American church to a large degree. However, that does not mean there are not areas where many congregations are becoming multiethnic. For us to truly achieve racial diversity, the church must overcome several ideological fallacies that have permeated our culture.

The first is the consumeristic mindset of congregations. The last thirty years has seen the American consumer driven idea invade the church. People look at churches based on the programs and services they offer rather than seeking to be active participants in building the kingdom of God. In other words, many people prefer to step into a church that has well-established programs and services, rather than come into a church and help establish something “from the ground up.” We have unknowingly trained people from children’s church to adulthood to think, “What can the church do for me?” instead of “How can I serve God in this church?”

A second fallacy is related to the first. As a result of this consumer driven approach, churches have developed a program oriented mindset centered on the church, rather than discipling their congregants to do the majority of ministry outside of the church. In other words, churches have traditionally been “come and see,” when we should tell our people, “go and do.”

A final fallacy concerns the preaching from the pulpit. Pastors must resist the urge to preach to felt needs, instead focusing on systematic expositional teaching. Many pastors will be pleasantly surprised to find that God will use systematic expositional teaching to address needs but through the lens of unified Scripture.

The American church can truly reflect the diversity of God’s kingdom. It will take much prayer, humility, and work. However, it is possible. Let us all strive to reflect the communities in which we serve.

Serving Christ, Loving Others, and Growing Together

Bryan Cox

 

 

 

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     [1]Smientana, Bob, “Racial diversity in churches remain elusive,” BRnow.org website (Jan. 20, 2014); accessed 20 January, 2015; available from www.brnow.org; internet.

 

     [2]Ibid.

 

     [3]Ibid.

 

     [4]Cleveland, Christena, “Should every church be multi-ethnic?” personal blog; accessed 20 January 2015; available from http://www.christenacleveland.com/2013/11/should-every-church-be-multiethnic/; internet.

 

      [5]Smientana, “Racial diversity in churches remain elusive.”

Confessions of a Pastor-Letter to My Dad

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (NIV)

     Starting January 25th at 5pm we will begin Dr. James Dobson's Bible study Bringing Up Girls. We are going to follow that up with Dobson's Bringing up Boys. As I was beginning reading for the study, I began to think. What if our kids when they are grown could go back in time and write a letter to us about how our parenting influenced them positively or negatively? I think we would all be amazed, shocked, happy, and probably even regretful and angry with ourselves. So, I decided to try this experiment (I can't go back in time. I don't have a Delorean :-), so bear with me).

     Dad,

     I wanted to write you a letter to let you know how much you influenced me. Even though I have only seen you once in 22 years, I still think about you often. I wish you could know how much I wanted to spend time with you growing up. You were gone so much and when you were at home you did not want to be bothered. I would have given anything to have you spend some time with me.

     It was hard living with you. Coming home so many nights drunk and verbally abusing everyone and beating mom up. I would lay in bed dreading the moment you would finally come home. It took me many years to work through the anxiety from this abuse. I still remember you telling me in a drunken stupor, "You will never amount to anything. If you died tonight I would spit on your grave." You have no idea what that can do to the psyche of a 12 year old child.

      When mom finally left you, I was so alone. You don't know how hard it was having to grow up fast at 13. I wish I had someone to teach me what it meant to be a man in God's eyes growing up. I had to learn so many things the hard way by making mistakes. You have no idea how difficult it is trying to become a man in this world with no one to guide you. I had so much anger, bitterness, and resentment. I even started down your path-drinking, violence, and anger. But I thank God He had mercy on me and I accepted Jesus Christ's gracious offer of salvation.

     Christ has brought emotional, mental, and spiritual healing to my life. But dad, I still struggle. I fight your influence on almost a daily basis. The influence I wrestle with in the darkness of the night. It is that same voice in the darkness when I lay down that says, "You will never be good enough. You are a failure." It is the same influence I have to fight against when I think I shouldn't be a pastor because of my insecurities, fears, and failures. The same influence that tells me in my dark night of the soul that things can't change.

     But dad, they have changed. Because I made the decision I was not going to be like you. I made it for my wife and children. You see dad, you helped me get to where I am today. By Christ's strength and His grace, I used those fears to motivate me, to trust that God could do something bigger in my life than I ever could dream. I made the decision, dad, to break the cycle. It ends with me. My wife and children are going to have a husband and dad that loves them, cherishes them, and seeks to train them in God's Word and His ways. I refuse to pass down my fears, insecurities, and failures to my children. They are going to know wholeness and happiness.

     So dad, I want you to know I love you and pray for you. I wish things could have been different. But I trust God that He can raise beauty from ashes. I really hope one day I can see you soon.

Bryan

    
     Hey parents, you do have a lifetime influence on your children. I encourage you to do this exercise. It might shed some light on your parenting style and cause you to reevaluate some things. Let me encourage you. No parent is perfect. But by God's grace, let us apply Ephesians 6:4 with our children. God can take that and do great things with it.

Blessings,
Bryan
    

    

What God Taught Me About NewSpring

     You have no doubt probably seen the article circling social media entitled, "Perry Noble Rescinds the Ten Commandments," about the message Perry Noble preached at NewSpring's Christmas Eve service. There is another video entitled, "Perry Noble Drops the N-word on Christmas Eve." Now, in full disclosure, I do not know Perry Noble. We have never met, but we did eat across from each other at Mama Penn's in Anderson, SC years ago (a great place by the way).

     So you know where I am coming from, I pastor what you would call a fairly "traditional" church in Mauldin, SC.  I really despise the terms "traditional" and "contemporary" because they are subjective, but I use it so people have an idea of what we do. I am blessed to pastor New Hope. We have made some great strides in many areas over the six years of my ministry. We have a long way to go. The people are loving, friendly, and have supported me and my family beyond anything I could ask.

     I generally do not comment on what other churches are doing because I have a full plate myself. Until recently, I was in graduate school (completing my D.Min in December), with two small children and a church to pastor. Needless to say, I have more to do on any given day than I care to enumerate.

     However, I did make a careless comment on social media when I saw the article, "Perry Noble Rescinds the Ten Commandments." After I did so, God convicted my heart about it. Now, I am being fully transparent here. I do not endorse everything Perry Noble does. There are some things that concern me. This is not the point of the article. I do not endorse everything many other pastors do, (including some well known pastors as well). I am sure there are some people that could say the same thing about me. They have, trust me.

     After thinking about my comment, God directed me to Acts 5:33-39. To summarize the passage, Peter and apostles were put in jail for preaching the gospel. God sent an angel to break them out of jail, and they proceeded to the temple to teach the people. They were brought back before the Jewish High Council, where they wanted to kill them.

     Enter Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee. He gives the Council some sage advice in verses 38-39: "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."

     I see so many blogs and websites devoted to tearing down, nit-picking, and analyzing every word and phrase from prominent pastors that it is mind-boggling. What God has really impressed upon me is that we are actually hindering the gospel by fighting and tearing one another down. If God is not involved in something, it will eventually come to naught. However, if God is actively working, you might be actually fighting against what He is trying to do. I don't know about you, but I would rather err on the side of caution, than be caught fighting against God. In other words, God will either expose or vindicate NewSpring or any other church. It is not up to us.

     We actually give credence to unbelievers who think all we do is fight and argue over everything: from mode of baptism, to whether you adhere to Calvinism, Arminianism, or Molinism, praise band or choir, jeans and t-shirt or suit, etc. What we need to do is pray for one another and work together to advance the gospel to the ends of the earth.

     Now, in case you might be misinterpreting what I am saying, let me clarify. Do I believe Perry Noble and every other pastor needs to be held accountable? Absolutely. Let me share a couple of suggestions. First, if you are genuinely concerned about what Perry Noble, or any other pastor says or does-pray about it first. Ask God to give that person you are concerned about wisdom and discernment. Pray that God will use someone close to them to point out an error. And pray that God will reveal to you if this is a genuine concern or just something you are hung-up personally about. If you are still concerned, contact NewSpring. While you won't get to speak with Perry Noble, they do have people on staff who will talk with you about your concerns. And finally, leave it there. Don't start a blog or a website airing your perceived grievances. I can promise you, it will not benefit anyone.

     While I have my concerns about some of things NewSpring does, it does not negate the fact they do a lot of great things. I have family that goes to NewSpring and they are passionate about Christ. I have personally talked to people who never served in church before that are now active in ministry because of their involvement with NewSpring. Countless people have come to faith in Christ through their ministry. All of these things I can rejoice in and celebrate.

     I am sure some people will object to my opinion and that is fine. I might be perceived as someone who is "compromising" the truth or becoming "liberal." Hey folks, I only have two pairs of jeans and I was given those at Christmas! How liberal can I be? Even though I am probably your stereotypical pastor; I am comfortable in suits and I am very conservative in my theology and morals, please do not label me or put me in your box. There is more to me than meets the eye.

     In the same way, I am sure Perry Noble and other high profile pastors would appreciate it if we did not label them and put them in our preconceived boxes. There is more to them than meets the eye.

     In the end, Perry Noble, myself, and every other person who has stood in front of people and proclaimed God's Word will have to give an account before Jesus Christ Himself. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am much more concerned about what Jesus is going to say to me than anyone here on earth. Perry Noble is aware of his accountability to Christ I am sure.

     So, in closing, can I make an appeal to everyone who calls on the name of Jesus Christ as their Savior to focus our energies on coming together and partnering with one another to see people come to Christ, instead of pointing out what we don't agree on? I am blessed to have relationships with a variety of churches that are very different than the one I pastor: The Church at Cherrydale, Summit Church, Maudlin United Methodist, and Brookwood Church to name a few. Do we agree on everything? No. But do we share a passion to see as many people come to Christ as possible? Absolutely. I pray you will commit to doing the same.

Serving Christ, Loving Others, and Growing Together,
Dr. Bryan Cox