Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 3-084 (Leadership Issues)

TOWARDS A CHURCH OF ALL PEOPLES

by Paul Grant

How can we grow churches that more properly reflect the range and composition of a pluralist society? Why should we ask this question? Simply because the Eph.2:1-10 passage challenges us to do so. This multi-peopled family idea is in God’s heart and mind for the world’s well-being. He initiated it in Jesus’ coming.

This brief article proposes some practical steps for a pastor to follow. God as architect has designed a construct that is a living, organic habitation for Himself (Eph.2:21-22). The materials are people of all kinds (Gal.3:28)

As a boy I was rapt when, looking into a kaleidoscope (an optical toy) I was able to ‘create’ an endless variety of colours and forms. ‘Kaleidoscope’ is from the Greek language and means beautiful forms presented for viewing. Jesus Christ as Head of the Church is creating a composition of many peoples for His wisdom to be made known to the world and cosmic powers (Eph.3:10f). Also, that He will make a present of it to Himself (Eph.5:27).

So … how can we as leaders promote the growth of multi-ethnic, multi-racial, and multi-cultural churches? There is not one way but rather a combination of many. Here are a few:

1.ABSORB A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN-BEINGNESS

We are all of ‘one blood’ (Acts 17:26). God as Creator of all is Father of all (Acts 14:15 and Eph.3:15). Our shared human- beingness, though distorted by sin, reflects God’s image. Jesus has no favourites (Acts 10:35). In Jesus we find a unique bonding without which people who are different remain different and we remain indifferent to them (Eph.2:11-12). In Christ we retain cultural identity but obtain inter-cultural unity. But we have to work at it!

2. INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT

Jesus did. (Read the story of the woman of Sychar – a mixed race person – in John 4). Jesus was the ‘mixed race’ Saviour (See Matt. 1:3,5,6. Four non-Jewish mothers in his lineage). A stranger is a friend you’ve not met yet. A friend is a stranger you’ve reached out to love and get. How many non-Christian friends do you have?

3.GET INTO A WHOLE NEW FAMILY OF RELATIVES

Our Western societies in the family sense are disintegrating. People of other cultures, despite their sins, retain and uphold family networks that in many cases approximate God’s design for human living. Redeemed and sanctified these connections become entry points for the Gospel and can lead to ‘people movements’ of faith in Christ on a large scale. (City-wide conversions). This phenomenon was seen in the Pacific in the 1800′s. Nations can be born in a day (Isaiah 66:8). Pedigrees can become filigrees of grace. A genealogy gains synergy from salvation’s energy. Multicultural churches have a very special family feel. I’m wealthy! I have a world-wide family of loving new relatives. It is interesting to note that Western concepts of ‘relatives’ is a reductionist one. In non-Western cultures ‘relatives’ can incorporate literally hundreds of people who are in the ‘family’ by whom they are helped and to whom they are expected to show help.

4.PROMOTE A ONE-WORLD, NEW WORLD FAMILY

Jesus came from outer space, globalising. As God’s proto-type Missionary He came to bring salvation. It was a mission of mystery to create a new history. Family identity would be grounded and named in Him. (I see myself as a ‘Christian Australian’ rather than an ‘Australian Christian’). He said, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? . Whoever does the will of My father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’ (Matt.12:46-50). A new race. A people of grace. Christian identity transcends yet transforms and incorporates individuality and ethnicity. The church is meant to be, here on earth, an organic audio-visual of the coming heaven that will comprise people from ‘every tribe and language and people and nation’ (Rev.5:9; 7:9). Here on earth He creates ‘one new man .. making peace’ (Eph.2:15). Soon, in heaven He will present to Himself a perfected family (Eph.5:27). Living that out in the here and now is bringing heaven to earth. Catherine of Siena said, ‘All the way to heaven is heaven.’

Seventy percent (70%) of the world’s Christians are from non- Western societies. It was the other way around 30 years ago. God is bringing into His church mega-blocs of new people groups from new places. He is merging them into new configurations with others so that the Gospel will go to all nations before Jesus returns. Christians of whatever ethnic group are called to seize the day with an urge to merge with people of other kinds and do what Jesus said ‘Go and make disciples of all people groups’ (Matt.28:19).

Paul E. Grant <> April 2003

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