Deep and Diverse Community Will Not Happen (Part 2)

By Pastor RyanThis blog is a follow up to a post that Pastor Ryan wrote last year: "Deep and Diverse Community Will Not Happen".Deep and diverse community will not happen if we are self-involved and culturally unaware.We are self-involved and culturally unaware. Many of us primarily like or associate with people that look like us or enjoy the same things we do. We love ourselves so we associate with people similar to us. We are self-involved. So much so that even if one of our good friends has a character trait we dislike it is often because it is something we dislike about ourselves. It reminds us of our flaws. We are self-involved. And if we do associate with people of other ages, ethnicities, or socioeconomic classes it is more of a “service” to them. I’m better than them so I’ll stoop down and help them.Many of us are in the dominant culture and are unaware of it. We live in a world where race is not an issue for us. We are unintentionally or willfully unaware that not all people have the same privileges and experiences as us. As I’ve talked to minority friends one of the things they appreciate is when those in the dominant culture at the least understand and state that they are in the dominant culture. It bridges gaps. It lets them know that you are considering something willfully that you may have been ignorant of and that is encouraging because they have grown up fully aware of dominant and non-dominant cultures. They have grown up fully aware of their ethnicity.First, we should remind ourselves that eternity with Jesus will be a beautiful tapestry of people ransomed from every tribe, language, people group and nation praising him forever together (Revelation 5). Heaven will not be a monochromatic affair. It will be a vibrant and glorious tapestry that was woven by Jesus’ blood. Check out Leonce Crump on tapestry here.Second, we should remind ourselves of how the apostle Paul related to and ministered to those of other ethnicities. In 2 Corinthians 9:19-23 he says, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” 

"Heaven will not be a monochromatic affair. It will be a vibrant and glorious tapestry that was woven by Jesus’ blood."

 "Paul so values those of other ethnicities that he A) recognizes their unique identity and B) willfully lays aside his unique identity in order to make the message of the gospel attractive and understandable to those who are not like him. There is only one alternative to this approach. That alternative is to make others adapt to our racial/ethnic identity in order to hear and understand the gospel.” – Cole BrownMy hope is that we repent of our love of self and turn to our God who gave himself for us and lavished his love on us. We would not make others adapt to us but we would lay down our lives for others seeking to show hospitality, loving people that are different than us, and working towards being a diverse community. Also I hope this begins the conversation of our dominant culture, white privilege, and racial reconciliation. That we will be aware of different ethnicities and not cop out saying we are “colorblind.” (I’d encourage everyone to read this four-part blog post by Cole Brown named Jesus Isn’t Colorblind and You Shouldn’t Be Either)One specific item you will notice this Sunday and in the future is we will be working towards being diverse in our gatherings. From different styles of music, spoken word, intentionally pursuing minority band members and singers, and ways we sing. We want to image now what we will be doing forever. All tribes, languages, and people groups will be proclaiming together:“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” Revelation 5:12-13I ask that we all lay down our preferences and join in this wonderful tapestry of God’s people. A united work of art that displays the richness of our backgrounds and cultures. To the praise of His glory and grace.Let us sing joyfully and loudly together because Worthy is the Lamb!I’d encourage you to listen to Tye Tribbett, Fred Hammond, Jimmy Needham’s The Hymns Session, Vashawn Mitchell, Brothers of The Empty Tomb, Mahalia Jackson, and Emmaus’ Church Songs.You can read part one here.