The Multi Cultural Church in South Africa
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The church is called to be both an instrument and sign of the kingdom of God. As an instrument, the church is God’s agent in the world showing and sharing the love of Jesus to a broken and hurting world.
And as a sign, the church points to the kingdom of God, acting as a credible witness to its reality and power. People are supposed to look at the church and say, “That’s what the kingdom of God looks like.”
In this sense, it’s a window into the kingdom encouraging others to join the fellowship of faith, bound together in Christ.
Revelation 7 says men and women will gather around the throne of God for eternity, and they will come from every tribe, tongue, and nation. But when we look across the landscape of churches around the world and in South Africa in particular , most are far too monocultural. There’s a lot of talk in our churches and among pastors, leaders, and scholars about the need for our churches to be more multi-ethnic and multicultural. But it’s not often accomplished.
Pursuing diversity is a good thing. But we must be clear what we are talking about. A church can be multi-ethnic if it has persons of different ethnic backgrounds who attend.
But if people of various ethnic groups listen to the same music, eat the same foods, hang out at the same entertainment venues, and go to church together, that’s not multicultural. They have assimilated to a common culture. It may be multi-ethnic, but it’s still monocultural. Join Brandpunt this morning in the pursuit of God’s multi-cultural church here on earth.
And as a sign, the church points to the kingdom of God, acting as a credible witness to its reality and power. People are supposed to look at the church and say, “That’s what the kingdom of God looks like.”
In this sense, it’s a window into the kingdom encouraging others to join the fellowship of faith, bound together in Christ.
Revelation 7 says men and women will gather around the throne of God for eternity, and they will come from every tribe, tongue, and nation. But when we look across the landscape of churches around the world and in South Africa in particular , most are far too monocultural. There’s a lot of talk in our churches and among pastors, leaders, and scholars about the need for our churches to be more multi-ethnic and multicultural. But it’s not often accomplished.
Pursuing diversity is a good thing. But we must be clear what we are talking about. A church can be multi-ethnic if it has persons of different ethnic backgrounds who attend.
But if people of various ethnic groups listen to the same music, eat the same foods, hang out at the same entertainment venues, and go to church together, that’s not multicultural. They have assimilated to a common culture. It may be multi-ethnic, but it’s still monocultural. Join Brandpunt this morning in the pursuit of God’s multi-cultural church here on earth.
