Dat Multi-Ethnic Church Dude

If heaven is multi-racial why are 92.5 percent of the churches in America mono-racial? Why is Sunday morning the most segregated time of the week in our country?

The sermon I was privileged to preach last week at Fellowship Raleigh has profound implications for the multi-ethnic vision of our church, which is located in downtown Raleigh, NC. I want to offer a few quotes and thoughts on that sermon. 

The sermon was titled, “New Realities from the Cross for the Church” from Ephesians 2:19-22. You can listen to it by clicking here here (45 min). The first reality from the cross for the church that we observed (point #1) was: that in Christ we are all fellow citizens in God’s Kingdom(19). This means we are politically/formally included together as God’s people. Because of the sin atoning death of Jesus on the cross (and our faith in this for our salvation) we’ve gone from strangers to fellow citizens in God’s Kingdom. This is amazing news for Gentiles who were formerly double-alienated from God and from God’s people. They are now double-reconciled. The second reality from the cross (point # 2) takes us deeper: that in Christ we are all fellow members in God’s household (19). This is more intimate than shared citizenship because it is talking about family. This means we are relationally included together as God’s people. We’ve gone from being aliens to fellow family members. Go and check out Ephesians 2:11-22 & chapter 3 as well.

Here is something I said in the sermon as we strung points 1 & 2 together:

“One of my fears at Fellowship Raleigh is that we will be content with being fellow citizens (politically connected) but not truly be a spiritual family. As a church we might be starting to have a racially, generationally diverse post card picture (i.e. we look a little diverse) but when you really get to know us are we internally segregated? We have all the young couples who like outdoors and shopping at the Apple store, and the African Americans who like Christian hip hop, the moms, the singles, the guys who like sports. Now listen to me…. It is not at all that these types of friendships are wrong (they are great and a blessing from God!). BUT… We must see how it brings such great glory to Jesus Christ when the world looks in the church’s window and sees people loving each other and being together and the ONLY explanation for it is the cross. Furthermore, diversity is good for us. We grow in spiritual maturity as we “do life” with people who are different from us (race, age, money). Hanging out in a spiritual house of mirrors with clones of yourself simply leads to blindspots and spiritual midgetdom. At Fellowship Raleigh I want everyone to just get comfortable with being uncomfortable for God’s glory and our own good. We are not just fellow citizens, but also fellow members in God’s household (family).”

Something else I later said in the sermon:

“God is seeking diverse/multi-ethnic/multi-generational worship in the local church now and heaven will definitely be that way (of course!). The worshippers in a local church should reflect the diversity of its’ city. 92.5% of churches in America are mono-racial. Sunday morning is most segregated time of the week in America, and it’s not just all white churches. Let me be really clear… being a diverse or multi-ethnic church is NOT the Gospel and NOT our mission.  However, it is an important implication of the Gospel and it is credibility for the mission. This is the journey that has begun and is beginning at Fellowship Raleigh.  It’s not new (it’s old) but it is rare in our city.”

Just  wanted to keep these thoughts from God’s Word on our radar. I think this is really important…