Gospel, Race, and the Church: Further Questions Answered

It was by joy and privilege to participate in the recent Gospel, Race and the Church Leadership Seminar. I was personally encouraged and stimulated by the discussion with the other panelists, and also with some of the local pastors who attended. Some of the questions asked from the floor were left unanswered. In this blog post, I am attempting to answer some of the questions, particularly the questions relating to my first talk on Ethnicity Fluidity.

Questions 1: Some argue that racial/ethnic distinctions are valuable to God (represented in Rev 7:9, etc.). How does "ethnic fluidity" retain these distinctions?

Let me define this term “ethnic fluidity” again. By saying that ethnicities (or cultural groups), are fluid. I wish to point out that ethnicity boundaries are not hard, immoveable lines. As we move across time and across locations, we can observe ethnic identity changes – in both individuals and ethnic groups. At this point, let me also acknowledge that it would probably be better to have used the words “ethnic malleability” and not “ethnic fluidity.” A soft, malleable object, like clay on the potters’ wheel, is a better metaphor than a running liquid, as I try to describe this dynamic nature of ethnicity.

While ethnic markers are changeable they are not necessarily easily changed. Generally these changes are observed over years and decades, not weeks and months. Furthermore, there are at least four large ethnic boundaries that are very difficult to surmount: geography, time, language and our sinful proclivity to hate those who are not like us.

Thus, a measure of distinction amongst ethnic groups will always exist, but I am arguing this distinction actually exists on a spectrum.

Questions 2: Have slavery and segregation created a new people group in Black Americans, and how might that affect outreach across ethnicities?

Whenever a big group of a certain ethnicity relocates to another area, whether by force or by choice, they will naturally be molded into a new ethnic group. They will take on to some extent the culture of their new neighbors. Therefore, “Black Americans” are ethnically distinct from “Nigerian Americans” and certain Caribbean peoples of African descendent.

Questions 3: To what degree does the ethnicity I came from still matter?

I assume this question is framed by the experience of Christian conversion. Thus, I understand that this question is seeking to discover to what degree one’s pre-conversion ethnicity still matters after you become a Christian.

When we talk about ethnicity we are essentially engaging with cultural identity. Therefore, since the gospel doesn’t whitewash every aspect of our culture upon conversion, there is still some degree of our pre-conversion ethnicity that still matters. As long as one the Bible doesn’t condemn your behavior or attitude, I can imagine many ways in which the expression of your pre-conversion ethnicity is still God-glorifying.

Questions 4: Is there a spiritual component of ethnicity when we become one in Christ? Does our “ethnicity” change as we put in the new self we receive from Jesus?

Again, if we remember that ethnic identity normally means cultural identity, the answer is “yes”. When we begin to follow Christ, regardless of where or when we live, the Gospel requires that we put on certain attitudes, behaviors and customs. Thus, as we put-on cultural aspects of Christianity, our ethnicity is changed. Also, because we one of the customs of Christianity includes being grounded in a local church – to the extent that we are in community with other Christians who come from different pre-conversion cultures – to that extend our ethnicity is further changed. In other words, our ethnicity is changed by two major things when we are converted by the Gospel: first, by the ethical commands of Christianity; and second, by the cultural preferences of the other members in our local church.

Questions 5: How ethnically diverse should our churches be?

Churches by their nature are local communities. Thus, churches can only be as diverse as their surrounding area. But we must also remember this: ethnicity is not the only kind of diversity that Christians should care about. There is also diversity that spans socio-economic national, and class lines. Some churches are restricted, by their context, in the kind of ethnic diversity that can be pursued. Rural churches in most parts of the world are like this. But in these contexts, churches should seek to reach across other boundaries.