Jesus intentionally valued people
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how Jesus fought religiousness/rules, which we continue to fight today. I’ve thought about how Jesus really took the time to build relationships with unlikely people and people who were looked down upon. He really taught us about being intentional in that way, didn’t He?
Sometimes I find myself thinking something like, “I wouldn’t be friends with these people under normal circumstances.”
When would I have run into Andrew Thomas who serves as the Worship & Creative Arts Pastor at Living Water Community Church? Originally from Manchester, United Kingdom I’m not sure I would’ve found as great of an encourager as I have in him.
How about Jelani Greenidge? He’s the Founder of Motif Worship. We originally met in New Orleans for a conference and ended up as roommates. He’s my opposite in every way when it comes to our personality, yet we enjoy one another’s company a great deal.
And then there’s Mariah Hughes from North Carolina. She’s a missionary kid, who’s found a calling in multicultural worship and is constantly active in the mission field. She’s wonderfully intentional about relationships and has a growing gift in music. Not sure where I would’ve ran into her if it wasn’t for the Body of Christ.
And our worship team? I think about the long road I’ve journey on with Rita Salone who’s come from some very tough circumstances. We’ve had our ups and downs, but have found our common ground in the appreciation in the history of people’s personal history, culture, and music.
Finally, there’s my neighbor. He’s Somalian and we have some very different views on the Bible. However, we’ve managed to live in peace with one another, our kids play together, helped each other shovel snow from our driveways, and eaten together. Not sure I would’ve reached out first, but I have no doubt that God orchestrated that relationship for His glory.
The BIG question I’m left with is…
How can I be more intentionally, like Christ, in inviting people into the family of Christ while developing relationships with those who are different from me in obvious ways, but are passionate about the Lord?
© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.
You’ve had experiences I haven’t
John C. MaxwellCollaboration
You’ve had experiences I haven’t, and I’ve had experiences you haven’t. Put us together and we bring a broader range of person history – and therefore maturity – to the table.
© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.
The natural vs. the intentional
Is there someone you know who doesn’t see the need to be ethnically diverse in the local church? They prefer calling someone their “brother in Christ” or “sister in Christ” rather than saying “Asian brother in Christ” or “Black sister in Christ.”
In some situations this person already has a diverse group of friends. Sometimes this person is already living a life where they’re learning from a wide variety of cultures.
Other times this person is tired of what being multicultural or diverse means and really just wants to BE. You know what I mean?
I know when I try to meet some of my friends who are multicultural worship leaders they encourage me to just BE. There are no expectations for me to be something I’m and there’s an appreciation for who I am. There’s space for me to take time out for myself to build up social energy. There’s space for me to share my thoughts and heart without being judged. There’s space for me to be creative, grow, and encourage others.
I believe that this is part of what we desire the multicultural church to be. I think here in the beginning stages we have to be really intentional about diversity and honoring different parts of the Body of Christ. Later on, I pray, in my son’s generation it’ll be totally normal to be in a church where diversity, generations, gender, gifts, etc. is not only recognized, but embraced so that we can BE the Body of Christ. But even then, when it feels more natural, we must be intentional.
Question for you
Do you have a desire to BE? Does your church have a desire to BE?
Scripture passages to consider as you meditate on those questions
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
© 2012, Peter Park. All rights reserved.