Part Four of A Radical, Modest Proposal for Younger Church Leaders
Most of us have a natural tendency to prefer the company of those whom we perceive to be “like us,” and to feel less comfortable around those whom we perceive to be “not like us.” Once it became common for people to gather into regional churches rather than local, neighborhood churches, we naturally began traveling to churches that were filled with people we perceived to be “like us.” The “like us” may have had to do with ethnic, cultural, theological, or economic similarities.
But the healthy, sustainable church will not be a monoculture; it will be a community where a variety of opinions, perspectives, and cultures have the opportunity to flourish and grow. Here are a few ways that you can help your church grow diverse.
1. Value people. Every person you meet, though fallen, still bears the image and glory of God. God loves her or him so much that He gave His only Son to provide for her or his redemption. Demonstrate by your words and your actions that you love each person too. Not just in a general “God loves everybody” way. Show it by actively welcoming specific people who might not immediately feel welcome in your church.
2. Make space for other perspectives. We can define who we are and what we believe, while still maintaining fellowship with those who have different opinions. Don’t be so determined to “win” an argument that you make those who have a different perspective feel judged or unwelcome. Make sure people know that it’s ok to offer an alternate point of view. Then, protect them when they do. Eventually, they may come around to your point of view. Or you might see something from their point of view that you had missed before.
3. Focus on the essentials. Be careful not to expect people to believe exactly like you do on every issue, or even most issues. For example, it is essential that Jesus died and rose again to provide redemption and eternal life for all who believe. But there are a variety of ways of talking about the nature of Christ’s atonement. We should not withdraw fellowship from someone—officially or in practice—because they understand the atonement differently. We need to encourage unity on the essentials, and allow for freedom on other issues.
Growing diverse requires courage and faith. It is easier and less threatening to create a culture where everyone thinks and acts the way that you do. But the church is strongest when it allows a variety of perspectives and opinions to flourish, while still maintaining unity of Spirit.
Continue the series – Grow Low
Originally posted Tuesday, 13 Mar 2012