Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism

2. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Outline • Section 1 • Definition of terms • Section 2 • Is there a biblical mandate for multiculturalism • Section 3 • Moving forward

3. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • Culture • Culture is generally defined as a set of behaviours, ways of thinking and being and social clues that are associated with or affiliated with one particular group • Sub-cultures • Smaller groups with their own identities under the bigger group

4. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • Multiculturalism • David Cameron

5. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • Multiculturalism • That which relates to or having to do with several ethnic and cultural groups • A dynamic process that allows many cultures to maintain, embrace and respect their cultural identities or uniqueness while engaging in constructive communication that builds trust and fosters Christian love

6. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • Ethnicity • Denoting by birth or descent rather than present place of residence • Multi-ethnicity • An engagement of people with various places of birth or upbringing

7. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • Mono-cultural church • Where 80% of the church belongs to one ethnic group • Where there lacks a representation of the demographic of the community in which the church is in

8. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • Multi-cultural church • An attitude of accepting all people of various ethnic backgrounds • A manifestation of that attitude

9. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • Current trends • UK Political • Cameron defending himself at Qatar University

10. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • Some statistics • 2001 London • 91% white, total non-white 9% • 2.2% Black; 4.4% Asian • 2011 London • 86% White • Black 3.3% 7.5% Asian

11. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • Zambia • 73 tribes • 9 Neighbours • Refugee/asylum seekers • Global issue • Where ever we engage in ministry we will have to deal with this

12. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 1 • America • 2 hours on Sunday morning happen to be the most segregated times of the week • 92.5% of Catholic and Protestant churches in the states would be classified as mono-racial

14. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 2: Biblical descriptions of church • Two sides to this coin too • For and against

15. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 2: Arguments for mono-culture church • Tom Steers in an article to Christianity Today 7.7.10 • Assimilation into foreign culture is enough... • The gospel needs to be contextualised • Easier to grow homogenous churches • Jesus ministered to a mono-culture

16. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 2: Arguments for mono-culture church • Tom Steers in an article to Christianity Today 7.7.10 • Mono-cultural ministry should be allowed in a congregation to allow ministry to different groups • Mono-cultural ministry within a congregation might also be important when it comes to language

18. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 2: Arguments for multi-culture church • The garden of Eden and the Rivers • The world receives life and fertility from the rivers that flow from paradise. • Abrahamic promise • A father of many nations • The prophetic picture • Lighthouse to the nations

19. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 2: Arguments for multi-culture church • Conclusion • People of God were not meant to be homogenous • Integrate outsiders • Light of the nations to bring peace and truth

20. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 2: Arguments for multi-culture church • The Jesus movement • Mixed backgrounds • The prayer of Jesus • John 17:1-5; 16-19 • World will know God's love • Called to be one for the sake of the gospel

21. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 2: Arguments for multi-culture church • The early church • Variety of ethnic background • Variety social/economic status

22. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 2: Arguments for multi-culture church • The church in Acts • Acts 2:8-11 • Luke seeks to demonstrate the variety of nationality present • Acts 6:5 • Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews

23. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 2: Arguments for multi-culture church • The case of Ephesus • Purpose of writing • Encourage Gentile believers to appreciate the dignity of their calling • New creation of God characterised by unity in diversity • Mystery revealed • One new man in Christ

25. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 3: Facing the future • Decide what you want to do • Should we build the most convenient way or build according to what the word says? • Not one way is easier than the other

26. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 3: Facing the future • 7 Core commitments for a multi-cultural church • Two main sections • Spiritual stuff • Practical stuff

27. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 3: Facing the future • Spiritual stuff • Dependence on the Holy Spirit • Acts 2 • The word • Acts 2:14-37 • Christo-centric • Christ is the reconciler of cultures

28. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 3: Facing the future • Practical stuff • Make adjustments • Embrace accommodation • Be intentional • Leadership • Have a leadership that represents cultural mix

29. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 3: Facing the future • Practical stuff • Corporate worship • Music styles, translation • Corporate image • Banners, leaflets, website

30. Thinking Christianly and Multiculturalism • Section 3: Facing the future • Barriers to overcome • Avoidance • Ethnocentrism • Fear of sharing power • Resistance to change personally or as a group • Desire to categorise on the basis of culture, colour or ability