A strong and timely challenge for me this afternoon as I pray for our church and community in preparation to preach Ephesians 2.11-22
Cultural preferences must take a backseat to unity in Christ. The most important issue is always identity: What is the strongest defining reality for us-- Christ or culture? Culture is important-- indeed, a necessary part of the fabric of our lives-- but Christ, not culture, gives the primary definition to life. Culture is the means by which Christ is expressed, but the message is Christ himself. Do ethnic churches exist to preserve a culture or to promote Christ? Often one gets the impression that the real center of all our churches is our culture, not our Lord. That attitude needs to change
Churches need to be astute enough to know when they are using culture, when they are adapting culture, and when they must confront culture. Churches must demonstrate that the barriers are down. That most churches are culturally monolithic is an embarrassment. Church members must show they care about other people in Christ, even if they are different culturally, economically, politically, or socially. A monolithic church in a multicultural context is a failure. Churches need to demonstrate unity with Christians of other cultures, to seek justice, and to evangelize across cultural and racial lines. We have to show that the barriers are down.
(Klyne Snodgrass, Ephesians, 153 emphasis mine)
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