When we talk about multicultural, especially in the Spanish language, the first thing we think about is food. That is a reality, we like to eat in groups, as a family and especially in congregations when necessary. It is beautiful to see how nations can congregate in a single building to worship God, serve God and eat together.
It reminds me a lot of Luke when he shows us in the letter of the apostles’ events 2:46 “And continuing with one accord every day in the temple and breaking bread at home, they ate together with joy and simplicity of heart.”
Multiculturalism has its positive side and its negative side. If we focus a lot on ethnicity, there may be problems over time in our meetings. It is beautiful to see us in communion and with simplicity of heart. But among blended culture there are always opinions, on how we should prepare a sandwich, or how to celebrate an event, etc. There have always been multicultural conflicts between brothers, due to the lack of attention and focus on the real reason for fellowship meetings.
The churches in North America are growing, and we have managed to accumulate many ethnicities, languages, etc. It is beautiful to see nations gather in one place united. But there is something that must always be handled in a health, spiritual, scriptural, and multicultural way.
First:
In church gatherings, it’s easy to focus on the taste of certain foods and how they should be prepared according to our cultures or countries. What should be appreciated, is the effort and intention of the family who wants to share their food with others. Acts 16:25; 30-34.
Second:
Let’s not form ethnic and geographic groups among the congregations. Let’s always focus the church on communion with each other. Let’s focus on understanding that is according to the will and grace of God. We are all children of God. John 1: 12-13
Third:
Let’s not allow culture to guide the order of worship in churches. Remember, brethren, our focus is not on introducing new forms of worship and activity, they are not necessary. This can cause division in God’s flock. Everything must be done in Spirit and in Truth, John 4:24.
It reminds me of the great challenges that the church in Jerusalem had when they began to grow. We see examples of a lack of attention in a congregational activity, and this caused murmuring among them. Acts 6:1. Also we see that difficult situation for the Christian Jews who received the news that the Gentiles (non-Jewish Ephesians 2:12) could also be Christians. According to Acts 11: 2-3. We can continue with more examples, but I think we get the point.
It is not the culture that forms and guides a local church, it is the gospel for salvation Romans 1:16. It is the fact of being a family, regardless of race, language, culture. Focus on that we are a family of God, where spirituality dwells and the scriptural rules among us. Ephesians 2:19 “We are no longer foreigners, nor upstarts, but fellow citizens of the saints and members of the family of God”
Let’s not stop living together healthily, the church of the first century did, with humility and simplicity of heart. Let’s continue preaching, showing the world that culture is a story, it is an identity that makes us feel proud of who we are or were. But we are more proud to be a family of God, to be of the eternal kingdom of God of which Jesus Christ told us that his kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36 My kingdom of is of this world …
