The Church Jesus Died to Start
Greg Howse
“Hyphenated, intermarrying, and increasingly blended people—and we are likely to become both more diverse, and
more nearly like each other, as time goes by.” [Tom Morganthau, “Beyond Black and White,” Newsweek (May
18, 1992), 28.] That was the description of Americans given in the May 18, 1992, issue of Newsweek, following
the riots in L.A. after the Rodney King verdict. The same article went on to describe the vast diversity of nationalities
and ethnic groups in the greater Los Angeles area.
The interesting thing about this mixture of people groups in Los Angeles is that it characterizes most major
U.S. cities. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly characteristic of many mid-size cities and towns across the
country. A growing percentage of our communities are becoming more diverse, and in this strange fashion we are
becoming more like each other.
The Importance of Crossing Cultures
God has sovereignly placed His church in the midst of all this and commands us to preach the gospel to every
creature, making disciples of every ethnic group. He is raising up a new breed of pastoral leaders who are intentional
about loving and accepting people of diverse ethnic heritages. These trailblazers have discovered ways and means
of bridging the gaps between cultures. People of various ethnic backgrounds recognize in these leaders the unifying
love and acceptance of Jesus.
List some of the character traits and abilities you think a leader needs to cause people to recognize Christ
at work in him or her.
What character traits and leadership abilities do you have that could foster a cross-cultural ministry?
What character traits and leadership abilities do you have that make you a good follower for a godly leader
in a cross-cultural ministry?
My family and I moved from Waterloo, Iowa, to Chicago Heights in August of 1982. We came to pastor Cornerstone
Christian Center, a Foursquare church that was Caucasian, with the exception of one Mexican family. Our first black
family came to the church that October. They were the only black family in the church for years. Then toward the
end of 1989, as I mentioned in chapter 1, many black brothers and sisters started coming, one family after another.
We weren't doing anything differently from the way we had always done things. It just started happening.
Through the intervening years, the Lord has seen fit to gather a racially mixed congregation, approximately
55% black, 35% white, and 10% Latino. I often tell people that our church is not a black church or a white church
or a Hispanic church; it is God's church. It is a church that Jesus died for.
In Acts 10:34 and 35, Peter said, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever
fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”
Read Acts 10:1–33. What kind of partiality had Peter been trained all his life to show to other people?
How easy/difficult did Peter find it to overcome his partialities? (See also Gal. 2:11–14.)
Word Wealth
Partiality (Acts 10:34) translates a Greek word which literally meant “a receiver of a face.” From that
colorful meaning emerged the idea of “putting on a face of preference,” “taking sides,” and “showing favoritism.”
While fallen human society specializes in partiality among people, God makes His love and grace available
for all. He has only one face, and He shows that same face to all people. [Spirit-Filled Life® Bible
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991), 1645, “Word Wealth: Acts 10:34, partiality.”]
How do favoritism and bias show up in our churches?
What hidden problems in a church do you think would be exposed if someone openly challenged its partiality?
What are some things your church could do to make God's grace and love available to people of all ethnic and
cultural groups who might visit or attend it?
What can you do personally to make your church a more accepting place for visitors of another race?
The Importance of Relationship and Communication
When Cornerstone Christian Center began to go through its cultural transformation, my wife and I started an
ongoing conversation with black brothers and sisters. We continue to learn much from their perspective on life
and ministry. I hope they in turn have gained from us.
We have often discussed the nitty-gritty issues of racism. Hidden prejudices, fears, and inaccurate perceptions
have been uncovered and dealt with. Acceptance and intimacy only come through a willingness to relate with one
another.
John 17:22–24 makes it clear that any godly relationship must be modeled on the relationship between God the
Father and Jesus the Son. Verse 24 tells us that a relationship between God as Father and Jesus as Son preceded
our relationship with Them. Verse 23 tells us that the Father's commitment to relationship is first to Jesus and
then along the same lines to us. Verse 22 describes a network of committed relationships among the Father, the
Son, the Spirit, and all believers.
What practical issues make unity among all believers difficult to achieve?
What sinful attitudes that some believers don't want to repent of also hinder unity within the worldwide church?
The world tends to sort people through social screening processes into groups that are alike—clubs, occupations,
special interest groups. On what basis does God expect Christians to override ordinary social conventions and find
unity with people of different races and cultures?
The apostle John wrote that everything he did in ministry was aimed at the development of relationships (1 John
1:3–7). He was sharing his experience in the gospel to open new doors of fellowship. As we walk in the light we
give evidence of our fellowship with the Lord and our relationship with one another. The life of fellowship is
a life that is continually cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus.
How do you think the gospel of Christ functions as a uniting mechanism to establish fellowship between people
who would not be friends in the flesh?
What effect do you think walking in the darkness of racial prejudice and hatred has on a Christian's relationship
in the light with the Father and the Son?
Word Wealth
Fellowship (Acts 2:42) is a many-sided term meaning all of the following: sharing, unity, close association,
partnership, participation, a society, a communion, a fellowship, contributory help, the brotherhood. Fellowship
is unity brought about by the Holy Spirit. In such koinonia the individual shares in common an intimate
bond of fellowship with the rest of the Christian society. It cements believers of all races to the Lord Jesus
and to each other. [Ibid., 1628, “Word Wealth: Acts 2:42, fellowship.”]
First John 4:7–21 gives us a pattern for loving relationships. As mentioned in chapter 2, the New Testament
world was full of bigotry. The Romans thought the Greeks were effeminate intellectuals. The Greeks thought the
Romans were bullies trying to buy or steal culture. Greeks and Romans thought all Asians were crooked merchants.
Everybody thought the Jews held dangerous religious views. Not to be outdone, the Jews despised all Gentiles as
(yuck!) Gentiles.
First John 4:7–21 is a beautiful message about love for a world that experienced little of it. Look up the following
passages and write down the indicated aspect of love.
• (1 John 4:7) The foundation for love.
• (1 John 4:8) God and love.
• (1 John 4:9, 10) How God's love works.
• (1 John 4:11) God's love and ours.
• (1 John 4:12) Showing God to the world.
• (1 John 4:13–19) Love and confident ministry.
• (1 John 4:20) Lying “love.”
• (1 John 4:21) The unity of love.
Based on 1 John 4:7–21, how would you say each member of the Trinity contributes to the love we should have
for Christians of all races and cultures?
• The Father
• The Son
• The Holy Spirit
What will happen to our ability to love believers of other races if we let the spirit of fear control our hearts
and minds? (1 John 4:17, 18)
What will happen to our racial and cultural fears if we let the spirit of love control our hearts and minds?
(1 John 4:17, 18)
In the Chicago area—as in much of the rest of the country—there are several large, racially-mixed congregations
which are led by Caucasian pastors and leadership. In those situations people of other cultures seldom are appointed
to leadership positions. Although quotas are not the issue, when a majority of the congregation consists of a minority
ethnic group there will be quality leadership material within the group. Those leaders should be discovered, discipled,
and dispatched to minister redemptively within the local church. Their calling and gifts cry out to be released
in a public setting. They need to be recognized in spite of outward differences of cultural expression.
If a congregation is racially integrated, what would be some practical reasons and some biblical reasons to
integrate your leadership?
How do you think a multiracial congregation could assess the leadership needs of its different ethnic components?
How do you think a multiracial congregation could assess the leadership gifts and abilities of men and women
in minority ethnic or cultural groups so they aren't overlooked?
The Importance of Patience and Love
Jesus exhorts us to count the cost before we begin any endeavor (Luke 14:28). There is a definite cost to the
development of multiethnic ministry. A large number of people who simply could not adjust to the changes in our
congregation left the church. Some of those brothers and sisters were very close to my wife and me. I remember
the Sunday that one of our church council members came to me asking, “Just who are we trying to get into this church
anyway?”
I responded, “People who are hungry and who know they need the Lord.”
On the other hand, some of our black brethren have suffered criticism and racial slurs from their own people
because they have chosen to attend a church pastored by a white man. We must realize that deep prejudices have
been ingrained in people from childhood. Once we have a clear perception of this matter, we are enabled to respond
in love, instead of reacting in anger.
If people from other racial groups started attending your church, what various reactions would you expect?
How would you recommend that your church leadership prepare the congregation if it were going to become more
multiracial?
What do you think your church policy should be toward members who object to a multiracial church?
How can a church show compassion to those troubled by fellowshiping and worshiping with believers from other
races and cultures without compromising the unifying nature of the gospel?
How do you think Christians from the majority ethnic group in a church should react to the initial suspicions
of minority believers who expect to be patronized, manipulated, or ignored?
What do you think are the greatest prices a congregation will pay to become multiracial?
What do you think would be the greatest benefits of becoming a multiracial church?
• For the church
• For the community
From Race & Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds, Winning the
Harvest by Jack W. Hayford with Greg Howse and Michael Posey. Copyright 1996 by Jack W.
Hayford.
