Posts Tagged ‘multiethnic’
Am I a sell-out too?
Danny Yang has now apologied for triggering a firestorm of comments for his provocatively titled blog post, Is Francis Chan a sell-out?
The title obviously struck a nerve, and provoked a good number of mis-readings and reactions, even though it was clearly spelled out in that very blog post that Danny did not think he was a sell-out:
I don’t really think he’s a sell-out; I believe Chan is living faithfully to what GOD has called him to be.
Does that mean the question was mis-stated in the first place? Maybe not. There is a rhetorical device called a hypothetical question where a question may be posed, even though the answer is already known as a definitively absolutely “no.” It’s used in the Bible, you know. Paul posed the question, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” Of course not! Is he a sell-out? Of course not!
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how churches get embedded with values
I’ve just finished reading the new book
by Soong-Chan Rah titled, The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity. Rah reviews the biases in American history that have now been institutionalized not just in mainstream culture, but also unknowingly embedded in evangelical churches and evangelical theologies. (cf. here’s a video of me reading the book’s acknowledgements and introduction)
I consider Rah’s effort to be a great companion to a couple of other books I’ve recently read, The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture: How Media Shapes Faith, the Gospel, and Church (by Shane Hipps, cf. the newer title Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith has very similar content, I’ve heard) and The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity (by Skye Jethani).
The above 3 books make a valiant effort at cultural deconstruction and show just how greatly our mainstream American culture has been influenced by theology, technology, and consumerism. And not only that, the typical American evangelical church has been embedded with values that do not represent the Gospel well. To quote Tim Keller, “Every culture is dominated by idols that is not dominated by the glory of Christ.”
Sadly, in too many contexts, it is not safe to ask questions of our church culture and its embedded values. And even if those questions were to be asked, and discussed, to actually create change and transform an institution like the church is seemingly impossible.
So these (almost) prophetic truths are great to surface, expose, and discuss. Yet, could it be that we in the American church has been too enamoured with pragmatic results in church growth and evangelistic zeal? Could it be that by upholding values of excellence, efficiency, and effectiveness, we have lost sight of the more obviously Bibical values of justice, dignity, and diversity — God’s love of the whole world?
Rah’s The Next Evangelicalism has much more to say, and as others join the online conversation of the blogosphere, I’ll add more of my reactions to the book. [update 5/8 great discussion about Rah's book over at julieclawson.com, including comments from the author; cf. Greg Boyd's review "Only WHITE American Christianity Is Dying"; book review at Theological Grafitti; Soong-Chan Rah's blog is http://scrah.xanga.com]
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can Christmas bring people together?
Christmas celebrates the coming of Christ into the world. Jesus shows us what God is really like, and shows us what He wants for people. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)
Jesus shows that being spiritual is being engaged in the real world. A real Christian faith is so much more than prayer, Bible reading, attending worship services. And, the Christmas story ought to bring peace and good will to all kinds of people.
Yet, only 7% of U.S. churches are racially diverse.[*]
Q: Why? What are the reasons for its being so low?
A: There are three things, and it depends on the group that we’re talking about, but there’s history, there’s culture, and then there’s social networks. [emphasis mine]
Social networks. The sociological factors that affect church life often go understated, often rationalized in theological constructs. Watch the entire interview from PBS Religion & Ethics:
[*] Religion and Ethics interview with Michael Emerson, author of People of the Dream: Multiracial Congregations in the United States; researchers regard a “mixed” congregation as one with at least 20 percent of its members providing racial or ethnic diversity
Aside: for fans of The Office and/or those who can laugh at their own religions, watch the God, Inc. series over at YouTube; note the difference between “really Christian” and “sort of Christian”]
4 questions for Ed Cyzewski on theology
The Coffeehouse Theology blog tour makes its stop here today! Ed Cyzewski, author of Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life, responds to 4 of my burning questions here. 
I didn’t want to ask the typical junket questions like what is the book about, and he’s already explained why he wrote yet another book on contextual theology.
What would you like to ask Ed Cyzewski? Add a comment below, and since the blog tour is here today, he’ll respond!
Here’s my exclusive interview with Ed Cyzewski –
djchuang >> Having studied theology and thought about it a lot, I’m so glad that you’ve noted other ingredients that shape our theology besides the Bible, namely, tradition, God, and the global church. Some people say they have “no creed but the Bible.” What would you say to them, since I don’t think they’d read your book?
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Portland multiethnic church conference
This in from Jim Spoonts, Executive Director of Mosaix Global Network::
To those who are committed to the vision of the multi-ethnic church – To those who want to plant, transform, or revitalize your church toward cultural diversity (but may not know how):
- Do you want to be a resource to others seeking to change?
- Are you tired of doing it alone?
- Do you, your staff, and/or key leaders need to be re-filled with the vision for the multi-ethnic church?
- Do you want to connect with other like-minded leaders?
- Do you need some practical equipping?
Whether you are from the northwest or other part of the country, consider joining us for the Mosaix Portland Conference on Friday November 7 & 8.
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too many books to read
I’ve got more books than I have time or energy to read. Some of them arrive as review copies (read: comp’d), some as gifts, some as impulse buys. Now it is totally unfair to judge a book by its cover, and yet that’s how most people buy books, I’ve been told. I am not much for first impressions, but here are a few personal reactions in having taken a cursory glance or skim through these books.
Here’s one of my book stacks with my annotated impressions:
- Deliver Us from Me-Ville by David A. Zimmerman
I’ve met David on several occasions, fascinatingly creative guy, and the colorful book cover shows that he can draw both comic books and tell a story - Six Prayers God Always Answers by Mark Herringshaw and Jennifer Schuchmann
Took me reading through 75% of the book before I got it; this is a book about the kind of prayers that people pray, and how God does answer those prayers. Perhaps not the way we want them answered, but God does answer them in many unexpected ways. While there are many books that talk about prayer, as in how to pray (like prayer were some kind of incantation or wish power), and what prayer has accomplished, or what God expects in a prayer that He would hear or answer, this book’s got a more people-based perspective, and I find that to connect with me as a reader in a way that other prayer books haven’t. No, I haven’t read Prayer of Jabez.
- Crossing the Ethnic Divide: The Multiethnic Church on a Mission by Kathleen Garces-Foley
An insider behind-the-scenes look at Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles, an 80+ year old church that’s successfully adjusted with the times from being an intergenerational Japanese church to a pan-Asian church and now to being an intentionally multiethnic church
- Make the Impossible Possible: One Man’s Crusade to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Achieve the Extraordinary by Bill Strickland
This was a gift book that I surprisingly got from an anonymous friend in the mail, with a hand-written note. Looks like another book with a powerful inspirational story. The hand-written note really touched my heart more. - Just Courage: God’s Great Expedition for the Restless Christian by Gary A. Haugen
Gary is more than an incredible visionary, but also a most courageous warrior. Fighting the darkness of injustice, here’s a guy that’s mobilizing our generation like no other on this front. I don’t know if this is a sequel to his first book, Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World, which also has the word “courage” in the title. I wonder if the book would do better if it were a one-word title, COURAGE, instead. - The New Conspirators: Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Time by Tom Sine and Shane Claiborne
- I Once Was Lost: What Postmodern Skeptics Taught Us About Their Path to Jesus by Don Everts and Doug Schaupp
- True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In by James Choung
James’ Gospel presentation sure kicks it up another notch, by giving us a fuller dimension to the Gospel, and how it is so much more than just crossing the line to have eternal security. James blogs occasionally at jameschoung.net. See the YouTube video of The Story, even in a Southern Style. Here’s James drawing in the sand, kinda like Jesus maybe.
- Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan and Danae Yankoski
I’ve heard that Francis is quite a gifted communicator, and that kind of delivery comes through the pages. I started to read this on the beach a couple weeks ago. Was distracted by people watching, so I didn’t get very far. Loved how this book had links to the book’s website, and referred to it for the multimedia portion as an integral part of the book. - Holy Fools: Following Jesus with Reckless Abandon by Mathew Woodley
- Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues Shaping Our World by Vinoth Ramachandra
This one looks really heady and academic. In the global village and multi-national world we live in, we need more books like this to give us a real world perspective that’s not so driven by media sound bites or vide appeals. - The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher: A Novel by Rob Stennett
Hmmm, how a novel snuck into my stack I don’t know. I’m much more of a non-fiction guy, if you haven’t figured out by now.
I have several other stacks of books, and I’ll get around to mentioning those too; no promise on when I’ll get them online.
Does a multiethnic church have to be intentional?
Question>> I’m about to launch an intentionally diverse church, and sometimes I get asked whether we should be intentionally diverse or just start and see whom God brings. Well, I have an answer as to why we want to seek being diverse and exemplify diversity on our leadership team. However, there are many churches that start off as Asian-American churches and seek to be diverse, yet only attract Asian-Americans. So, I was curious if you had any insight you’d like to share on this question to help me with a different perspective?
djchuang’s reply ::
As for becoming a multi-ethnic church, there are a couple of books that most clearly lays out the ingredients for such a church: David Anderson’s book Multicultural Ministry and Mark DeYmaz’ Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church. And my web page at djchuang.com/multi has a lot of resources and articles and books that inform my thoughts about developing an intentionally diverse church.
So, in short, my answer is “yes” — it does take intentionality to become ethnically and racially diverse. It doesn’t happen by accident. If it just “naturally” happens (i.e. without intentionality), we’d see a lot more diversified church, wouldn’t we.
According to one study, more than 92% of all churches in the U.S. are segregated, with more than 80% of their membership representing a single race or ethnic group. I think that 92% is including Catholic and Protestant churches; less than 5% of evangelical churches are diverse, less than 2.5% of mainline Protestants. And, it’d be too overly simplistic to say that prayer and Bible study will diversify a church — most evangelical churches do that, and most are not diversified.
Now, what that intentionality looks like may be different from church to church, and depends on the cultural context of where the church is located.
Those are my top-of-mind thoughts. What would you add?
[update] also see (somewhat) related comment thread “Why are Asian American church leaders so obsessed with multi-ethnic church?” [@ randplaty.com] and “Is diversity a taboo subject within the church?” [@ daveingland.com]