This is a summary of the article. a link to the original article can be found below
Riding the Waves of Intercultural church
The article talks about how churches can become truly inclusive of people from different backgrounds, just as individuals grow in their faith. It compares this journey to levels of maturity in a Christian’s faith.
Level 1: Diversity in the congregation. This means having people from various races, cultures, and social backgrounds attending the church. If a church is content with being homogenous and lacks interest in welcoming diverse members, it’s not truly intercultural.
Level 2: Diversity in leadership. This level involves having leaders from diverse backgrounds, including different races, genders, ages, and social statuses. A truly intercultural church reflects its diversity in its leadership team.
Level 3: Lived reconciliation through status inversion. This is the highest level, where the church embodies reconciliation by exchanging places with others. It means breaking down barriers and sharing power and perspectives across different statuses and backgrounds.
The article emphasizes that true reconciliation involves more than just avoiding conflicts—it’s about actively embracing differences and building new relationships that transform us. It uses the example of Peter and Cornelius from the Bible to illustrate how true reconciliation happens when people exchange places and build genuine bonds across cultural divides.
In conclusion, the article calls for churches to be flexible and inclusive in their identities, allowing for the transformation of traditional boundaries. It suggests that only through such openness and inclusivity can true reconciliation occur, leading to a truly intercultural church. The article ends with a biblical encouragement to hold fast to hope, trusting in the faithfulness of God’s promises.
The original article was written by Joon Park and can be found here
