Building A Unified, Multi-Ethnic Church

Doctrine must become practice. Truth must transfer from the pages of Scripture into our hearts, minds and lives. The teachings of Christ and the Apostles are designed to transform individuals and local churches until we reflect the image of Christ, for the glory of God.

In Ephesians 2:11-18 we saw that Christ brought unity to the church at the cross, making one new man in place of the two – a new humanity – tearing down the walls of division and killing the hostility and bringing peace between the ethnic groups (Jew and Gentile) [See my post on that passage here]. Christ reconciled us to each other in one body, and reconciled both to God through his cross. He has reconciled us vertically to God and horizontally to each other. Even though Gentiles were at a disadvantage (‘far off’ and alienated) Christ has brought us near by his blood.

But what does this mean for local churches? How does this truth unfold into daily life?

Transformation In The Church.
So...we know that at the cross Christ has torn down the divisions, killed the hostility, brought peace, and made one new man – a united, multi-ethnic church – for his glory. This is a huge doctrine with radical, life-changing implications. This aspect of Christ’s work on the cross (bringing the ethnicities together in one new humanity) demands more than mental agreement. We must do more than nod our heads when this is preached. In these Scriptures Christ, the Head of the church, has shown us how his church is to look. Therefore:

• Our hearts must be changed (emotions toward other ethnicities). This is a very emotional issue. Racism goes deep. We need God to work in our hearts!
• Our minds must be renewed (the way we think about other nationalities). Our thinking about this issue (the church, embracing each other, displaying unity in diversity, loving people from other ethnicities) must line up with what God says in his word.
• Our will must be obedient. We must choose, by God’s grace, to act in obedience to this truth. We must deliberately live differently than the world. Our racism must be taken to the cross in repentance, and Christ’s power to live in his multi-ethnic love received in faith.

We need God’s power through the Spirit to bring this truth to our experience in the life of the church, for the glory of Christ! Individual Christians and local churches must actively work towards this goal.

Illustrations From The Early Church.
Jonah is an Old Testament example of a heart that will not embrace those God has embraced; he simply doesn’t want God to save the Ninevites! But we see the same struggle in the early church. Sometimes we tend to idolize the early church. They were seeing thousands saved, were selling their possessions, rejoicing in persecution, etc. But like us, they struggled with hearts full of racism and bitterness, and needed God’s power to bring into church practice and experience the multi-ethnic unity Christ accomplished at the cross.

Even the leader of the apostles, Peter himself, needed to have this worked out in his life:

Discouraged in the Work?

Those who commit to joining God in the building of his church will inevitably face discouragement and opposition. It's not easy! There are trials and challenges, testings and even suffering on the path. But God is worth it! And he gives us the power to serve him with joy, even when times are tough.

In Nehemiah 4 we see a glimpse of God's people facing opposition. The exiles had returned from captivity, had rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem, and were now working on the city wall. This was God's work. He had brought his people out of captivity in Babylon and was now building up the remnant...and setting the stage to send his Son, the promised Messiah!

God used Nehemiah to stir up the hearts of the people for the work, as he had used Ezra before. So the people began to build the wall. And then we meet Sanballat and Tobiah.

These guys are just mean, and they hate God's people and God's work. First lesson! There is a devil, and he hates us. He wants to kill us and destroy us, but first he wants to discourage us and get us to stop working for the Lord. How many churches have people who have been burned...and have given up on the work! No longer are they working and building; they are just there - floating from meeting to meeting, discouraged and defeated.

Sanballat and Tobian begin to taunt God's people. They say that even if a fox goes up on their wall it will fall down. Words, even dumb jokes, can really hurt. They can deflate the people of God and take us away from the work.

"So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6, ESV). God gave the people a mind to work. Do you have a mind to do God's work? Or are you busy and distracted with a mind to do your own work?

So Sanballat and Tobiah raised the opposition. No longer did they just use words; now they're coming to kill God's people and stop the work! But Nehemiah leads God's people. They prayed to God (v9) and then Nehemiah gave them a charge that filled their spines with steel: "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes" (v14).

What a charge! First take care of your own heart by refusing to be afraid, and remembering the Lord (who is great and awesome!). Then fight for others. Men should lead the way by fighting for their families. Fight for the other brothers and sisters in the local church where God has stationed you!

Finally, they got ready to fight...while they continued to work on building the wall! "From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall" (v16). Notice that the leaders were right there with the workers and warriors, encouraging them along. Church leaders, get in their with the people and fight and build!

"Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built" (17-18).

A trowel in one hand, a sword in the other. Ready to fight while doing the work. What a vision for serving the Lord in the midst of trial and even opposition. Have you become discouraged? Have you put down your trowel and stopped working? Have you put down your sword and stopped fighting? Have you put them BOTH down? Well pick them back up! STAND with the brothers and sisters in the local church where you have been stationed, and join them in the work - and in the fight!

Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight as you build!