The Beautiful Community

1. The Church as a Reflection of God's Beautiful Community

God is the apex of unchanging beauty as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in eternally existent, mutually glorifying, loving, honoring, and supporting diverse community.

God's trinitarian nature serves as the model for the church's unity in diversity. The Trinity demonstrates perfect harmony among distinct persons, reflecting the ideal of beautiful community. This concept of unity in diversity is not just a theoretical ideal but a practical goal for the church to embody.

The image of God in humanity is fully realized only in the collective diversity of all people. No single individual or group can fully represent God's image alone. This understanding calls for the church to actively pursue diversity and inclusion, recognizing that each person and culture brings a unique reflection of God's character.

Aspects of God's beauty reflected in community:

• Perfection: Ability to embrace imperfections and scars
• Proportion: Harmony in diversity
• Pleasure: Delight in mutual glorification and support

2. Overcoming Cultural Ghettos for Unity in Diversity

The ghettos we belong to shape and form our identity for better and worse.

Cultural ghettos are environments where people live or work in isolation, deriving their sense of worth and dignity primarily from identification with that community. These ghettos, while providing comfort and familiarity, can hinder the pursuit of unity in diversity within the church.

The Tower of Babel serves as a biblical example of humanity's tendency towards isolation and self-glorification. This event resulted in the confusion of languages and the dispersion of people, leading to the formation of cultural ghettos. The church is called to reverse this fragmentation by actively pursuing unity across cultural, ethnic, and linguistic barriers.

Challenges in overcoming cultural ghettos:

• Unconscious preferences for sameness
• Fear of losing cultural identity
• Difficulty in trusting those from different backgrounds
• Resistance to change and discomfort

3. Devoting to Doctrine: The Gospel Imperative for Unity

The ministry of reconciliation demonstrated in the local church by the gathering of people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities is the natural outworking of a rich biblical commitment.

Gospel-centered unity is not an optional add-on to church life but a core aspect of Christian doctrine. The church must embrace the theology of unity in diversity as a gospel imperative, recognizing that God's plan of salvation includes the reconciliation of all things in Christ.

Practical implications of this doctrinal commitment include addressing issues of justice, racism, and oppression as integral parts of the church's mission. This approach rejects an overly spiritualized understanding of the gospel that neglects its social and cultural implications.

Areas where doctrinal commitment to unity should be evident:

• Preaching and teaching
• Community life and fellowship
• Civic engagement and social justice initiatives
• Leadership diversity and empowerment

4. Probing Preferences: Examining Cultural Biases in Church Life

How do we get out of the ghetto? What's the solution to so much brokenness? That's what part four of this book is about. But here's the quick answer: it's nothing short of the blood of Jesus.

Self-examination is crucial for churches seeking to cultivate beautiful community. This process involves critically evaluating the cultural preferences and biases that shape church practices, from worship styles to leadership structures.

Hospitality plays a key role in creating a welcoming environment for diverse people. Churches must consider how their practices and norms might unintentionally exclude or marginalize those from different cultural backgrounds.

Key questions for probing preferences:

• Why do we do things the way we do them?
• How do our practices affect people from different cultural backgrounds?
• What unseen cultural values are shaping our expression of church?
• How can we create space for diverse expressions of faith and worship?

5. Counting the Cost: Embracing Discomfort for Beautiful Community

Salvation is free, but it's not cheap. Our salvation cost Jesus his life, and it costs us ours.

Sacrificial love is at the heart of pursuing beautiful community. Just as Christ sacrificed for the church, members must be willing to sacrifice their comfort, preferences, and even aspects of their cultural identity for the sake of unity.

Long-term commitment is necessary for meaningful change. Churches must be prepared for a process that is often slow, uncomfortable, and challenging. This journey requires endurance, forgiveness, and a willingness to continually learn and adapt.

Areas where counting the cost may be necessary:

• Worship styles and music
• Leadership structures and decision-making processes
• Social and cultural norms within the church
• Personal relationships and friendships
• Financial priorities and resource allocation

6. Cultivating Gratitude in Diverse Christian Fellowship

Gratitude builds community while ingratitude destroys it.

Thankfulness serves as a powerful force for unity in diverse communities. By fostering an attitude of gratitude, churches can create an environment where differences are appreciated rather than merely tolerated.

Authentic relationships are built on vulnerability and mutual appreciation. As members learn to see and value the unique contributions of those from different backgrounds, a deeper sense of community and belonging can develop.

Ways to cultivate gratitude in diverse settings:

• Regular sharing of testimonies and stories
• Celebrating cultural festivals and traditions
• Intentional cross-cultural mentoring and friendship
• Acknowledging and honoring diverse gifts and perspectives in ministry

7. The Lord's Supper as a Multinational, Ethnicity-Affirming Meal

I want to invite you to experience the Lord's Supper as a multinational, diverse, ethnicity-affirming meal that is preparing us for the international wedding supper of the Lamb.

Sacramental unity is powerfully expressed through the Lord's Supper. This meal serves as a tangible reminder of the diverse, multinational nature of God's kingdom and the church's calling to embody that diversity.

Eschatological vision of the church should shape its present practices. By celebrating the Lord's Supper with an awareness of its future fulfillment in the wedding supper of the Lamb, churches can cultivate a sense of anticipation and hope for perfect unity in diversity.

Elements to emphasize in celebrating the Lord's Supper:

• The global nature of the church
• The reconciling power of Christ's sacrifice
• The equality of all believers before God
• The anticipation of perfect unity in the coming kingdom

Last updated: July 23, 2024