Christ-centered, Cross-cultural Leadership

As we continue to live within the ever-increasing multi-ethnic and multicultural reality, it is more and more obvious that the Black and White matrix of the American Christian Church is outdated. It seems that regardless of the racial and class constructs that exists within our nation and world, God is determined to to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28).

If there was ever a time for Pastoral Leadership with the ability to lead Christ-centerd and multicultural communities now is the time. The reason I say Christ-centered is because leading a multicultural congregation should not compromise biblical truth. Some churches in the United States of America and beyond have sacrificed biblical truth for the sake of becoming multicultural. This Christ-centeredness and belief in the authority and centrality of Scripture ought to lead us to proclaiming truth, righteousness, evangelism, discipleship, and Kingdom justice. A true commitment to Christ-centeredness in no way compromises the commitment to biblical truth, because the Word of God is the beginning point for understanding the nature, words, and works of Christ. This ought to be the on-ramp to the next area, which is cross-cultural leadership.

The ministry of Jesus was very cross-cultural in nature. His ministry included the Tax Collector, the Samaritan, the Canaanite, women, the poor, and those of privilege. Jesus Himself walked the earth as both God (John 1) and a multicultural Jew (Matthew 1). His ministry was cross-cultural and He was cross-cultural. Thru the Holy Spirit, He lives within us as Christian pastors and lay leaders. This reality is the on-ramp for our understanding that God desires to equip and empower us to minister in the multicultural reality in which we live daily.

Cross-cultural leadership takes being willing to be informed and mentored by diverse, Christian leaders. If you’re European-American and evangelical for instance, it’s not enough to just have C.S. Lewis, John Piper, N.T. Wright, John Calvin, and Rick Warren on your book shelf. You also need Vashti McKenzie, Soon-Chan Rah, Francis Chan, Howard Thurman, John Perkins, and Anne Wimbley on your shelf as well. You also must allow God to lead you into deep, authentic cross-cultural friendships. God desires to raise up an army of Christ-centered, cross-cultural, post-black, and post-white leaders.

1 Comment

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  Peter October 17, 2010 at 5:04 pm

  Hi Efrem: I agree with the principles behind what you are saying. However, I think you might be a bit behind the times in your approach. During it’s first several years “Promise Keepers” was a dynamic and vibrant ministry. (Uh oh! Somebody is going to get offended here. I’m sorry, but my following comments are borne out by the numbers.). I remember attending meetings in the Oakland Coliseum, multitudes of men from multiple ethnic backgrounds, but NO emphasis on the multi-racial mixture. Just men desiring to follow Jesus, joining together to become better fathers, friends, brothers, employers, employees, etc . . . “Men of Integrity”. choosing to make a difference for God in the world around them. (Oakland is a multi-ethnic city where “white” is the minority). What a beautiful event, men united, essentially race blind, focussing on the worship of our common Lord. People worshipped together, cried together and comforted each other in a racially mixed environment. It was awesome! Then several years into the ministry, the founder, Bill McCartney, a good and kind man made the decision that perhaps the ministry should focus on racial issues. (He had gone through several significant personal trials dealing with race and wanted to share these through the ministry.). The next Promise Keepers event in Oakland asked the white men present to apologize to their Black brothers for years of racial discrimination and prejudice. The white guy I had just brought with me had just lost a government job, because they had to cut back on the budget. Due to demographic interests ( right or wrong) they laid off him and seven other “white” men. When these comments were thrown at us from the speaker, I couldn’t even look at my friend. How insensitive! What poor timing! The numbers for Promise Keepers in many urban venues never recovered. Race was being pointed out and all felt uncomfortable. I grew up in Oakland (went to school, played sports, and worked in a world were I looking predominantly white was the minority), but I never felt uncomfortable about race more than when I attended an event where a White Evangelical Covenant pastor, an event which brought a large multi-ethnic audience, felt he had to interject in every third sentence the fact that there were multiple racial differences present. I believe that sometimes many in our society use the term “racial reconciliation” in an effort to buy legitimacy in the world in general. It’s a “feel good term,” like “War on poverty.” Doesn’t anyone remember Dr. king’s words, which described a world of children at play, not discussing how they might be different.