Harmony

I think it's instructive as we learn to see the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ as His body, with different parts and different backgrounds, and embracing and appreciating our diversity while staying away from division. Romans 12 says:
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

That's an important view to hold - if you and I both have accepted Christ and have been born again, then we are brothers or sisters in Christ, and God intends for us to function together.  But, all too often, we allow differences to divide - and that's the scheme of the enemy.  Instead of turning our fire on him or using our collective energy to reach the world for Jesus, we can become ensnared in denigrating one another and demonstrating to people outside the Church that we aren't practicing the love of Christ.

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In 1st Corinthians 1, the apostle Paul makes clear that the Church, the body of Christ, is to strive
toward unity.  We may possess a diversity of background, but that should not create division of the body:
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

If you're a regular listener to The Meeting House, you know that I have highlighted what I see as the church's role in easing racial divisions and tension, building relationships across racial lines.  There's a new Barna survey out that highlights differences based on racial background regarding religious practice, which, I think, can challenge us to learn from one another.  The survey's summary states:

The particular community of faith in which we belong undoubtedly shapes the ways in which we experience and understand God, particularly the modes of discipleship—a practice central to what it means to develop a Christian identity. Bridging the racial divides when it comes to spiritual practice is a complex task. But it begins by observing current approaches and recognizing ways in which they might be, however unintentionally, tailored toward a specific audience.

One of the findings is that 73% of Americans surveyed "agree that 'Christian churches play an important role in racial reconciliation.' The summary states that, "This is good news for the Christian church-at-large. But as leaders and pastors we must learn to celebrate these differences rather than lament them."

It was interesting to read about the definition of discipleship, and how differently it is defined by believers from different races.  Again, from the summary:

When both groups define “discipleship,” white believers are more likely to refer to it as a “process of learning to follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, seeking to observe all that Jesus commanded, by the power of the Holy Spirit and to his glory.” Black Christians instead commonly refer to it as “The process of transformation that changes us to be increasingly more like Christ through the Word, the Spirit, and circumstance.” For black Christians, spiritual progress tends to focus more on life experience rather than achieving goals, about maturing into a Christ-like character as they weather life’s storms.

African-American church leaders look at discipleship as "maturation," which, "implies more of an internal transformation and the development of wisdom through life experience." White church leaders prefer the word “growth,” which "tends to suggest an approach that entails reaching key milestones."

There is a greater tendency in the Black community, according to this survey, to engage in discipleship in community.  The survey found that:

Black communities tend toward communal rhythms of spiritual development while white communities prefer a more individualistic setting. It is unsurprising therefore that white Christians are more likely to view their spiritual life as “entirely private” (42% compared to 32%). Black Christians, on the other hand, are much more likely to believe their personal spiritual life has an impact on others—whether they are relatives, friends, community or society at large.

But there is a downside: "Black church leaders are also more likely to believe that 'negative peer relationships' pose a major obstacle for people’s growth as disciples." The difference is 73% of Black church leaders vs. 48% of whites. The summary says that, "This outlier of friendships for black Christians is an interesting shift in narrative. Black communities clearly appear to have robust formal relational networks for spiritual development (mentorship structures, family networks or small groups), but it appears their informal relational networks, specifically friendships, is more likely to be a source of spiritual hindrance."

So, all in all, the approach to discipleship is different, depending on racial background.  But, we recognize that there are ways of relating to God and to one another that we can learn from one another.  We can learn to listen to those with different worship experiences, with a goal of not only understanding, but also gaining information that can help us in our own spiritual journey.  And, the goal, I don't think, is homogenization, rather harmony, so that we can better relate to the spiritual background of another.  There are some phenomenal faith traditions that are part of the body of Christ, and we do well to recognize those and relate to each other.

Another principle that I wanted to share is the necessity of embracing life's experiences and setting spiritual goals - these are not mutually exclusive.  The practice of studying God's Word individually and in community are also two sides of the same coin - our personal time with God is important, but so are the relationships within the Christian body.

But, we recognize also, even though Barna examined practices based on race, our spiritual practices are not to be in competition with one another.  Understanding the way that others approach God, especially from racial or cultural perspective, can help foster a greater sense of unity in the Church - the Church, built on the rock of Jesus, our foundation.