Is sticking to your own kind unBiblical?

[Ezekiel1]

Some around here said it's bad, but I might hold fast to people of the same color, and, no, I don't think we're better.

Sorry if this sounds prideful, just don't know how to say it.

 

[Silverhair]

Some around here said it's bad, but I might hold fast to people of the same color, and, no, I don't think we're better.

Sorry if this sounds racist, just don't know how to say it.

Perhaps it is because I grew up in a small city, 30-35,000, but if you wanted to hang around with anyone your age and same likes and dislikes then you did not pick and choose what color they were.

Good friends are not determined by color, they just are.

Step out of your comfort zone, you just might be surprised.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Some around here said it's bad, but I might hold fast to people of the same color, and, no, I don't think we're better.

Sorry if this sounds prideful, just don't know how to say it.

You don't have to apologize for how you say things.

You say you don't think that you are better. Why do you think you do have this preference? Just curious.

 

[Ascetic X]

Some around here said it's bad, but I might hold fast to people of the same color, and, no, I don't think we're better.

Sorry if this sounds prideful, just don't know how to say it.

I attended a large congregation Baptist church for a few months that was 99% black. It was okay at first, but after a while, I felt like I could not fit in with the culture and music style.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

Some around here said it's bad, but I might hold fast to people of the same color, and, no, I don't think we're better.

Sorry if this sounds prideful, just don't know how to say it.

I believe it is natural to desire to be around others who are "like us." With differing "skin tones" or whatever come differing cultures which we may appreciate at certain times but are likely just more comfortable within our own cultural norm. They say that Church is the most "Segregated" time of the week and those who say this are probably right. You have Black Churches, Mexican Churches, Korean Churches, Indonesian Churches, and on down the list you go. If you have a "European Church," you're probably a racist! Kidding here but perhaps not too far from the actual truth regarding the way people think these days!

Musicians hang around with other musicians, fishermen hang out with other fishermen, "car guys" hang out with other car guys, and on it goes.

I am married to a Filipina, am surrounded by a huge Filipino family, and am a member of a predominantly Filipino Church! I often joke about being called to the Philippines as a missionary and when I didn't go, God brought the Philippines to me!

 

[Ascetic X]

I am married to a Filipina, am surrounded by a huge Filipino family, and am a member of a predominantly Filipino Church! I often joke about being called to the Philippines as a missionary and when I didn't go, God brought the Philippines to me!

Art Bell was married to a Filipina woman, twice. The first one died, so he went to the Philippines and got another one.

 

[Marooncat79]

Who is Art Bell

 

[JonC]

I believe Christians do not identify by the flesh (we are one race, a chosen race in Christ Jesus).

So yes, I believe that "sticking to your own race" in terms of ethnic diversity is a very bad idea.

 

[Ascetic X]

I believe Christians do not identify by the flesh (we are one race, a chosen race in Christ Jesus).

So yes, I believe that "sticking to your own race" in terms of ethnic diversity is a very bad idea.

Have you ever attended an all black, or all Asian, or all Hispanic church for several months?

 

[Armchair Apologist]

Art Bell was married to a Filipina woman, twice. The first one died, so he went to the Philippines and got another one.

I had to do a google search on Art Bell and I guess you are talking about the radio personality?

I cannot speak for him but I love a wonderful lady who just happens to be Filipina! She means the world to me and is absolutely irreplaceable.

 

[JonC]

Have you ever attended an all black, or all Asian, or all Hispanic church for several months?

I wouldn't attend an all anything church.

I believe one measure of a church is that it is reflective of the ethnic population of the community. This may not necessarily be accurate, but an all Black church in a predominantly White community, or an all White congregation in a diverse community, is a strong indication that something could be amiss.

For example, our pastor is Asian (he is Korean). Our congregation is White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian. It reflects our community because we are active in our community.

 

[Ascetic X]

I wouldn't attend an all anything church.

I believe one measure of a church is that it is reflective of the ethnic population of the community. This may not necessarily be accurate, but an all Black church in a predominantly White community, or an all White congregation in a diverse community, is a strong indication that something could be amiss.

For example, our pastor is Asian (he is Korean). Our congregation is White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian. It reflects our community because we are active in our community.

In my city, there are mostly black and mostly white churches. Both kinds are strange to me.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

Have you ever attended an all black, or all Asian, or all Hispanic church for several months?

I am guessing you would probably love our predominantly Filipino congregation. What's not to love about their generosity and hospitability? If often joke that Filipinos will ultmately take over the world because the Bible says that "The meek shall inherit the earth!"

I can definitely appreciate the "Culture Shock" you likely experienced at that predominantly black congregation. They definitely do things differently! They also have a strange "Church culture" where things often center around a "Social Gospel" and political activism which obscures the true gospel of Christ. This is why you have ministries such as the "Conference on Evangelizing Black America" (COEBA) which reaches out specifically to Black America.

But boy can they sing and "Throw down" in their worship service! I am a musician and am sure I'd enjoy hanging (and trying to keep up) with them!

 

[JonC]

I am guessing you would probably love our predominantly Filipino congregation. What's not to love about their generosity and hospitability? If often joke that Filipinos will ultmately take over the world because the Bible says that "The meek shall inherit the earth!"

I can definitely appreciate the "Culture Shock" you likely experienced at that predominantly black congregation. They definitely do things differently! They also have a strange "Church culture" where things often center around a "Social Gospel" and political activism which obscures the true gospel of Christ. This is why you have ministries such as the "Conference on Evangelizing Black America" (COEBA) which reaches out specifically to Black America.

But boy can they sing and "Throw down" in their worship service! I am a musician and am sure I'd enjoy hanging (and trying to keep up) with them!

At Thanksgiving we have a "Culture givings" day where members share what of their culture is important to them.

Two things, I think, are easy to do and unhealthy for congregations.

The first is isolating oneself to one's own culture. We do feel comfortable in familiar situations. But cultural isolation can easily lead to cultural exclusion.

The second is to dismiss cultural experiences. Our culture is important because it helps form, to a significant extent, our identity.

As Christians we have all things in common, share one another's burdens and rejoice in one another's joy. I am not sure this can be done in a vacuum.

We learn about people and then get to know people. Only after we get to know people can we genuinely love them. I do not know that we can dismiss one's culture and come to really know that person.


For me, one of the great blessings in life is knowing and loving people who have different backgrounds and cultures.

Plus...different cultures means getting to eat all kinds of good food.

 

[JonC]

Lol.. I just corrected my post.

I mistyped "good food". It showed up as "hood food", which given the topic was not quiet appropriate.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

East Devon, where I live, is a very Anglo-Saxon part of the UK. It is also the retirement capital. The joke is that people come to East Devon to die, but when they get here the air is so pure that they find they can't do it! In the last few years we have had several African folk who have come to Britain to work in our Care sector, coming to our church, which quite surprised me. I would have supposed that they would want something charismatic with lots of drums and dancing, but no, they want to hear the word of God. We have folk from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, and it's great! They have reduced the average age of the church quite a bit, and they're lovely, though most of them are as poor as church mice.

We may as well get used to people with different skin colours, because heaven is going to be a multi-racial society (Rev. 7:9-10).

 

[Ascetic X]

East Devon, where I live, is a very Anglo-Saxon part of the UK. It is also the retirement capital. The joke is that people come to East Devon to die, but when they get here the air is so pure that they find they can't do it! In the last few years we have had several African folk who have come to Britain to work in our Care sector, coming to our church, which quite surprised me. I would have supposed that they would want something charismatic with lots of drums and dancing, but no, they want to hear the word of God. We have folk from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, and it's great! They have reduced the average age of the church quite a bit, and they're lovely, though most of them are as poor as church mice.

We may as well get used to people with different skin colours, because heaven is going to be a multi-racial society (Rev. 7:9-10).

You should try attending a mostly black, mostly Asian, or mostly Hispanic church for a few months. It can be quite unusual, to be the minority in a church and to try to adjust to a very different culture. Theoretically, it seems like no big deal. But in reality, it is challenging, but good to experience.

 

[JonC]

You should try attending a mostly black, mostly Asian, or mostly Hispanic church for a few months. It can be quite unusual, to be the minority in a church and to try to adjust to a very different culture. Theoretically, it seems like no big deal. But in reality, it is challenging, but good to experience.

I can certainly understand it being challenging.

@Martin Marprelate mentioned an African population in his area, worshipping with them. Depending on where they are from worshipping in an English church could be just as challenging to them as us in one of their churches.

I watched a service of a church in Malawi. Beyond the language barrier the music was completely foreign to me (all they had was a homemade guitar and drum sticks on a bucket).

 

[Wesley Briggman]

My interaction with other races has been positive with one notable exception.

I spent a few years on Japan. My relationship with the Japanese was good. However being "jumped" by five blacks in an alley in Sasebo has caused me to distance myself from them. My negativity has been reinforced over the decades while observing the few black families in my hood with limited interaction. The family living across the street is very disrespectful and rude.

I also spent time in the Philippines and enjoyed it.

I have Mexican, Philippine and Japanese neighbors, most for decades, with no issues.

With the exception of blacks, I have no issues with other races/ethnicities.

 

[JesusFan]

I attended a large congregation Baptist church for a few months that was 99% black. It was okay at first, but after a while, I felt like I could not fit in with the culture and music style.

I belong to mainly white Baptist assembly, but thanks have been saying mre blacks and other minorities attending and even becoming members, as the saying is said one of the most racial prejudice places in world have been found in local churches, sad to say