Is sticking to your own kind unBiblical?

[Ezekiel1]

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.

I believe the difference in color are God-given.

 

[JesusFan]

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).

Thinks many black brothers an sisters in Christ when they attend our white worship service might walk in thinking we have not yet woke up from our naps , based upon their styles of worship

 

[JonC]

I believe the difference in color are God-given.

God could have given me just a little more color. I'm of Irish descent. Living in the South I spend a lot of time looking like a cooked lobster.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

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.

Our church does not do it intentionally and as a matter of fact, we are trying to reach out to others in our community. There is a large concentration of Indian and Pakistani people in our area and we would love to reach them. The cultural barriers are quite significant to overcome because they mostly prefer to stick themselves and have their own sense of "cultural pride." We do not intentionally isolate ourselves, we simply gravitate to our "Own Kind" and this just happens to be the case for pretty much every cultural demographic.

I grew up in the 60s-80s where people got out and actually got to know everyone who lived in your neighborhood. Of course, this was during a time when Whites still lived in White neighborhoods, Hispanics still lived in Hispanic neighborhoods, Blacks in Black neighborhoods, and so forth. Today we have a good bit of diversity in our neighborhood (I am the only "White Guy" on my block) but no one gets out to talk to one another!

 

[JonC]

Our church does not do it intentionally and as a matter of fact, we are trying to reach out to others in our community. There is a large concentration of Indian and Pakistani people in our area and we would love to reach them. The cultural barriers are quite significant to overcome because they mostly prefer to stick themselves and have their own sense of "cultural pride." We do not intentionally isolate ourselves, we simply gravitate to our "Own Kind" and this just happens to be the case for pretty much every cultural demographic.

I grew up in the 60s-80s where people got out and actually got to know everyone who lived in your neighborhood. Of course, this was during a time when Whites still lived in White neighborhoods, Hispanics still lived in Hispanic neighborhoods, Blacks in Black neighborhoods, and so forth. Today we have a good bit of diversity in our neighborhood (I am the only "White Guy" on my block) but no one gets out to talk to one another!

I think people naturally gravitate to people who are like them. Sharing a culture we know what to expect.

We grew up knowing our neighbors as well...but we had the same culture with no diversity. It is probably like this today in many areas.

Probably the hardest part about reaching others (of different backgrounds) is overcoming these barriers. Part of this may be stereotypes and prejudices on both sides. But the comfort part is a barrier too.

I do not have a solution. I live in a very diverse area (in SC). My neighborhood is a virtual melting pot. With bi-ethnic families many barriers were organically addressed.

Probably the biggest benefit we have in overcoming these barriers is our youth (NOT my youth, mind you, as I ran out of that a few decades ago).

The average age of our congregation is probably late 20's. Younger generations seem to lack the cultural boundaries us older people have.

I remember when you'd have to drive downtown Nashville to find a Mexican restaurant (there were only a couple...and these were chain resturants). Japaneese, Korean and Indian food was foreign to my younger days.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

I think people naturally gravitate to people who are like them. Sharing a culture we know what to expect.

We grew up knowing our neighbors as well...but we had the same culture with no diversity. It is probably like this today in many areas.

Probably the hardest part about reaching others (of different backgrounds) is overcoming these barriers. Part of this may be stereotypes and prejudices on both sides. But the comfort part is a barrier too.

I do not have a solution. I live in a very diverse area (in SC). My neighborhood is a virtual melting pot. With bi-ethnic families many barriers were organically addressed.

Probably the biggest benefit we have in overcoming these barriers is our youth (NOT my youth, mind you, as I ran out of that a few decades ago).

The average age of our congregation is probably late 20's. Younger generations seem to lack the cultural boundaries us older people have.

I remember when you'd have to drive downtown Nashville to find a Mexican restaurant (there were only a couple...and these were chain resturants). Japaneese, Korean and Indian food was foreign to my younger days.

There are many things to consider. First of all, Churches are no longer "Community Based." People drive from all over the Houston area in order to attend our church and when we are together, there is definitely a sense of community but does this transfer to our private lives during the week? I am one of the few living within 3 miles or so from the church.

I am not sure how we are to address this but there seems to be no real sense of community anywhere outside of these natural cultural groups!

 

[Wesley Briggman]

as the saying is said one of the most racial prejudice places in world have been found in local churches, sad to say

Maybe there is no racial component in relation to local church attendees. It might be, and probably is, founded in the natural desire to be among our own kind.

 

[Alan Dale Gross]

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.

You should have taken a good look around to find somebody that knew how to clap!

 

[Scarlett O.]

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

Oh, I disagree with this. To call churches "racially prejudiced" is to say that they preach and practice hatred for others not like themselves.

My church is majority white. However, anyone is free to come and join. And some minorities do. We are NOT a racially prejudiced church. If we were, the Holy Spirit would not be there. We do not preach nor practice racism.

I think you meant the old saying of the most segregated time of the week is 11:00 am on Sundays.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

Oh, I disagree with this. To call churches "racially prejudiced" is to say that they preach and practice hatred for others not like themselves.

My church is majority white. However, anyone is free to come and join. And some minorities do. We are NOT a racially prejudiced church. If we were, the Holy Spirit would not be there. We do not preach nor practice racism.

I think you meant the old saying of the most segregated time of the week is 11:00 am on Sundays.

I am guessing that Jesusfan is probably either joking or perhaps "segregated" (what he really meant I would guess) should replace "prejudiced" and the statement would ring true?

Churches are very much racially segregated but it just seems to work out that way and not by actual design. As I have stated, our church is predominantly Filipino but we are quite happy to see anyone attend regardless of their ethnicity. There are a handful of white folks such as myself along with a few blacks and a couple of hispanics. Most non-Filipinos are there because they have (like myself) married into the Filipino culture.

 

[JonC]

There are many things to consider. First of all, Churches are no longer "Community Based."

Many growing churches are intentionally community based. My churches is community based. Last Sunday the pastor of another community based church (about an hour away) visited to speak and give us updates about that congregation.

We visited Williamsburg VA last month and attended a community based church on Easter Sunday (they started a few years ago and had met in a middle school, but moved into a building a few months ago).

My son worked with a community based church for several weeks outside of LA (they hosted him).

I did not realize it until fairly recently, but there are many very active and growing community based churches in the US. The ones I know of are Baptist (assiciated with but not supported by the SBC).

Ours started with a pastor from my old church seeing a need and feeling called to start a church that was heavily involved in the community. The main diffetence I see is the number of people being reached with the gospel, the discipleship, and living life together outside of a church building to a greater extent.

 

[JesusFan]

Oh, I disagree with this. To call churches "racially prejudiced" is to say that they preach and practice hatred for others not like themselves.

My church is majority white. However, anyone is free to come and join. And some minorities do. We are NOT a racially prejudiced church. If we were, the Holy Spirit would not be there. We do not preach nor practice racism.

I think you meant the old saying of the most segregated time of the week is 11:00 am on Sundays.

That would be correct, trying to remember the right term, and used a wrong one, as its not that mainly white, black, red, yellow churches have to ne sinful, its just sad that tend to be like our group only mentalities

 

[JesusFan]

I am guessing that Jesusfan is probably either joking or perhaps "segregated" (what he really meant I would guess) should replace "prejudiced" and the statement would ring true?

Churches are very much racially segregated but it just seems to work out that way and not by actual design. As I have stated, our church is predominantly Filipino but we are quite happy to see anyone attend regardless of their ethnicity. There are a handful of white folks such as myself along with a few blacks and a couple of hispanics. Most non-Filipinos are there because they have (like myself) married into the Filipino culture.

I really meant segregated, as in mainly one group only representing, but our local churches should reflect the diversity of our local communities would think

 

[Armchair Apologist]

I really meant segregated, as in mainly one group only representing, but our local churches should reflect the diversity of our local communities would think

In practice they do not because churches today are rarely community based! Our church is in Stafford, TX (a suburb of Houston) but people come from as far as 50 miles away (Houston, Sugarland, Richmond, Rosenberg, Rosharon, Pearland, Etc.) to attend our church simply BECAUSE it is a predominantly Filipino church. In other words, the community is based upon their Filipino ethnicity as well as a number of "Canos" (such as myself) who have married into this culture. It is not that they exclude others, just the reality of the way things are. It seems as if the "Catlicks" are doing a better job than the "Babtists" here but they usually segregate their services for the "Spanish" and "Vietnamese" as well. We have an Indonesian congregation who uses our auditorium in the afternoon but they are a completely different congregation with a differnt pastor, elders, deacons, and so forth.

 

[Ascetic X]

In practice they do not because churches today are rarely community based!

Most churches are community based.

Baptists attend a Baptist church near their home. Lutherans attend a Lutheran church near their home. Only a few will travel outside their community to attend a distant church.

The demographics of the area where the church exists will be reflected in the congregation of the church. Wealthy people attend a church located in their upscale neighborhood. They will not attend a church in a low income area, especially if crime occurs there frequently.

Low income people attend a church located in their low income neighborhood. Black folk typically, with a few exceptions, attend a church in a predominantly black area of town near their home.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

Most churches are community based.

Baptists attend a Baptist church near their home. Lutherans attend a Lutheran church near their home. Only a few will travel outside their community to attend a distant church.

The demographics of the area where the church exists will be reflected in the congregation of the church. Wealthy people attend a church located in their upscale neighborhood. They will not attend a church in a low income area, especially if crime occurs there frequently.

Low income people attend a church located in their low income neighborhood. Black folk typically, with a few exceptions, attend a church in a predominantly black area of town near their home.

Not based upon my experience but I admit that this is a subjective observation. If have often moved to be nearer to a church I was attending but cannot recall ever joining a church JUST BECAUSE it was close to my home. I have looked at churches close to my home but more often than not, they were not a good fit and I had to drive out farther. I can think of very few instances where I lived near another church member.

I wish it were more true but the cultural barriers tend to keep us even from knowing our next door neighbors! Perhaps this is on us but my black next door neighbor attends their "Black" church while I attend a Filipino church with my family. The neighbors across the street are Vietnamese and Catholic and the neighbor next door to them are "Paki" and attend a Mosque somewhere.

In addition, you have this phenonenom where people on one side of town feel "called" to be part of a church on the OTHER SIDE of town for whatever reason even though there are plenty of perfectly good, doctrinally sound churches within close proximity of where they live. I guess we can speculate as to why but I would guess one of the reasons is that it effectively separates their "Church Life" from the rest of their life!

 

[Ascetic X]

there are plenty of perfectly good, doctrinally sound churches within close proximity of where they live.

In my city, there are 220 churches, and almost none of them are ”perfectly good, doctrinally sound”.

There are a total of approximately 461 religious organizations and churches in our greater metro area.

The majority of churches are woke, liberal citadels of error.

For me, doctrinally sound means Baptist, but having visited several, I did not fit in with any so far, although I did for a while. Sometimes correct doctrine can be accompanied by abusive leadership or other disturbing qualities.

The last church I attended before my accident, and liked a lot, was a nearby Fellowship Bible Church. The pastor graduated from John MacArthur’s Masters Seminary, but is now not a fan of John MacArthur for various reasons.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

In my city, there are 220 churches, and almost none of them are ”perfectly good, doctrinally sound”.

There are a total of approximately 461 religious organizations and churches in our greater metro area.

The majority of churches are woke, liberal citadels of error.

That's too bad! Perhaps I should move to your town and we could start one together? $50 question though is whether you would be able to put up with me!

For me, doctrinally sound means Baptist, but having visited several, I did not fit in with any so far, although I did for a while. Sometimes correct doctrine can be accompanied by abusive leadership or other disturbing qualities.

The last church I attended before my accident, and liked a lot, was a nearby Fellowship Bible Church. The pastor graduated from John MacArthur’s Masters Seminary, but is now not a fan of John MacArthur for various reasons.

I am definitely hearing you here! I have been in doctrinally sound churches where the pastor was an absolute loon and I just couldn't stay. I am sorry you are going through this.

If I were in your shoes and couldn't find a good Baptist church, I would be looking to see if perhaps there was a PCA or OPC Presbyterian congregation nearby. I am not a Presby and I disagree with pedobaptism among other things but these churches are usually bibllically solid and I know you disagree with Calvinism but you can rest assured that they do have a high view of the scriptures and doctrinal integrity. LCMS Lutherans may be another option or perhaps if there is an "Old Line Methodist" congregation nearby (Not the UMC with their rainbow flags and "alphabet" clergy!). I wonder why that pastor is no longer a fan of John MacArthur?

 

[Ascetic X]

That's too bad! Perhaps I should move to your town and we could start one together? $50 question though is whether you would be able to put up with me!

I am definitely hearing you here! I have been in doctrinally sound churches where the pastor was an absolute loon and I just couldn't stay. I am sorry you are going through this.

If I were in your shoes and couldn't find a good Baptist church, I would be looking to see if perhaps there was a PCA or OPC Presbyterian congregation nearby. I am not a Presby and I disagree with pedobaptism among other things but these churches are usually bibllically solid and I know you disagree with Calvinism but you can rest assured that they do have a high view of the scriptures and doctrinal integrity. LCMS Lutherans may be another option or perhaps if there is an "Old Line Methodist" congregation nearby (Not the UMC with their rainbow flags and "alphabet" clergy!). I wonder why that pastor is no longer a fan of John MacArthur?

A Federated church, a blend of Presbyterian and Churches of Christ, near me is woke, no gospel, with lesbian deacons.

A United Methodist church near me is woke, no gospel, woman pastor.

The Fellowship Bible Church is the best church I have found so far, even though they are cessationist. I am continuationist, but not Pentecostal or charismatic.

I think the pastor did not like how MacArthur said there was nothing special about the literal blood of Christ. MacArthur said the blood of Christ is just a figure of speech meaning His death. There may have been more to it. The pastor likes Alistair Begg.