Race Specific Churches

[DaughterofKing]

I went to an Asian American church the other day, needless to say most people there were Asian...I wanted to ask someone if they thought it was a sort of anti-Christian thing to have an Asian church someone said to me that it is just a place where Asians feel comfortable sharing the same culture and the same foods, etc,........... What would Jesus say? Do you think these sort of race specific churches are a sin?

[Ovedya]

I wouldn't call them a sin, but I would definately say that it's very divisive.

Members of the Body should not place culture above unity.

[Gerioke]

I belong o a black baptist church. About 1/3 of he parishoners are non black. It's a great church that still pays homage to the black heritage but also advocates racial acceptance.

[peaches]

well, arent they doing the same thing that has happened with the whole "denomination" thing.

[Gerioke]

well, arent they doing the same thing that has happened with the whole "denomination" thing.

no

[Guest NHisMage]

I have a few comments on this issue.

First of all, I would say that it is a myth that there are many "races." Actually, there is only one race and that is the human race. We all descended from Adam and Eve and then Noah's sons after the flood. I believe that using the term "race" itself creates divisiveness among Christians. For example, a couple where one spouse is black and the other is white is termed as interracial. However, if one spouse were white and another Asian, that term is not used. Why is that? I think it's because we look at a person of a different "race" and actually mean a different "species" of human, which is definitely not the case.

The other thing that I would say is that I agree with the person that said that going to a church where all of the people are of your particular culture (I prefer this term over race) is not a sin per se, but it does nothing to promote unity among Christians of all cultures (tribes, nations and peoples, which is what the Bible speaks of). I personally think that it is time for Christians to come out of their comfort zones and to get to know people of other cultures. I am black but most of the people at my church are white, although there are some Asians and other cultures as well. I believe that God put me in that church for a reason and that reason is to despell some of the preconceived notions that white people have about blacks. I didn't come from a broken family and both of my parents went to college. I've also had the opportunity to go to Romania three times on missions trips with my church and learned the culture of the Romanian people. I love to study and learn about different people groups and cultures. It reminds me that we are all created in His image, not just peoples of certain groups.

I hope that this message makes sense. If you'd like to talk more on this issue, please feel free to contact me.

God's richest blessings to all,

NHisMage

Revelation 7:9

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands...

[DaughterofKing]

Well I have an issue with these race specific churches, so much so that I have told a friend that I cannot have anything to do with her so long as she goes to this one race specific church. I dont know if I did the right thing, I told her I love her and am not judging her but that I just have issue with it, which she knows about...I also talked to the church about it but of course they have done nothing about it and won't do anything about it. Anyway...God will tell me what he thinks on judgement day (or before).

[abbershay]

What if some people named their church because whites went there you could expect all kinds of trouble. To use race in the name of the church isnt good .

No matter what color if you are different you can never be fully accepted because you just dont fit the title.

I wonder if any of these race churches have a other than name colored pastor. Say the black baptist is the pastor Orential.

We are all a new creation in Christ.

[Gerioke]

Well I have an issue with these race specific churches, so much so that I have told a friend that I cannot have anything to do with her so long as she goes to this one race specific church. I dont know if I did the right thing, I told her I love her and am not judging her but that I just have issue with it, which she knows about...I also talked to the church about it but of course they have done nothing about it and won't do anything about it. Anyway...God will tell me what he thinks on judgement day (or before).

Do you mean that they will not let anyone in, who isn't of the same persuasion?

[Smalcald]

Sometimes language is an issue?

I can understand going to a service that is in your first language so you can better understand the Word.

I think it is a hard decision. What white people usually mean when they complain about race churches is that they think black people or other cultures should come and sit in their Church, not vice versa.

When you think about it almost ALL churches in the US are race churches, very few are integrated. I think that is changing, Christians like Gerioke are doing that and it is a good thing.