Humility is a key characteristic necessary for cross-cultural relationships and multicultural worship. I must be humble enough to recognize that my way isn’t always the right way. I must be humble enough to learn from others. I must be humble enough to look to the interests of others. I must be humble enough to submit to God and His wisdom and authority.
Unfortunately, I have seen a trend in us human beings. When we have some new revelation of GOD, if we are not careful, pride creeps in. We understand something we didn’t understand before, and all of a sudden, we feel like we are better than others. “They just don’t get it.” “I feel sorry for them.” “I am not sure I can be around them…” Wow. This is not of GOD. This kind of language can even happen when talking about multi-ethnic church. We can come across as if we are more spiritual because we understand that Christ’s church is and should be comprised of people from every nation and tongue. “I am not sure I could ever be in a mono-cultural congregation again.” Let’s be careful, brothers and sisters. Let’s not forget that it is GOD who has revealed…it is not we who have acquired! Sometimes, we talk as if every church should be multi-ethnic and if they are not, then they are wrong. I am a firm believer that not every local Body of Christ should be multi-ethnic. I do believe they should be open to the possibility… (another blog, another day…)
One thing that helps me…I realize GOD has gone to a lot of trouble to expose me to, teach me about, and challenge me in this idea of the multicultural, multilingual, multiracial Body of Christ. I have had some tremendous opportunities…for goodness’ sake, I lived in another country for some of my formative years! I am now responsible for what He has shown me. Others have not had the same opportunities. Others have learned other aspects of God’s heart that have yet to be a blip on my radar screen. They are responsible for what He has taught them. And Jesus is responsible for building His church…and He is building…and He will build…and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [Philippians 2:1-8]
I try my best not to be prideful that I’m involved with multicultural worship. I try not to judge people who don’t seem to get it yet. And I must say that I’ve failed.
But God is teaching me about humilty. God is teaching me how important it is to encourage people and to move the vision forward. Without humility, what are we, but prideful?