Building Christ's Beautifully Diverse Kingdom by Michael Broughton
“11am on Sunday morning,” as a
widely-circulated saying points out, “is the most segregated hour of the week in America.” While a bit trite, this phrase has an element of truth to it. Even though many would argue that levels of racial diversity and integration in general have progressed over the past several decades, Protestant Christian churches remain some of the most ethnically homogenous communities in American existence. This is not too difficult to notice. Conjure up an image of a typical congregation of any sort—Presbyterian, AME, Pentecostal, Lutheran, nondenominational—and I highly doubt that the population you’re thinking of could be considered racially diverse. America’s historically unpleasant relationship with race has shaped the segregated church that we see today. In particular, the segregation that exists between black and white Christians is a direct result of slavery, as well as the later legal segregation that prevailed during the Jim Crow era. Af-
rican Americans’ experience with Christi- has historically perpetuated (and in many anity began during the time of slavery, so ways continues to do so). from the beginning the black church was Since it has been the case for so long, already on severely unequal terms from its it can be tempting to think that separation white counterpart. Jim Crow segregation, between Christians along racial lines is norwhich lasted from the mal or a non-issue. end of slavery until Many of us are at the mid-20th century, the point where we The Body of Christ most prevented most kinds take segregation effectively glorifies God of meaningful interas a given and can action between blacks when it reflects the fullness work comfortably and whites. It quite within its confines. of the ethnic diversity literally gave blacks I, however, believe that humanity has been and whites differthat racial and ethent levels of legallynic divisions are blessed with. recognized humanity, actually contrary and ascribed further to God’s desire for inequality to the ways in which black and the Church. The Body of Christ most efwhite communities were able to develop. fectively glorifies God when it reflects the This naturally spilled over into every as- fullness of the ethnic diversity that humanpect of life, including religious faith and ity has been blessed with. practice. The fact that we have “black” and This has eternal significance. The Book “white” churches at all today is a direct re- of Revelation offers a strikingly colorful sult of the segregated society that America picture of the Kingdom of God that will
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