Texas is a diverse state—ethnically, culturally and linguistically. Just among Baptists in Texas, there are congregations representing at least 46 people groups from across Africa and Asia and some from the Caribbean and Eastern Europe. Central and South America also are represented among Texas Baptist churches, as are Native Americans.
Stephen Klineberg, professor emeritus of sociology at Rice University in Houston, believes this diversity is “a done deal.”
Writing in Prophetic City: Houston on the Cusp of a Changing America (2020), he contends: “You can close the border, seal off America, build an impenetrable wall, and deport all [undocumented immigrants]; none of those efforts … will stop Houston or Texas or America” from becoming more diverse (p. 51).
It’s one thing to know this. It’s another thing to incorporate this reality into our daily lives. And still another to welcome it. One place Texas Baptists need to incorporate and welcome this reality is in our congregations.
Real-world examples
We tell ourselves and those visiting our churches that we welcome people in our buildings. But sometimes, our words and actions toward and about those unlike us ethnically, culturally and linguistically betray how little we welcome them in our hearts.
Many reading this are in majority-white churches. Assuming that context, imagine a couple of examples.
Example one
A Telugu couple attends the Sunday morning worship service of a majority-white church. They complete a visitor card, presumably because they hope to be contacted by someone from the church or as a show of respect for their hosts. Their Telugu names seem strange to those collecting the cards and making visitation assignments.
How would the conversation about these names go in your church? Would it demonstrate Christlike welcome, or discomfort and disrespect for these guests—or at least for their names?
Example two
A Korean congregation meets in your church’s building. Your congregation is glad to share the space, but some in your church notice the distinct aroma of kimchi each time the Korean church has a meal. Members of your church start to complain about “the smell” and pressure your church’s leadership to do something.
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What would be the outcome of this circumstance in your church? Would it demonstrate your church’s professed welcome, or would it communicate something different?
Common ground
If you can imagine poor outcomes to either of these two examples—or similar situations—you’re nowhere near alone. Not only have I seen and heard plenty of poor outcomes firsthand, but I’ve also heard plenty of stories of the same, which gives me certainty poor outcomes in intercultural exchanges are a common occurrence.
If you want your church’s and your own welcome to extend fully to people of other ethnicities, cultures and languages, there’s good news. All it requires is humility, patience, grace and openness to relationship. Yes, I did say that is good news, because it could be harder.
In general, all of us desire certain things in common—such as to be treated equally and with respect, to have friends, and to know peace. When we know we share such important things in common, we can work through the details of how we differ from the standpoint that we’re not entirely different.
Practical steps
Using the examples above as reference points, here are some practical things all of us can do to make our professed welcome real and to build better relationships with people from different backgrounds.
Never make fun of a person’s name. Never. Don’t joke about it. Even when that person isn’t around. Making fun of or joking about a person’s name erodes other people’s respect for them. Learn the person’s name until you can speak it as if it’s your own.
Take time to learn about who you are encountering, and not by interrogation. There are many places and ways to learn. Texas Baptists have one of the greatest resources available for learning about other cultures and for building relationships across cultures. It’s the office of intercultural ministries built by Patty Lane and now directed by Mark Heavener. Learn from them.
Don’t immediately assume a person is an immigrant. Not all non-white people are immigrants, and not all white people are U.S. citizens. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Whether you treat a person with respect is not affected by whether that person is an immigrant, a refugee or was born in the United States.
Ask: “What do I/we do that is offensive to the other group? What foods do I/we eat that smell terrible to them?” From what you learn, look for positive solutions that bring both groups closer. You may also find something both of you can laugh about.
When someone visits your church or a religious function who clearly is not “like us,” ask if you can sit with that person or family, so they don’t end up sitting alone by default. Invite them to other religious functions and be sure to attend with them.
See people, not just news about them
The recent round of violence experienced by Asian American communities in California sparked this editorial. How often do we see the news without seeing the people? Jesus always saw the people. We need to see the people, too.
If we want to see the Asian American community as Jesus does, we can ask questions like: “What does it mean for you and your community that these attacks happened during the Lunar New Year?”
Or: “I don’t really know anything about the Lunar New Year. Do you celebrate it? Would you teach me about it?”
And don’t just ask these kinds of questions to make conversation, to gather information or to check off some obligation on a list. Ask them as someone open to relationship—a relationship that will take time, patience, grace and humility to develop.
No matter where in Texas we may live, we encounter ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity. This is a fact that isn’t going away. Is it a fact we celebrate and welcome into our churches, lives and hearts?
Eric Black is the executive director, publisher and editor of the Baptist Standard. He can be reached at eric.black@baptiststandard.com. The views expressed are those solely of the author.
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