Re "Intersectionality of race & church" - Have attended @made4fellowship's Racial reconciliation workshops 1.0 & 2.0 - John Williams is the Director #SeeingWhite madeforfellowship.com/centerforracia…
Recently attended a workshop @CAchurchLA - "Undivided: Race, Reconciliation & the Power of the Cross" #SeeingWhite 
'@CAchurchLA videoed & posted all of the presentations from the workshop: "Undivided: Race, Reconciliation & the Power of the Cross" #SeeingWhite - cachurch.com/undivided/
I'm going to highlight thoughts from @CAchurchLA's co-lead pastor @tomhughes123 - See Session 1: Acts 11: 19-30 #SeeingWhite - cachurch.com/undivided/
'@tomhughes123 acknowledges the sin of racism & emphasizes that it's not to be a part of the world that Jesus died to create. Tom's Prayer - emphasis on the dignity & worth that exists in all of us b/c we are created in the image of God.
'@tomhughes123 wants to rescue the topic of "racial reconciliation" from politics - racial division is not simply a social, economic, or political issue; at its core, according to God's word, it's a spiritual issue.
'@tomhughes123 points out racial division has been around a long time in civilization - cites the City of Antioch in 1st century. 3rd largest city in region - divided ethnically, economically & politically. So divided that city officials built walls to wall off 4 ethnic groups.
The 4 dominant ethnic groups in the city of Antioch during the 1st century were the Greeks, Africans, Syrians, & Jews. These divisions were accepted as the norm by everybody in the area. Then something happens - Acts 11: 19-26 -
That something was a multi-ethnic church being raised up in the middle of a divided 1st century city, Antioch. @tomhughes123 emphasized they were not FORCED, they CHOSE to be together for worship & to do life together. How did the walls(psychological) come tumbling down?
Because "the power of the Lord was with them {Jews & Gentiles}" & they chose to live in community. "Hearts & minds were being changed & they discovered that the Cross was stronger to unite us than those things which normally keep us divided." @tomhughes123
'@tomhughes123 on "The Value of Diversity" - "Diversity alone cannot be considered a value."
"Diversity alone is not a value that necessarily leads to good things unless diversity is in the presence of something that is stronger that can unite us in ways that are greater than our diversity would want to drive us apart.” @tomhughes123
What does @tomhughes123 think/know is strong enough to unite us? The Power of the Gospel - there is something more powerful than the forces that wants to divide us, not only social, economic & political forces but also spiritual. God's word says that we're in a spiritual battle.
'@tomhughes123 doesn't want to romanticize the 1st century church. Points out in Acts 6:1 there was a conflict around food distribution & issues of justice that broke along ethnic lines {Greeks vs. Israelites}
But @tomhughes123 emphasizes that in Acts we consistently see God's people engaging one another, seeking the Lord, confessing their sins, forgiving each other & reconciling & making course corrections so that they can stay united as God continues to grow this multi-ethnic church.
'@tomhughes123 talks about the origins of @CAchurchLA - How it sprouted from the Azusa Street revival movement (1906-1915), which was an integrated ministry that was led by William J. Seymour, an African-American preacher.
History of @CAchurchLA
Video on the history of @CAchurchLA -- vimeo.com/112785338
'@tomhughes123 makes the point that @CAchurchLA is now a church with "no majority ethnicity." It wasn't that way when he started his ministry at the church.
"I love the name Christian Assembly because it speaks to exactly who we are. We're a 'little Christ' that can't be identified by any one ethnicity & we're assembling together by our choice because God is calling us together." @tomhughes123
'@tomhughes123 relates that the church in Antioch was not only about the city of Antioch. Its ministry reached beyond its borders. Antioch was a crossroads city for travelers in the area. The church chose to do tangible acts of love for those around them.
Why "Undivided" workshop matters:
"Part of God’s Kingdom is not just that we live an undivided life because of the Gospel. But part of it is that we genuinely enjoy one another & that our life is better because of our brothers and sisters who have a different ethnic background than we might have." @tomhughes123
@tomhughes123 '@tomhughes123 recommended @milesmcpherson's book at the end of the "Undivided" Workshop - "The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation" - amazon.com/Third-Option-R… -- #SeeingWhite
@tomhughes123 Please unroll @threadreaderapp
