"Every nation, tribe, people and language"

After months, maybe even years, of desiring diversity at a church, I have always thought that I desired it because I was never in the majority and I just wanted more of "my people" there. Then when I got to BCF, and BSM and LaFe existed, I wasn't satisfied. Something about Oasis and Abundant Life felt like home, but still I wasn't satisfied. This desire has plagued me all throughout this year, and Thursday God revealed his heart for multiethnicity and diversity within the church. My desire now makes sense, and after getting a vision of what a God-pleasing-diverse-BCF would look like, my heart is full.

John paints such a beautiful picture of this diversity in Revelation, the images of heaven and perfect worship:

"Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth -- to every nation, tribe, language and people." -14:6

God's plan for outreach does consist of multiethnic evangelism, and I just get this image in my head of Him smiling through our cross-ethnic relationship building, through our desire to connect more races into the larger body of BCF through a mixture in the audience. True diversity.

"And [the four living creatures and twenty-four elders] sang a new song:

'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.' " 5:9-10

The commentary in my Bible says that the "new song" referred to in v.9 celebrated a divine deliverance or blessing. Jesus died on the cross so that He could save people from every tribe, again reflecting His desire for diversity. Jesus isn't partial.

"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.' " 7:9-10

This image of people from all countries and all races worshipping together is so beautiful. There's no room for hatred or stereotypes or exclusivity because they all have the same purpose: to worship God incredibly fully.

Such a beautiful picture. Though we are far from perfect, my desire is that BCF would reflect 7:9-10. I wish that God would look at our fellowship as we worship and see that we reflect His value for a multi-ethnic community...

(4/5/08)