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Beyond 'Diversity': New Creation and a Mestizo Vision

by Chris Rice 12-01-2009 | 4:00pm
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"Integration" and "diversity" do not express God's purpose for reconciliation deeply enough. What we need is a fresh paradigm that declares our new culture in Christ.

A workshop last month in Cincinnati at the Christian Community Development Association conference (CCDA) confirmed my conviction that Christians need fresh language regarding our mission and identity in a divided world.

During my workshop, I remarked that as "reconciliation" becomes both increasingly popular and contested, and as such potentially unhelpful, the critical question is "reconciliation toward what?" I mentioned two dominant paradigms.

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by: BlueDeacon

12-02-2009 @ 1:33pm

As much as I dislike "cults" because of their uses of heterodox theology and mind control, this is one thing they get right and why they can be so effective.

by: Jedidiah Abdul Muhib Palosaari

12-20-2009 @ 5:11pm

I agree with this, but it seems a bit out-of-date. I attended Obama's college, Occidental, from 89-93. They were big on the word multicultural. Our IV chapter was not. (At 10% of the student body, we were by far the largest Christian concern going on the campus.) Multicultural seemed to be about, "Hey, I'm special, look at me." And we, I, affirm that that is important. We *are* all special, and deserve to be looked at. But as the author of this article calls for, it is not enough. In IV we used to talk about being *transcultural*, and that this was the call of the Gospel. To say, Yes, I am special, but now I want to go into your culture, and understand you, and empathize with your experience, and contextualize myself into your life, just as I hope you do in mine. But of course, the words of Jesus are not, "Do unto others so that they will do unto you," but rather, "Do unto others as you would have them do." Whether or not my brother chooses to contextualize transculturally into my world, my goal is to do that into his.

by: BlueDeacon

12-02-2009 @ 1:33pm

As much as I dislike "cults" because of their uses of heterodox theology and mind control, this is one thing they get right and why they can be so effective.

by: Jedidiah Abdul Muhib Palosaari

12-20-2009 @ 3:11pm

I agree with this, but it seems a bit out-of-date. I attended Obama's college, Occidental, from 89-93. They were big on the word multicultural. Our IV chapter was not. (At 10% of the student body, we were by far the largest Christian concern going on the campus.) Multicultural seemed to be about, "Hey, I'm special, look at me." And we, I, affirm that that is important. We *are* all special, and deserve to be looked at. But as the author of this article calls for, it is not enough. In IV we used to talk about being *transcultural*, and that this was the call of the Gospel. To say, Yes, I am special, but now I want to go into your culture, and understand you, and empathize with your experience, and contextualize myself into your life, just as I hope you do in mine. But of course, the words of Jesus are not, "Do unto others so that they will do unto you," but rather, "Do unto others as you would have them do." Whether or not my brother chooses to contextualize transculturally into my world, my goal is to do that into his.

by: Jedidiah Abdul Muhib Palosaari

12-20-2009 @ 3:11pm

I agree with this, but it seems a bit out-of-date. I attended Obama's college, Occidental, from 89-93. They were big on the word multicultural. Our IV chapter was not. (At 10% of the student body, we were by far the largest Christian concern going on the campus.) Multicultural seemed to be about, "Hey, I'm special, look at me." And we, I, affirm that that is important. We *are* all special, and deserve to be looked at. But as the author of this article calls for, it is not enough. In IV we used to talk about being *transcultural*, and that this was the call of the Gospel. To say, Yes, I am special, but now I want to go into your culture, and understand you, and empathize with your experience, and contextualize myself into your life, just as I hope you do in mine. But of course, the words of Jesus are not, "Do unto others so that they will do unto you," but rather, "Do unto others as you would have them do." Whether or not my brother chooses to contextualize transculturally into my world, my goal is to do that into his.

by: Weiwen Ng

12-03-2009 @ 5:16pm

Mestizo is also the term used to refer to people of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry (e.g. the people of Mexico). Asking the church to become mestizo, then, is inextricably linked to asking the church in Europe and North America to give up its racial privilege - not to stop being White, but to stand with people of color and to accept them in leadership positions. Asking the church to become mestizo must also mean asking the church to acknowledge the ways in which it has violated the rights of Indigenous people in the past, and to make up for those violations.

by: privelegeslayer

12-03-2009 @ 5:29pm

Yeah, but Mestizos usually were given higher status than Indigenous people. So the Mestizo model is flawed, because it is still based on hierarchy.

by: Weiwen Ng

12-03-2009 @ 5:16pm

Mestizo is also the term used to refer to people of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry (e.g. the people of Mexico). Asking the church to become mestizo, then, is inextricably linked to asking the church in Europe and North America to give up its racial privilege - not to stop being White, but to stand with people of color and to accept them in leadership positions. Asking the church to become mestizo must also mean asking the church to acknowledge the ways in which it has violated the rights of Indigenous people in the past, and to make up for those violations.

by: privelegeslayer

12-03-2009 @ 5:29pm

Yeah, but Mestizos usually were given higher status than Indigenous people. So the Mestizo model is flawed, because it is still based on hierarchy.

by: Jedidiah Abdul Muhib Palosaari

12-20-2009 @ 5:11pm

I agree with this, but it seems a bit out-of-date. I attended Obama's college, Occidental, from 89-93. They were big on the word multicultural. Our IV chapter was not. (At 10% of the student body, we were by far the largest Christian concern going on the campus.) Multicultural seemed to be about, "Hey, I'm special, look at me." And we, I, affirm that that is important. We *are* all special, and deserve to be looked at. But as the author of this article calls for, it is not enough. In IV we used to talk about being *transcultural*, and that this was the call of the Gospel. To say, Yes, I am special, but now I want to go into your culture, and understand you, and empathize with your experience, and contextualize myself into your life, just as I hope you do in mine. But of course, the words of Jesus are not, "Do unto others so that they will do unto you," but rather, "Do unto others as you would have them do." Whether or not my brother chooses to contextualize transculturally into my world, my goal is to do that into his.

by: joshkidd

12-03-2009 @ 10:12pm

I'm not sure that you make a convincing case against diversity. My reading of 1 Cor. 12: 14-20 leads me to believe that diversity is a reasonable telos, as it were. Isn't it more amazing to see people of many different ethnic identities making up a single body than for everyone to transcend their identities to become one body? If we all transcend our identities, what body is there?

by: Kim Shimer

12-04-2009 @ 1:28pm

Chris, I would encourage you to check out Curtiss Paul DeYoung's new book, Coming Together in the 21st Century: The Bible's Message in an Age of Diversity. Its ethnically and culturally diverse contributors include Brenda Salter-McNeil, Richard Twiss, Jean Zaru, Mimi Haddad, and Allan Boesak. If you'd like a review copy, I'd be happy to send you one (I work for the publisher, Judson Press).

by: joshkidd

12-03-2009 @ 10:12pm

I'm not sure that you make a convincing case against diversity. My reading of 1 Cor. 12: 14-20 leads me to believe that diversity is a reasonable telos, as it were. Isn't it more amazing to see people of many different ethnic identities making up a single body than for everyone to transcend their identities to become one body? If we all transcend our identities, what body is there?

by: Kim Shimer

12-04-2009 @ 1:28pm

Chris, I would encourage you to check out Curtiss Paul DeYoung's new book, Coming Together in the 21st Century: The Bible's Message in an Age of Diversity. Its ethnically and culturally diverse contributors include Brenda Salter-McNeil, Richard Twiss, Jean Zaru, Mimi Haddad, and Allan Boesak. If you'd like a review copy, I'd be happy to send you one (I work for the publisher, Judson Press).

by: letjusticerolldown

12-01-2009 @ 9:28pm

Thanks for the reflection. I don't think I would seek to grasp the supreme concept of "towards what." It is part of the pathway of "seeking first the Kingdom." The answer is not to conceive of the end and grasp it--but is within the seeking. The concepts are mile markers. Maybe one comes before the other. On the other hand, they might just be marking different ponits on the path. As we pass one and move towards the next we tend to overly fixate on the next signpost as if there are no others.

by: letjusticerolldown

12-01-2009 @ 9:28pm

Thanks for the reflection. I don't think I would seek to grasp the supreme concept of "towards what." It is part of the pathway of "seeking first the Kingdom." The answer is not to conceive of the end and grasp it--but is within the seeking. The concepts are mile markers. Maybe one comes before the other. On the other hand, they might just be marking different ponits on the path. As we pass one and move towards the next we tend to overly fixate on the next signpost as if there are no others.

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by: joshkidd

12-03-2009 @ 10:12pm

I'm not sure that you make a convincing case against diversity. My reading of 1 Cor. 12: 14-20 leads me to believe that diversity is a reasonable telos, as it were. Isn't it more amazing to see people of many different ethnic identities making up a single body than for everyone to transcend their identities to become one body? If we all transcend our identities, what body is there?

by: BlueDeacon

12-02-2009 @ 1:33pm

As much as I dislike "cults" because of their uses of heterodox theology and mind control, this is one thing they get right and why they can be so effective.

by: BlueDeacon

12-02-2009 @ 1:33pm

As much as I dislike "cults" because of their uses of heterodox theology and mind control, this is one thing they get right and why they can be so effective.

by: Weiwen Ng

12-03-2009 @ 5:16pm

Mestizo is also the term used to refer to people of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry (e.g. the people of Mexico). Asking the church to become mestizo, then, is inextricably linked to asking the church in Europe and North America to give up its racial privilege - not to stop being White, but to stand with people of color and to accept them in leadership positions. Asking the church to become mestizo must also mean asking the church to acknowledge the ways in which it has violated the rights of Indigenous people in the past, and to make up for those violations.

by: privelegeslayer

12-03-2009 @ 5:29pm

Yeah, but Mestizos usually were given higher status than Indigenous people. So the Mestizo model is flawed, because it is still based on hierarchy.

by: Jedidiah Abdul Muhib Palosaari

12-20-2009 @ 3:11pm

I agree with this, but it seems a bit out-of-date. I attended Obama's college, Occidental, from 89-93. They were big on the word multicultural. Our IV chapter was not. (At 10% of the student body, we were by far the largest Christian concern going on the campus.) Multicultural seemed to be about, "Hey, I'm special, look at me." And we, I, affirm that that is important. We *are* all special, and deserve to be looked at. But as the author of this article calls for, it is not enough. In IV we used to talk about being *transcultural*, and that this was the call of the Gospel. To say, Yes, I am special, but now I want to go into your culture, and understand you, and empathize with your experience, and contextualize myself into your life, just as I hope you do in mine. But of course, the words of Jesus are not, "Do unto others so that they will do unto you," but rather, "Do unto others as you would have them do." Whether or not my brother chooses to contextualize transculturally into my world, my goal is to do that into his.

by: Jedidiah Abdul Muhib Palosaari

12-20-2009 @ 3:11pm

I agree with this, but it seems a bit out-of-date. I attended Obama's college, Occidental, from 89-93. They were big on the word multicultural. Our IV chapter was not. (At 10% of the student body, we were by far the largest Christian concern going on the campus.) Multicultural seemed to be about, "Hey, I'm special, look at me." And we, I, affirm that that is important. We *are* all special, and deserve to be looked at. But as the author of this article calls for, it is not enough. In IV we used to talk about being *transcultural*, and that this was the call of the Gospel. To say, Yes, I am special, but now I want to go into your culture, and understand you, and empathize with your experience, and contextualize myself into your life, just as I hope you do in mine. But of course, the words of Jesus are not, "Do unto others so that they will do unto you," but rather, "Do unto others as you would have them do." Whether or not my brother chooses to contextualize transculturally into my world, my goal is to do that into his.

by: Jedidiah Abdul Muhib Palosaari

12-20-2009 @ 5:11pm

I agree with this, but it seems a bit out-of-date. I attended Obama's college, Occidental, from 89-93. They were big on the word multicultural. Our IV chapter was not. (At 10% of the student body, we were by far the largest Christian concern going on the campus.) Multicultural seemed to be about, "Hey, I'm special, look at me." And we, I, affirm that that is important. We *are* all special, and deserve to be looked at. But as the author of this article calls for, it is not enough. In IV we used to talk about being *transcultural*, and that this was the call of the Gospel. To say, Yes, I am special, but now I want to go into your culture, and understand you, and empathize with your experience, and contextualize myself into your life, just as I hope you do in mine. But of course, the words of Jesus are not, "Do unto others so that they will do unto you," but rather, "Do unto others as you would have them do." Whether or not my brother chooses to contextualize transculturally into my world, my goal is to do that into his.

by: letjusticerolldown

12-01-2009 @ 9:28pm

Thanks for the reflection. I don't think I would seek to grasp the supreme concept of "towards what." It is part of the pathway of "seeking first the Kingdom." The answer is not to conceive of the end and grasp it--but is within the seeking. The concepts are mile markers. Maybe one comes before the other. On the other hand, they might just be marking different ponits on the path. As we pass one and move towards the next we tend to overly fixate on the next signpost as if there are no others.

by: letjusticerolldown

12-01-2009 @ 9:28pm

Thanks for the reflection. I don't think I would seek to grasp the supreme concept of "towards what." It is part of the pathway of "seeking first the Kingdom." The answer is not to conceive of the end and grasp it--but is within the seeking. The concepts are mile markers. Maybe one comes before the other. On the other hand, they might just be marking different ponits on the path. As we pass one and move towards the next we tend to overly fixate on the next signpost as if there are no others.

by: Weiwen Ng

12-03-2009 @ 5:16pm

Mestizo is also the term used to refer to people of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry (e.g. the people of Mexico). Asking the church to become mestizo, then, is inextricably linked to asking the church in Europe and North America to give up its racial privilege - not to stop being White, but to stand with people of color and to accept them in leadership positions. Asking the church to become mestizo must also mean asking the church to acknowledge the ways in which it has violated the rights of Indigenous people in the past, and to make up for those violations.

by: privelegeslayer

12-03-2009 @ 5:29pm

Yeah, but Mestizos usually were given higher status than Indigenous people. So the Mestizo model is flawed, because it is still based on hierarchy.

by: joshkidd

12-03-2009 @ 10:12pm

I'm not sure that you make a convincing case against diversity. My reading of 1 Cor. 12: 14-20 leads me to believe that diversity is a reasonable telos, as it were. Isn't it more amazing to see people of many different ethnic identities making up a single body than for everyone to transcend their identities to become one body? If we all transcend our identities, what body is there?

by: Kim Shimer

12-04-2009 @ 1:28pm

Chris, I would encourage you to check out Curtiss Paul DeYoung's new book, Coming Together in the 21st Century: The Bible's Message in an Age of Diversity. Its ethnically and culturally diverse contributors include Brenda Salter-McNeil, Richard Twiss, Jean Zaru, Mimi Haddad, and Allan Boesak. If you'd like a review copy, I'd be happy to send you one (I work for the publisher, Judson Press).

by: Kim Shimer

12-04-2009 @ 1:28pm

Chris, I would encourage you to check out Curtiss Paul DeYoung's new book, Coming Together in the 21st Century: The Bible's Message in an Age of Diversity. Its ethnically and culturally diverse contributors include Brenda Salter-McNeil, Richard Twiss, Jean Zaru, Mimi Haddad, and Allan Boesak. If you'd like a review copy, I'd be happy to send you one (I work for the publisher, Judson Press).

by: Jedidiah Abdul Muhib Palosaari

12-20-2009 @ 5:11pm

I agree with this, but it seems a bit out-of-date. I attended Obama's college, Occidental, from 89-93. They were big on the word multicultural. Our IV chapter was not. (At 10% of the student body, we were by far the largest Christian concern going on the campus.) Multicultural seemed to be about, "Hey, I'm special, look at me." And we, I, affirm that that is important. We *are* all special, and deserve to be looked at. But as the author of this article calls for, it is not enough. In IV we used to talk about being *transcultural*, and that this was the call of the Gospel. To say, Yes, I am special, but now I want to go into your culture, and understand you, and empathize with your experience, and contextualize myself into your life, just as I hope you do in mine. But of course, the words of Jesus are not, "Do unto others so that they will do unto you," but rather, "Do unto others as you would have them do." Whether or not my brother chooses to contextualize transculturally into my world, my goal is to do that into his.