Multiethnicity Between Sundays: From Multiethnic Churches to Multiethnic Lives (Forthcoming, IVP)

Although the most common responses to racial divisions within American churches have been to promote cross-cultural relationships, congregational diversity, and racial justice, far too frequently churches fail to address the essential role that a multiethnic lifestyle “between Sundays” plays in fostering deep, lasting Christian unity.  Too often cross-cultural relationships are plagued by paternalism instead of mutuality. Diverse churches often engender assimilation more than multicultural affirmation. And even racial justice work can prioritize convenient cameos over costly commitment.  The temptation is to compartmentalize the biblical call for reconciliation away from our everyday lives.  

Although cross-cultural relationships, congregational diversity, and racial justice are all critical Christian pursuits, they become performative gestures when they do not stem from a deeper commitment to a multiethnic lifestyle in the everyday. In response, this book contends that the solution to a racially divided church is a commitment to multiethnic lifestyles “between Sundays.”  It offers a framework called the Four Rs of Multiethnic Living, demonstrating how our approach to our residence, recreation, resources, and religion can move multiethnicity from an agenda to a lifestyle.  This approach can deliver the church from a cosmetic diversity that is only skin deep and heal our divided world.

This book is for Christians who are concerned about the racial and ethnic divisions within American churches and who want to do something about it.  You may be a black Christian longing to see your church take race seriously.  You may be a white person looking for practical tools to deepen your relationship with a fellow congregant from another culture.  You may be a Latino, Asian, or Native American Christian longing for racial reconciliation discourse that moves beyond the black-white binary.  Regardless of your race or ethnicity, you likely desire healthier cross-cultural relationships, long for a more diverse church, and value racial justice.  This book responds to these longings with an account of how to root them within the everyday rhythms of your life, between Sundays.