A Masterclass in Multiethnic Ministry

Lessons Learned from Acts 15

The most common conversation I have with church leaders who have spent time developing a multiethnic church goes something like this: "Matt, we've been working toward becoming multiethnic for three years. We have the demographics. We have good intentions. But every time we try to address cultural differences, it feels like we're walking through a minefield. Someone gets offended, others pull back, and I'm left wondering if we're actually making progress or just managing conflict."

Sound familiar?

It’s a tale as old as time—or at least as old as the New Testament, where the early church faced the same challenges we do today. I want to look at Acts 15 as a masterclass in multi-ethnic leadership that can change how we approach challenges in our churches whenever various cultures come together in the name of Jesus.

The Heart of the Challenge

In Acts 15, we read about the Jerusalem Council, an authoritative gathering of leaders in the first-century Church. The group didn’t come together because the early church lacked good intentions about inclusion. It was called because they had reached a crisis point where their theological convictions collided with cultural assumptions. Sound familiar?

The core tension was this: How do you maintain unity around essential beliefs and behaviors while honoring the distinct cultural expressions of different groups? The Jewish believers weren't malicious when they insisted on circumcision—they were protecting what they understood to be foundational to faith. The Gentile believers weren't rebellious when they resisted—they were expressing authentic faith within their cultural context.

This is where most multiethnic church efforts get stuck. We navigate cultural differences without a clear framework for distinguishing between biblical principles and cultural applications. We either demand conformity to dominant cultural expressions (usually without realizing it) or drift into relativism, where nothing is sacred.

The early church found a third way. They developed what we’ll call the "Acts 15 Protocol"—a framework for addressing cultural tensions that honors unity and diversity. This protocol is built on four foundational principles that can revolutionize how we approach multiethnic ministry.

The Acts 15 Protocol: Four Principles for Cross-Cultural Ministry

1. Distinguish Essential from Peripheral (Acts 15:19-20)

James's wisdom was recognizing that circumcision was a cultural application of a spiritual principle, not the principle itself. The essential element was faith in Christ; circumcision was a peripheral cultural expression. This distinction freed the early church from requiring Gentiles to become Jewish in order to become Christian.

In our multiethnic churches, we must constantly ask: "Is this requirement biblical or cultural?" When we insist that worship looks a certain way, that leadership functions according to familiar patterns, or that decision-making follows traditional processes, are we protecting biblical truth or cultural comfort?

2. Create Space for Authentic Expression (Acts 15:21)

Notice that James didn't simply dismiss Jewish concerns. He acknowledged that Moses had been preached in every city, validating the Jewish believers' need to maintain their cultural and religious identity. The solution wasn't to eliminate cultural distinctiveness but to create space for multiple authentic expressions of faith.

This principle challenges the assimilation model that many churches unconsciously adopt. Faithful multiethnic ministry doesn't require people to leave their cultural identity at the door. Instead, it creates space for diverse expressions of faith to coexist and even enrich each other.

3. Address Practical Tensions Directly (Acts 15:20, 29)

The apostles didn't avoid the practical issues that cultural differences create. They directly addressed the behaviors that would cause offense or create barriers to fellowship. This wasn't about imposing rules but creating practical pathways for authentic relationships across cultural boundaries.

Multiethnic churches often struggle because we avoid the difficult conversations about how cultural differences impact worship, leadership, decision-making, and community life. The Acts 15 Protocol requires us to address these tensions directly rather than hoping they'll resolve themselves.

4. Maintain Unity Through Ongoing Dialogue (Acts 15:30-35)

The Jerusalem Council wasn't a one-time solution but the beginning of an ongoing process. Their letter to the Church became the foundation for continued dialogue and relationship-building across cultural lines. They understood that multiethnic ministry requires sustained commitment to cross-cultural dialogue.

This principle challenges the "once and done" mentality many churches adopt when implementing diversity initiatives. Building authentic multiethnic communities is not a program but a process that requires ongoing attention, dialogue, and adjustment.

Modern Applications: The Protocol in Practice

Here's how these principles translate into contemporary multiethnic ministry:

Worship Design: Instead of debating whether contemporary or traditional worship is "better," we ask: "What are the essential elements of worship that transcend cultural expression?" Then we create space for multiple cultural expressions of those essentials.

Leadership Development: Rather than requiring all leaders to fit a predetermined mold, we identify the essential qualifications for leadership while allowing for diverse cultural expressions of those qualities.

Decision-Making: We distinguish between decisions that require organizational unity and those that can accommodate cultural diversity. Some decisions need consensus; others can allow for multiple valid approaches.

Conflict Resolution: When cultural tensions arise, we use the Acts 15 Protocol to determine whether the issue involves essential biblical principles or cultural preferences. This helps us address conflicts with appropriate seriousness while avoiding unnecessary division.

The Next Right Thing

The Acts 15 Protocol isn't just ancient history—it's a practical framework for navigating the cultural tensions that every multiethnic church faces. Here's how to begin implementing it this week:

First, identify one current cultural tension in your church. Use the Acts 15 questions: Is this about essential biblical truth or cultural application? Are we creating space for authentic expression or requiring conformity? Are we addressing practical concerns directly or avoiding them?

Second, gather diverse perspectives on this tension. Include voices from different cultural backgrounds, generational perspectives, and leadership levels. Remember, the Jerusalem Council brought together multiple stakeholders, not just senior leaders.

Third, focus on practical solutions that honor both unity and diversity. Like the early church, look for ways to maintain essential unity while creating space for cultural distinctiveness.

Finally, commit to ongoing dialogue. The Acts 15 Protocol isn't a one-time fix but a framework for continuous cross-cultural relationship building.

The early church didn't have diversity consultants or cultural intelligence training. What it did have was an allegiance to Jesus strong enough to navigate cultural differences and a framework for distinguishing between essential and peripheral issues. That same framework is available to us today.

Our churches don't need to choose between biblical faithfulness and cultural diversity. Acts 15 shows us that authentic multiethnic ministry isn't about compromising the gospel—it's about applying the gospel with wisdom across cultural boundaries. That's the kind of leadership our diverse communities desperately need.