Why “Cross” Cultural Church?
As a church, we have chosen to embrace the different cultures that are present in our wonderful city.
Here are a couple of reasons why we have made the decision to be deliberately inclusive in the way we go about being a church;
Australia is a multi or cross/cultural country and we live and work in a cross/ cultural community.
Jesus crossed the cultural divides. • He spent time speaking to a Samaritan woman. The Jews and Samaritans did not mix – it was against their culture. (John 4). • Jesus ate with the sinners and those deemed unclean by Jewish society (Mark 2.) • He praised the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) • When Jesus cleansed the Temple He said “My Fathers House should be a house of prayer for all nations”. (Mark 11: 17)
The early church was cross /cultural and bi lingual from the start. • At Pentecost people heard the Gospel in their own language. (Acts 2: 6-11) • Paul was called to preach to the gentiles. (Acts 9:15) • Peter through Cornelius was called to bring the Gospel to the gentiles. (Acts 10:11) • Paul in Athens used their own language and their poets. (Acts 17)
One in Christ Jesus. “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, the same Lord is Lord of all and will richly blesses those who call on Him”.(Romans 10: 12) • Jesus does not ignore cultural barriers. • Nor does He accept cultural barriers. • This was the centre of Paul’s message “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Praise God for our Cross/Cultural Church here at NBBC.
Why don’t you come and join us on a Sunday morning and see how great it is be in a truly “cross” cultural church.