In a couple of weeks, I’ll be teaching two classes in the Spanish track at David Lipscomb University’s Summer Celebration. I decided to expand on some material that I presented at a church in El Paso, talking about the different contributions that Anglos and Latinos bring to the church. (Anglo is a misnomer, I know. But it’s the most commonly used term)
The title is a phrase that’s a favorite of mine: “One Body, Two Languages.” The topic is a bit awkward in many ways; done poorly, it can misuse stereotypes and border on racism. In some places, especially in places like Florida, Texas or California, the mixing of the two groups has occurred to an extent that such discussions seem out of date. But in many parts of the country, it’s still relevant to talk about these things.
In many of our churches, the Hispanic groups find themselves in a dependent position. They often lack the resources to “pay their way” at church. (At that El Paso church I mentioned, the preacher spoke to me about the costs of maintaining the Hispanic outreach at their congregation, the “economic drag” on the church) In many cases, the leadership of the church is almost exclusively Anglo, with few Hispanic elders and deacons. The Hispanics often meet in a room that is inferior to the main auditorium where the Anglos meet. I’m generalizing, but in many churches, this is the case.
That’s why I want to talk to the Hispanics about what they have to offer. In the second session, I want to talk about what the Anglo church has to offer, besides the things mentioned above. There can be times when Hispanic groups can feel superior to the Anglo part of the congregation. The Hispanic groups may be growing more. They may have more intimate fellowship or a more active group. In places where the Anglo church is aging, Hispanic groups may be younger.
There is a need for both groups to recognize what the other has to offer.
What sort of things come to your mind? What can you see that one cultural group has to offer the other? Or do you think this discussion is completely out of place?
Tim,
indirectly related: i have a very unpleasant memory from the first church i worked for full-time. A man was quite vehemently KJV-only. And in support of his position he said in a class one time, “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One Church, but 10 Bibles?!”
i was almost nauseated by the fact that even he didn’t realize how deeply he took for granted that only English-speaking/English-reading people could be part of that “One Church” he mentioned.
There is a lot of bigotry in our country related to language, and most sadly, even among those who profess Christianity.
–guy
Yes, Guy, that’s true. Somehow KJV-only advocates don’t grasp the fact that they are thereby insisting that everyone in the world know English to be a Christian.
All those Christians who lived prior to modern English must be kicking themselves right now for not having learned a (to them) future language.
But seriously though, this is a manifestation, i think, of a generally imperialist/privileged point of view. i’ve met *Christians* who are quite furious that the products they buy in the store have both English and Spanish on them. Why? Am i entitled to having English-only products? Where does the Bible says that? (In fact, where does the Bible ever speak approvingly of an attitude of entitlement?)
Over the past few years, without necessarily meaning to, i’ve gone to a lot of foreign-owned/foreign-run restaurants in foreign enclaves in my city, and i’ve started going to a predominantly non-white church. i’m surprised more and more by *myself*–i never realized before how much of the time i just assume that daily life ought to revolve around my “whiteness.” i expect menus to be written *for me;* i expect people to speak *my* language or else *they* are doing some thing wrong; i expect people to basically dress like *me* and observe *my* customs or else *they’re* the ones who are being “weird” or “immodest.” i expect them to assimilate to *my* culture or else they’re the ones who don’t belong.
Why should i expect any of that? Because “i was here first”? That’s just plain false for several reasons. But even if it were true, there’s nothing Christ-like about this attitude. It’s at the very least pride, arrogance, and coercion at the systemic level. And what’s scary to me is that i learn more and more that these attitudes are seated within me at a level even deeper than any subconscious need on my part for rationalization. i can’t help but suspect this is true for a lot of American Christians.
(Rant over–sorry, Tim)
I doubt it matters to God what language a preacher uses as long as there are people there who understand it, and the sermon stays within the gospel. The teachings of Jesus. The word of God.