My thoughts on Acts 15 and Ephesians 4 as the  Church Leaders’ Dialogue approaches. The first post in this series is here.

• Christianity includes all ethnic groups.
• God’s grace and the resulting Faith transcend culture.
• Christian groups have religious and cultural practices which may be useful and part of tradition, but are not essential to the Faith.
• Some of our cultural practices may be offensive to those outside of our culture.
• Some of our cultural practices may be offensive to God.
• When Christian groups come together, both sides will have to compromise, embracing some new practices and releasing others, in order to preserve the unity of the Spirit.
• There should be open, humble, gentle, patient, loving discussion so all parties can be heard and clear on: what is essential, what is non-essential but remaining, and what is going away, for the group at large.
• It is acceptable for individuals and local churches to maintain their cultural identity.
• The result is to have unity in our diversity.
• Leadership must use their gifts to build up the church to: unity in the faith, knowledge of the Son of God, and maturity.