By Candelario Arredondo
Member of Faith Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota
My life is a never-ending question: Does ethnic harmony matter? And my response is: YES! Ethnic harmony does matter!
At the 2024 NAB Triennial, I participated on a panel led by Faith Baptist Church in which we talked about becoming a people of peace as it relates to ethnic harmony. I see this work as my calling, and I continue to live the reality of what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the context of ethnic harmony in his church.
Daniel 7:14 states, “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (ESV, emphasis added).
This conviction has made me go against the grain in my family and in my community. As a result, I often deal with strained relationships with family and friends. It recently happened when my family visited to celebrate my daughter’s quinceañera, a traditional event meant to emphasize the importance of faith and family. It was a wonderful time, but it also confirmed a fear I have lived with for years: My family was of the belief I had abandoned my Mexican roots to better succeed and fit in a different culture.
During their visit, we stayed up late one night, and they made a comment that was both positive and painful. Although I am glad they said it, their words hurt me. My family said they did not realize how Mexican I had remained after all this time, and they were surprised I was not ashamed of my culture. To them, those words were meant as a compliment, but to me it was a reminder that embracing ethnic harmony has come with a cost – a scarlet letter among my own.
Nonetheless, I believe God called me years ago to a unique mission field – the White American church – in the hope of spreading the Gospel, especially regarding ethnic harmony. I want the White church to realize other cultures have aspects that are biblical and Christ-centered, too, but sometimes these aspects are uncomfortable because they expose blind spots in us. But guess what? The Christian life was not meant to be comfortable!
I embarked on a journey that has been a blessing to me, but it has also been incredibly challenging. I have not always had a support system, and I have not always been welcomed with open arms. Acceptance has often been offered only if I am willing to assimilate to the majority cultureʼs ways. Not surprisingly, feelings of loneliness and rejection have at times set in, leading me to become detached from others and to consider leaving the church. But I know my culture is not a sin to be cut off in return for acceptance. It is different from what people are used to, but differences can be good. Sometimes God uses people who are different and who see things from a distinct perspective to help us grow the most. It is in holding to this belief that I will continue to remain true to who God called me to be – a missionary in his church.
I will not give up on God’s peoples and nations. They are my family, too, even if it does not always feel like it.