In Church as It Is in Heaven: Cultivating a Multiethnic Kingdom Culture

by Jamaal E. Williams, Timothy Paul Jones

Overview

Christianity Today Award of Merit

Heaven is multiethnic. Are you ready for that?

The Bible tells us that the congregation gathered around God's heavenly throne will be "a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language," all singing the praises of the Lamb. God's intention has always been to delight for all eternity in a redeemed community of ethnic diversity.

But this diverse community shouldn't have to wait until eternity to begin! It can be a reality in our own local churches here and now. Patterned after a worship service, In Church as It Is in Heaven gives biblical warrant for such a community and shows how multiethnic churches provide a unique apologetic for the gospel. Along the way, the authors tell the story of their own church—a majority-white congregation which is being transformed into a family that reflects the diversity of heaven.

The multiethnic kingdom is not just a nice idea, or an abstract theory. It's a reality—one we can enter into today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781514005385
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	06/13/2023
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	517,987
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jamaal E. Williams serves as lead pastor of Sojourn Church Midtown in Louisville, Kentucky, and as president of the Harbor Network. He regularly consults churches on leadership and issues related to the multi-ethnic church.

Timothy Paul Jones (Ed.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Rolling Hills, Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of Christian History Made Easy and (with James Garlow and April Williams) The Da Vinci Codebreaker.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Broken City, Broken World

Part 1. Call to Worship: Learning to Love Multiethnic Kingdom Culture
1. The Evidence That Our World Has Yet to See
2. The Gap in Our Love
3. Liturgies of Love and Longing

Part 2. Lament: Grieving What Stands in the Way of Multiethnic Kingdom Culture
4. Lamenting the Wound
5. The Lies That Blind Us to the Ties That Bind Us
6. Liturgies of Lament

Part 3. Offering: Giving for the Sake of Multiethnic Kingdom Culture
7. Seeing Both Sides of the Ball
8. How God Made a Holy Mess and Turned It into a Heavenly Movement
9. Liturgies of Giving

Part 4. Passing the Peace: Welcoming One Another in a Multiethnic Kingdom Culture
10. Going to War by Passing the Peace
11. White Is Not a Neutral Color
12. Liturgies of Hospitality

Part 5. Communion: Feasting Together on the Victory Jesus Won
13. Knowing Your Place
14. Building Up Walls That Jesus Already Broke Down
15. Liturgies of Communion

Benediction: A Blessing for the Road
Afterword by Jarvis J. Williams
Acknowledgments
Notes

What People are Saying About This

"As the authors express in this book, my heart and hopes for churches on earth have been guided by the eschatological vision of the church in heaven found in Revelation 7. In Church as It Is in Heaven helps us get there. It is outstanding; I could not put it down. Any church or Christian captivated by God's promise for his church in eternity will be blessed, convicted, edified, and encouraged by this work. Thank you, my brothers. What a gift you have given us."

Paul Tokunaga

"In Church as It Is in Heaven casts a biblically and theologically grounded vision of a multiethnic community. Neither Jamaal Williams nor Timothy Paul Jones sugarcoat that vision. For them, being authentically multiethnic means intertwining dreams and broken dreams, rich and nearly impossible-to-maintain crosscultural relationships, promises and betrayal, stereotypes surfaced then broken. Many churches like the idea of being diverse but ditch the process when the road gets too bumpy and costly; a minuscule handful are authentically multiethnic in the fullest sense. In Church as It Is in Heaven is the still-unfolding story of one church in Kentucky that is refusing to abandon the process."

Isaac Adams

"Conviction, camaraderie, hope—these are just a few things I felt reading In Church as It Is in Heaven. Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones write not as those who have reached the destination but as those inviting us to come along with them on the journey of pursuing multiethnic congregations. Best of all, the book is rooted in Scripture and has a lot of practical advice. It brings a conversation often up in the clouds down to the ground. This is a welcome and welcoming guide for all those eager to show the world we are Jesus' disciples by the way we love one another."

Michelle Ami Reyes

"This is a must-read book for the twenty-first-century church! In Church as It Is in Heaven gives us a Christ-centered, biblically saturated road map to become culturally diverse congregations that love Jesus, the gospel, and our communities. Pastors Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones model in their life and ministry at Sojourn Church Midtown what it looks like to live into God's vision of a multiethnic community, and their passion bleeds into every page of the book. Read this book and become part of multiethnic kingdom building in your context."

James K. Dew Jr.

"In the last ten years, we have seen vivid reminders that we still have extensive work to do for racial reconciliation in our country and in our churches. If we were once able to think that these problems were behind us, recent struggles have made it clear that they are not. As believers, we should not just want a resolution to the racial divides, but we should also want to see the people of God lead the way. As such, this work by Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones is an important contribution to this ongoing work that deserves a careful reading."

George Yancey

"Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones do the body of Christ a great service with their book. It allows readers to consider the joys and challenges of creating a multiracial Christian church and ministry. Such ministries are badly needed in a post-Christian America that is racially divided. But these ministries need to be accomplished with careful thought and planning. In Church as It Is in Heaven provides great insight that allows for such thinking and planning to take place."

Russell Moore

"Some have given up on a biblical vision of racial justice, morality, and reconciliation. Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones have not. This book is a practical guide that gives up neither sober realism nor kingdom hope."

D. A. Horton

"Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones rightfully posit excellent scholarship with heedful nuance inside a framework of biblical ecclesiology. In Church as It Is in Heaven is a timely resource interacting with primary sources alongside logical arguments guiding the reader toward healthy application. Although the truth hurts when communicated, we would be remiss in failing to admit it provides a pathway to holistic healing only found in Christ. Williams and Jones are pastoral and prophetic truth tellers unmasking the deceptions of the evil one regarding individual, interpersonal, and local church institutional misunderstanding, sin, and tensions grounded in race. I will be recommending this text for the living stones Jesus redeemed for years to come."

Daniel L. Akin

"As the authors express in this book, my heart and hopes for churches on earth have been guided by the eschatological vision of the church in heaven found in Revelation 7. In Church as It Is in Heaven helps us get there. It is outstanding; I could not put it down. Any church or Christian captivated by God's promise for his church in eternity will be blessed, convicted, edified, and encouraged by this work. Thank you, my brothers. What a gift you have given us."

Thabiti M. Anyabwile

"Questions of diversity, harmony, and reconciliation are unavoidable today. Most of us are somewhere between unprepared and unwilling to have these necessary conversations—which is a problem given that God intends the kingdom of heaven to include people from every tribe, nation, and tongue. To close the gap between God's intention for the kingdom and our personal preparedness, we need experienced Christian leaders with biblical vision and gracious hearts to shepherd us. This is precisely what Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones offer us with In Church as It Is in Heaven. Here's a book with potential for renewing the church's longing for the things God finds beautiful in the kingdom."

Patrick Schreiner

"What I love about this book is how Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones encourage a communal solution to a communal problem. So many treatments on this topic ask what people can do individually and don't seek larger transformation. Framing the book around liturgy and the habits that form us was a compelling contribution. I encourage all who long for unity instead of division to pick this book up. May it be in the church as it is in heaven."

Dorena Williamson

"As a fellow kingdom laborer, I value voices that are grounded in biblical truth and straightforward about the realities of building a multicultural church. Pastor Jamaal and Pastor Timothy call us up to God's vision while honestly unpacking the joy, the pain, and the sacrifices in maintaining intentional multiethnic kingdom ministry. I hope many leaders will count the cost and choose to apply the liturgies and practices laid out in this book. Just like the early church in Acts, we can bear a wonderful witness of how the power of the Holy Spirit binds unlikely people together in unity and justice."

Courtney Reissig

"People often talk about how divided our churches are when it comes to race and ethnicity, but few local church ministers know where to begin to make practical changes. This is why I'm so thankful for In Church as It Is in Heaven. Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones speak not only from their theological training but their pastoral experience as well. They have lived it together, and we benefit from their wisdom."

Justin E. Giboney

"'[Our] destinies are tied together.' Dr. King's insight is true for society as a whole and even more so for the church. This book provides a faithful and practical path for the church to pursue our unity mandate."

Editorial Reviews

04/10/2023

In this thoughtful entry, pastor Williams and Jones (How We Got the Bible), a professor of apologetics at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, present a convincing case for the value of multiethnic church communities. The American Christian community is “hypersegregated,” the authors write, with 86% of Christians attending churches comprising primarily members of a single ethnicity. But since the Bible, they argue, puts forth a diverse vision of heaven in which God’s throne is surrounded by worshippers of “every nation, tribe, people, and language,” contemporary churches should strive to reflect that ideal. Both of the authors—Williams is Black, and Jones is white—minister at the Sojourn Church in Louisville, Ky., and discuss their efforts to diversify its culture, including integrating Black gospel songs into the musical repertoire and hosting “Diversity Sundays” that feature songs and testimonies in a variety of languages and from different cultures. They note it’s important to give congregants context for changes to the usual programming; Williams responded to worries that Black gospel songs were too repetitive, for example, by explaining how during times of enslavement“short, memorable songs” sometimes “carried double meanings, recalling the stories of Scriptures while sharing coded messages with other enslaved persons.” The authors strike a tone that’s frank but optimistic, and are clear-eyed about the challenges of turning the ideal of diversity into its often messy lived reality. Pastors and churchgoers eager to expand their horizons will be edified. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"As a fellow kingdom laborer, I value voices that are grounded in biblical truth and straightforward about the realities of building a multicultural church. Pastor Jamaal and Pastor Timothy call us up to God's vision while honestly unpacking the joy, the pain, and the sacrifices in maintaining intentional multiethnic kingdom ministry. I hope many leaders will count the cost and choose to apply the liturgies and practices laid out in this book. Just like the early church in Acts, we can bear a wonderful witness of how the power of the Holy Spirit binds unlikely people together in unity and justice."

Dorena Williamson

"Conviction, camaraderie, hope—these are just a few things I felt reading In Church as It Is in Heaven. Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones write not as those who have reached the destination but as those inviting us to come along with them on the journey of pursuing multiethnic congregations. Best of all, the book is rooted in Scripture and has a lot of practical advice. It brings a conversation often up in the clouds down to the ground. This is a welcome and welcoming guide for all those eager to show the world we are Jesus' disciples by the way we love one another."

Isaac Adams

"Questions of diversity, harmony, and reconciliation are unavoidable today. Most of us are somewhere between unprepared and unwilling to have these necessary conversations—which is a problem given that God intends the kingdom of heaven to include people from every tribe, nation, and tongue. To close the gap between God's intention for the kingdom and our personal preparedness, we need experienced Christian leaders with biblical vision and gracious hearts to shepherd us. This is precisely what Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones offer us with In Church as It Is in Heaven. Here's a book with potential for renewing the church's longing for the things God finds beautiful in the kingdom."

Thabiti M. Anyabwile

"Some have given up on a biblical vision of racial justice, morality, and reconciliation. Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones have not. This book is a practical guide that gives up neither sober realism nor kingdom hope."

Russell Moore

"Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones do the body of Christ a great service with their book. It allows readers to consider the joys and challenges of creating a multiracial Christian church and ministry. Such ministries are badly needed in a post-Christian America that is racially divided. But these ministries need to be accomplished with careful thought and planning. In Church as It Is in Heaven provides great insight that allows for such thinking and planning to take place."

George Yancey

"People often talk about how divided our churches are when it comes to race and ethnicity, but few local church ministers know where to begin to make practical changes. This is why I'm so thankful for In Church as It Is in Heaven. Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones speak not only from their theological training but their pastoral experience as well. They have lived it together, and we benefit from their wisdom."

Courtney Reissig

"'[Our] destinies are tied together.' Dr. King's insight is true for society as a whole and even more so for the church. This book provides a faithful and practical path for the church to pursue our unity mandate."

Justin E. Giboney

"In the last ten years, we have seen vivid reminders that we still have extensive work to do for racial reconciliation in our country and in our churches. If we were once able to think that these problems were behind us, recent struggles have made it clear that they are not. As believers, we should not just want a resolution to the racial divides, but we should also want to see the people of God lead the way. As such, this work by Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones is an important contribution to this ongoing work that deserves a careful reading."

James K. Dew Jr.

"What I love about this book is how Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones encourage a communal solution to a communal problem. So many treatments on this topic ask what people can do individually and don't seek larger transformation. Framing the book around liturgy and the habits that form us was a compelling contribution. I encourage all who long for unity instead of division to pick this book up. May it be in the church as it is in heaven."

Patrick Schreiner

"Jamaal Williams and Timothy Paul Jones rightfully posit excellent scholarship with heedful nuance inside a framework of biblical ecclesiology. In Church as It Is in Heaven is a timely resource interacting with primary sources alongside logical arguments guiding the reader toward healthy application. Although the truth hurts when communicated, we would be remiss in failing to admit it provides a pathway to holistic healing only found in Christ. Williams and Jones are pastoral and prophetic truth tellers unmasking the deceptions of the evil one regarding individual, interpersonal, and local church institutional misunderstanding, sin, and tensions grounded in race. I will be recommending this text for the living stones Jesus redeemed for years to come."

D. A. Horton

"In Church as It Is in Heaven casts a biblically and theologically grounded vision of a multiethnic community. Neither Jamaal Williams nor Timothy Paul Jones sugarcoat that vision. For them, being authentically multiethnic means intertwining dreams and broken dreams, rich and nearly impossible-to-maintain crosscultural relationships, promises and betrayal, stereotypes surfaced then broken. Many churches like the idea of being diverse but ditch the process when the road gets too bumpy and costly; a minuscule handful are authentically multiethnic in the fullest sense. In Church as It Is in Heaven is the still-unfolding story of one church in Kentucky that is refusing to abandon the process."

Paul Tokunaga

"As the authors express in this book, my heart and hopes for churches on earth have been guided by the eschatological vision of the church in heaven found in Revelation 7. In Church as It Is in Heaven helps us get there. It is outstanding; I could not put it down. Any church or Christian captivated by God's promise for his church in eternity will be blessed, convicted, edified, and encouraged by this work. Thank you, my brothers. What a gift you have given us."

"As the authors express in this book, my heart and hopes for churches on earth have been guided by the eschatological vision of the church in heaven found in Revelation 7. In Church as It Is in Heaven helps us get there. It is outstanding; I could not put it down. Any church or Christian captivated by God's promise for his church in eternity will be blessed, convicted, edified, and encouraged by this work. Thank you, my brothers. What a gift you have given us."

Daniel L. Akin