The authors argue forcefully for the idea that Christianity, as it was originally practiced and understood, was naturally multiracial and multiethnic; this, they believe, provides a firm grounding for the principle that it would be wrong for all Christian congregations to remain segregated. Nevertheless, they understand that there are strong arguments defending the continuation of uniracial churches, most offered by racial minorities themselves, and so they address them in some detail.
Some of those pro-segregation arguments can be very persuasive in their specifics, but the authors attempt to take a much broader perspective. While they do try to explain where and how those arguments may not be as strong as they first appear, they primarily appeal to the idea that the long-term growth and viability of Christianity requires that it refuse to remain segregated. They understand that this won't be easy:
- A movement in Christianity toward more multiracial congregations in the United States would require a fundamental shift in belief systems and in organizational practices. Theologian Justo Gonzalez writes, "The multicultural vision is sweet. But there is also a bitter side to it. There is the bitter side of having to declare that the vision of many peoples, many tribes, many nations, and many languages involves much more than bringing a bit of color and folklore into our traditional worship services. It involves radical changes in the way we understand ourselves, and it in the way we run our business."
The fact that Michael O. Emerson would join in with the argument that the problem of racial relations is a problem with individuals rather than institutions is curious because, in his previous book Divided By Faith, he did an excellent job in showing how just such an attitude was itself at the heart of racial problems in America:
- “For many, the race problem, no matter how big or how small, ultimately came down not to a social issue, but to personal defects of some individuals in some groups as they attempted to relate to each other. ...Absent from their accounts is the idea that poor relationships might be shaped by social structures, such as laws, the ways institutions operate, or forms of segregation.”
United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation as an Answer to the Problem of Race
Despite the obvious problems and resistance, the authors believe that the future of Christianity in America requires that Christians face these problems and overcome them. The authors' arguments and perspectives are interesting; they reveal a darker side to Christian worship in America, one which preaches Christian values while refraining from actually implementing them in the congregations. Whether and to what degree that will change over time is an open question, but it will be worth watching.
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