The Biblical Pattern for a Multi-Lingual, Multi-Cultural Church

Revelation 5:9

In the last twenty years, major cities across the United States have experienced a dramatic influx of immigrants—both legal and illegal—from every corner of the globe. My own neighborhood is now 75% Indian. Yet, fundamental churches have not excelled at reaching these domestic ethnic communities. We are far more comfortable ministering to “our own,” or waiting until these communities have Americanized over a generation or two before engaging them. While we spend millions sending missionaries overseas, we often ignore the nations that have come to our doorstep.

This raises a vital question for our churches—one every foreign missionary already addresses: How can I most effectively fulfill the Great Commission—evangelism and discipleship—in increasingly unfamiliar surroundings, while remaining biblically obedient in my methods?

The Universal Church

Revelation 5:9 and 7:9 paint a glorious picture of the Church: redeemed people from every tribe, tongue, and nation, united in worship. These saints come from every imaginable background—linguistic, cultural, social, and generational. Though they are one in Christ, they retain their distinctiveness. This is the Church as it will be—diverse, yet unified as the Bride of Christ.

We long for this reality but often fail to imagine it happening here and now.

The First Church: A Linguistic Melting Pot

Let’s consider the first church—the First Independent, Dispensational, Fundamental, Separated unto God, Baptist Church of Jerusalem (Acts 2). It was a multi-lingual church. Though these were Jews, Hebrew was not their primary language. Most could read it, having been taught in the synagogues, but it was not their everyday speech. Aramaic was the common tongue in Israel at the time of Christ. But these Jews had come from all over the known world and spoke different primary languages:

• Parthians (Iraq, Armenia)
• Medes (Northwestern Iran)
• Elamites (Iran)
• Mesopotamians (Babylon, Iraq)
• Judeans (Aramaic and Hebrew speakers)
• Cappadocians, Phrygians, Pamphylians (Asia Minor)
• Egyptians, Libyans, Cyrenians
• Romans (Latin speakers)

This linguistic diversity presented real challenges. In what language did they preach? How did they communicate in house churches? How did they prevent people from clustering based on language? What happened when certain groups were neglected? We know these problems existed, but we do not know in detail how the first Christians addressed them.

Acts 6 gives us a glimpse. The Grecian widows were being overlooked—likely a language issue. The church responded by appointing deacons, chosen by the congregation, full of the Holy Spirit, faith, and good testimony. These men—Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas—represented a range of backgrounds. This was not just administrative—it was theological. The Church was declaring, “We are one body and every member is equally important.”

A Multicultural Church

The early church began with Jews, bound together more by culture than language. But soon, Gentiles were added—first in Acts 10, then through Paul’s ministry. This brought new cultural challenges:

• Doctrinal: Jewish culture was steeped in works-based righteousness.
• Dietary: Clean vs. unclean foods, meat offered to idols.
• Ethnic pride: Jewish identity was idolized.
• Moral differences: Gentile cultures were often deeply immoral.
• Economic favoritism: James 2 warns against this.

Yet, the early church did not split into Jewish and Gentile congregations. Paul would not tolerate such division (Galatians 2). In fact, Paul considered the separate treatment of Jews and Gentiles within the local church a gospel issue. It implied a salvation by works and also implied differing classes of believers within the body of Christ. There is one Christ, and one Body. This was not doctrinally tolerable, and Paul confronted Peter publicly on the issue. Instead, they forged a new church identity—distinct from both Judaism and paganism.

The 21st Century Church

Today, we find ourselves in similar circumstances. The world has come to us—not just in major cities, but in towns and suburbs. How have we responded?

• Move away: Many churches simply relocated when neighborhoods changed.
• Start ethnic churches: These often serve first-generation immigrants well, but their children grow up in a different culture and drift away.
• Separate services: Some churches offer services in different languages. But these often function as isolated ministries, not integrated congregations. They rarely produce leaders or deacons from within.

None of these approaches reflect the New Testament model. Paul never envisioned separate churches for different groups. The early church had to meld languages and cultures into one unified body.

A New Culture in Christ

To follow the biblical pattern, we must form a new church culture—distinct from both the sending and receiving cultures. This requires:

• Understanding what is essential to New Testament church life, and what is merely traditional. This is often an uncomfortable and complicated conversation.  After all, cultures often have reasons for cultural norms and those reasons should be considered.
• Learning from one another—not just tolerating but understanding and enjoying each other’s backgrounds.
• Christian love, not DEI. This is not about political correctness. It’s about the outworking of the work of the Spirit among members of a congregation.
• Patience and communication. If everyone is unbending, the church cannot function. But it must function—for the glory of God.

Tools and Challenges

We have tools the early church didn’t:

• Language tools: Translation apps, bilingual Bibles, language classes. For a church to minister in a multi-lingual society, using an anachronistic translation becomes an almost insurmountable barrier.
• Language ministries: Intentional efforts to bridge communication gaps.  This would include ESL classes.
• Shared language learning: Encouraging everyone to learn a common language.

But we also face challenges:

• Discipleship: Each culture has its own worldview that must be conformed to Christ.
• Cultural habits: Modesty, family roles, immigration issues—all must be addressed biblically.
• Unity: We must be one fellowship, equal, patient, and accommodating.

The Role of Leadership

Our greatest obstacle is leadership—specifically, pastors who are unwilling to catch the vision. Leading this kind of church is hard. It’s messy. But it is necessary.

We must deliberately choose the difficult path. Why?

• The Great Commission demands it.
• Our ecclesiology demands it.
• Our Lord demands it.
• Our future in the Kingdom demands it.

Let us build churches that reflect the first-century Church and the future universal Church. Let us not shy away from the nations at our doorstep. Let us welcome them, disciple them, and walk together as one body in Christ.

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Listen to the audio version of this post here: The Biblical Pattern for a Multi-Lingual, Multi-Cultural Church