Thursday, June 11, 2020

One People on Common Ground



Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Last Sunday, Pastor Herk of Little Church in the Pines (my dad’s church) in Bass Lake, California approached his sermon message from the experience and perspective of both a Christian pastor and a law enforcement officer engaged in protests and riots in the past. Foundationally, the oneness that we have as we come together in Jesus Christ obliterates the social obstacles that are out there, that are causing so much confusion, anger and stress today. We design and manufacture these obstacles that define who is “in” and who is “out” socially. Who is part of us and who is not.  Who is like us and who is different from us.

This racial strife and tension today is not being experienced for the first time in history. Protests and rioting have stirred up from distress by brutal and unnecessary injustice. Whatever you think and believe, it was and is wrong. So is anarchy of disobeying the law, breaking into innocent businesses to loot, setting fire to buildings and vehicles or throwing objects with the intent to harm or injury. Two wrongs do not make a right. Peaceful demonstrations and protests of an injustice is right and supported in a free society with liberty. Degradation of society and culture leads to disorder and confusion which is played out in theater of life. “Good”, that which is “right”, make you feel good and right both individually and collectively in community. This side of eternity, we all experience prejudices of some sort against us in our position in life, our beliefs or the color of our skin. As a former police office, pastor Herk experience discrimination against him for wearing a law enforcement uniform.

We are influenced by our past history, but we can do better as a church. We need to open our hearts and befriend rather than belittle people. God doesn’t have any color differences in His head when it comes to His created people, the human race. That is pastor Herk’s point. This chaos that is happening is our country is not as much a race problem as it is a sin problem. Do not be offended by this message as pastor Herk’s motives are pure. All have sinned. Galatians 3:28 is a critical message today. Prejudicial inclinations rub off on others. We have to be careful about what we think, say and do. What would Jesus do? A non-believing world is are watching Christians to see change and godly living in order and peace. There is no division in races, economic groups, are genders. We are all equal recipients of the grace that Jesus offers us. He went to the Cross so that we could be free of those divisions. Christ created “common ground” based on what He did on the Cross for our sins. Isn’t it wonderful!

The oneness that we find in Jesus Christ obliterates all those social traditions that define who “is” and who “is not” part of the group. It doesn’t make a difference. That doesn’t mean that God makes us all the same. We are unique and different individually. But, the Cross broke those any social tradition about race. God’s desire from the very beginning was that there would be no racism. God made all people; one blood, one people. God made man and woman in His own image. Sinful pride divides; Christ unites. Jesus, though His sacrifice demolished the wall of separation. It’s not about being politically correct. One of the reasons that Jesus Christ came to earth from heaven was to destroy division created by social constructs. Racism violates God’s loving compassion. Racism doesn’t even fit the mind of God.

Romans 10:12 “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.”
 
Becoming unequally yoked in beliefs about God is warned against in the Bible, but that issue deals with holiness of faith that caused division in marriage and family. Jesus tells us in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” God loves and gave His Son for the “whole” world to be saved of sin and the wrath of God in eternal damnation. It is an overwhelming compassion for “humanity”. God loves people of every ethnicity equally. If we do not love everybody also, according to 1 John 4:8, the love of the Father is not in us.

The God-rejecting lifestyle of prejudices and racial stereotypes doesn’t go along with the love of God. Racial reconciliation and revival can and needs to take place, and the Christian church need to set aside petty differences and make a difference for Christ in our society and culture as God’s common ground is absolutely flat and level at the foot of the Cross. What if the body of Christ, His church, would link arms and make it a point to show the world the gospel of Jesus Christ to advance the kingdom of Heaven? Reconciliation in kindness is such an important issue to think and pray about. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Racism violates God’s love, God’s commission, and God’s desires for our lives. Go and make disciples of all nations.

In Christ, Brian

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