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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