Ours is a country in turmoil. In addition to COVID-19 and our reactions to how it’s being handled, racial injustices and the violent reactions to that threaten to further divide our country. This includes our churches, which sadly are one of the most segregated communities in our nation. As political leaders and other high profile people of all persuasions forge ahead with their plans, we can look deeper and find other agendas behind their stated words and actions. Some are godly, and some are not. Yet, in the midst of all the strife, these struggles come with great opportunity for the church and for individuals who follow Jesus Christ!
How do we begin to be a positive and Biblically focused change agent? The first step is to understand what God’s Word says about His family. Two excellent resources to consider are a book by Pastor Miles McPherson, The Third Option- Hope For A Racially Divided Nation; and John Piper’s excellent Did Moses Marry A Black Woman? (Yes, he did, and God was angry with those who disapproved.) McPherson is multiracial and identifies as Black; Piper is White. Both offer a fully Biblical perspective. There are many more resources that are helpful including Ed Stetzer’s incredible Christians in the Age of Outrage, a work which challenges believers to use social media wisely with a goal of God’s purposes behind our words. Understanding is Step One.
Listening is Step Two. This is not a one way monologue. We must listen to each other, ask honest questions, and offer answers that are rooted in the Scripture. This give and take conversation must include lovingly challenging ideas that are contrary to Biblical truth. We must also keep our anger in check. Nothing will be accomplished if we cannot control our tongues. James 1:19-27 reminds us how we should handle ourselves, ending with “and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” This includes adapting to and justifying a philosophy and a use of words and actions that favor a political or social stance contrary to Biblical truth.
Earlier this year before the quarantine, Dr. Michael Henderson, a pastor, was the keynote speaker at a conference about racial reconciliation. As first a Christian but also as a Black man, Dr. Henderson shared something powerful that I will paraphrase (and probably butcher). He explained how brothers and sisters of color not only long to be invited to the party, but also to serve there, and then be able to lead and organize the party. Meaning it’s not enough for us as Christians who are White to be inclusive of them in attendance or even church membership. We must also allow our family members of all colors to serve, partner, and lead the church with us. Or even let them lead us. It’s one significant way of showing honor and thinking of others more highly than we think of ourselves. It’s a rich and rewarding opportunity for all of us to learn from each other! Yet how do we bring this mindset into our churches, and in doing so, represent an inclusive and loving God to a world that is conditioned to believe that Christ followers of different colors cannot even worship together, let alone live in unity?
From the beginning of creation, God made it clear that we are all created in his image. Secondly, the Church belongs to God. It’s not ours. We are given stewardship, but it is His Church. We come under His Authority. Thankfully, in the Bible, God gives us a pattern to follow to build a church family that pleases Him.
Just before this well-loved verse, “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.” (Micah 6:8), we find these words, “All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.” (Micah 4:5). This is our call to a Biblical focus instead of our personal preferences. We must remember we are first citizens of His Kingdom. What we look like and where we call home is farther down the list of descriptors. These will be important truths to remember!
As we have hard discussions and grow in knowledge and then change how we live, we can grow impatient with each other or impatient with our progress as a church community. Both sides will make mistakes, and the enemy will work against our unity. All of this is a process of conforming into Christlikeness.
After the events of this year, I believe churches cannot be the same as they were. Jesus’ words in Luke 21 make it pretty clear that we are much closer to the Lord’s return than we were yesterday. We already know our church is committed to Biblical diversity- it’s one of our stated values. We as the Body of Christ are challenged and also comforted by these words in Galatians 3:28- "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Should racial reconciliation be the sole focus of the church? No, we need to be about all aspects of God’s Kingdom, but it is one issue that our nation has now forced to the top of our list. We can turn away from that or we can embrace it as also coming from the hand of the Lord. So, what do we do? Keep pressing in, allowing God to change and form us individually and collectively.
God will continue to make us more like Him as we all go humbly before Him. We all get to be a part of the ongoing process of Christlikeness. I’m excited about the future as God is calling more and more people to Himself, and if we look to Him, He will heal our nation! We are all part of God's mission for us- and what a joy that is!
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