Race and Religion

Race and Religion

‘Time in the Word’

Race and Religion — together, they appear in every dictionary but, unfortunately, race and religion are separated Sunday mornings. Have you wondered why the worship hour on Sunday mornings is the most segregated hour of the week in our nation? I believe the answer is found in our desire, willingness and acts of accepting one another.

In America and in particularly, the Mid-South, we are confronted daily with the face of racism.

According to one dictionary, “racism” is defined as; “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism against someone of a different race and on the belief that one’s own race is superior.”

The problem with this definition is that there is only one “race,” the “human” race. Undeniably we have different tribes, colors, languages, customs, commonalities, etc. There is no “black”, no “white”, no “yellow”, there is only the “human race.” Racism exists in every group of people. It’s not just a white thing, it’s a people thing.

In one church I served, there were a few black people who were part of the family of Believers.

Speaking with these folks I learned that they received more hassle from their black family and friends for attending a “white” church than they received from any of the white people attending the church.

Another church I served was a “white” church in an overwhelmingly “black” community. Regardless of how many out-reaches we made into the community, or the relationships forged, very few black folks were part of the church. Meeting with one black leader of the school system, I received this comment; “I hear you have the largest white church in our city.”

I was overwhelmed by her comment. Truth be told, I never thought one time of the church as the “largest white church” or even a “white” church, I only saw it as a church. Church is church, isn’t it?

Learning to accept people is important to resolving differences. The problem is the differences are sometimes hard to accept. We confuse accepting people with the idea that if we accept the person then by our acceptance of the person, we are giving approval to what they do or how they act. These are two separate issues. God accepts every individual, He does not accept our sin.

Thankfully, we have a gift from God. We read; “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). Serving as a pastor I can tell you that “ministry” is work and the work never ends, and the work is always about people — always.

The key principle in learning to accept others is to first understand how God accepts us. We read; “Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from common wealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one add broke down the barrier of the dividing wall…” (Ephesians 2:12-14).

Each one of us were strangers to God, separated from Him by our sin, excluded from the presence of God, strangers to the promises of God. We had no hope and were without God. But God, through His Son Jesus Christ, brought us near to Himself through the blood of Christ shed on the Cross. God broke down the barrier that separated us. Through Scripture we know that the “barrier” between God and ourselves is sin.

What separates one group of people from another group? Barriers, known as differences — the very things that make you unique as an individual such as language, style, color, experiences, money and interests can bring you closer with someone or cause separation. Coming together or separating is a choice. Choices can change.

In Jesus’ life on earth we read of His search for people who were different. One example includes “The Woman at the Well” (John 4:4-38). Interesting to me is that Jesus “Had to pass through Samaria” (John 4:4). Jesus was purposeful in searching for this woman — one who was very different in personhood and culturally than He. Purposeful, this is what a church needs to be to draw all people into the fellowship. Purposeful, this is what you need to be in pursuing relationships with people different than yourself.

Another example is that of the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:1-11). Jesus accepted and protected the woman and did not accuse or misuse her. He simply challenged the status-quo by making the statement, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7).

Jesus did not accept what the woman was doing, He accepted her, protected her from the abuse of others.

What Jesus did is what we need to do.

If we desire to be morelike Jesus, then we must learn to accept others as they are, for who they are, and, leave the changing of hearts to Jesus. If we try to change “them” we’ll just ruin them by trying to make them like us. Finally, we must be intentional about welcoming and including others different than us.

Until we accept others like Jesus accepted all people, race and religion will always be separated in our churches.

Clayton Adams has a message of faith he would like to share with the community. He would also like to hear from you. E-mail him at claytonpadamslll@ gmail.com.

By Clayton Adams