The statement “I have a friend who’s Black” or a similar statement is the verbal equivalent of your pre-pubescent crush punching you in the stomach to show her affection. When this statement is said by a white person, they are trying to show that they know about black culture and are not a racist. When this statement is heard by a black person, it lets them know that the white person who said it has no clue about black culture and likely has some prejudice. I don’t want to insult anyone, but I felt like this might be an opportunity to explain to white people why black people feel this way about this statement and encourage black people in how to respond when this occurs. For my white folks out there, the reason black people respond the way they do is because it sounds like you are trying to affirm your understanding of black culture or prove that you are not prejudice. However, white people who understand black culture and are familiar with it would never make that statement; they are already so comfortable being around black people that they fit in without effort and the black people know very quickly that they understand and are welcome. Consider this, very rarely, if ever, have you heard a black person proclaim that they have a friend who is white. This is because they are already so comfortable being around white people and understand the culture so well that they just fit in. And the things that they don’t understand about white culture they can fake or avoid without their white friends even knowing. I think you get the point, so I’ll move on… For my black people out there, especially those of us who are followers of Christ, we need to change our response to white people who use the “black friend” proclamation. I know that I have been guilty of marking that person off as prejudice and refusing to have much more to do with them. I now know my response is exactly opposite of what I should have done and what I want to ask you to not do in the future. Instead, we should see that person as someone who is trying to build a bridge with black people and because of their lack of relationships with black people simply don’t know how. I believe that in most cases they want black friends and want to be accepted but have not had anyone really accept their, albeit awkward, olive branch. Just like that 6 year old girl who beats up the boy she likes, this individual wants a relationship but doesn’t know how to show it. So, I’m asking you, black people, to respond by being their black friend. The first act of friendship can be telling them, “don’t ever say ‘you have a black friend’ again,” and then growing a heart level relationship with them so that they feel comfortable around you and your black friends. Truly help them understand your life, the things that concern you and how you feel about situations concerning race. That relationship is one that will produce fruit in more ways than we can imagine in the world and for the church. Heart-level black and white friendships, especially in the body of Christ, will transform the church for the glory of God and bring more people into a relationship with Christ. Have you seen this picture? It was shared by the Presbyterian Day School in Clarksdale, MS and has gone viral this past week. While some view it as a positive commentary on race relations, a representative with the school said they want the focus to remain on the love of Jesus Christ, as captioned in the picture. This brings up a vital question that, I think, as believers in Jesus, it is crucial that we ponder: What is going to improve race relations in our country? Is it just going to happen because as a society we are moving forward and the bigots and racist will eventually die out, or do we actually have to do something to bring it about? Recently, when I taught on God’s kingdom and the responsibility of the church to live according to its values, a kind older gentlemen asked me a version of this question. He shared what he saw in his neighborhood: scenes like those captured in the photo, children of different races playing together, which were non-existent in his youth. He asked me if I didn’t think things would just keep getting better and better until the day racial issues would simply disappear. His question implied that we need not bother ourselves with actively working against such issues, we need only wait. That’s the question isn’t it? Are things such as institutional racism, bigotry, and hatred simply going to disappear? Are we improving as a society? Will the world of Star Trek one day become reality? It is true we no longer have slavery and legalized segregation. But let’s remember how those changes came about. They did not happen because society simply improved. They were paid with the sacrifice and lives of thousands of people. They were fought for and, sometimes, wrenched from the hands of those who were holding on to them with radical fervency. The bigger question is whether the Christian worldview is one of a progressive future or one that calls for individual and societal responsibility? Well, when you put it that way, the answer is very clear isn’t it. Jesus himself spoke of the future, not as a utopia, but as a time when “the love of many would wax cold” and the world would be filled with ethnic strife, nation rising up against nation. As Christians we are called to “seek first his kingdom and His righteousness”. In other words, we are called to desire and pursue God’s authority in this world and his way of doing things. I think we can see in this a call to work for justice and equity. Not to bring about a utopia here on the earth, but to testify to the character of the God we serve. It’s funny to me that we conservative, Evangelical Christians are all about personal responsibility when it comes to most issues. There are many among us who see poverty, for example, primarily a result of personal choices and not a consequence of larger societal issues. Yet, when it comes to racial issues, we are tempted to put our trust in society and abdicate our own accountability in the matter. Could it be we are quick to blame but slow to work? Brothers and sisters, this should not be. Those of us who are called, literally by Christ's title — anointed one — should be the ones on the front lines of manifesting Christ’s love, heart, and character to the world around us. So I agree with the Presbyterian Day School, the picture is all about the love of Christ, for only His love lived out in real action can heal the racial wounds in individual hearts and in our society as a whole. This is the kingdom of God. Attend and congregate—here are two simple verbs that are often used to describe what the church is or what one does in relation to church. Is the church a place we go to or something we are a part of? Do you go to (attend) church or does your church gather (congregate) regularly at a particular place and time? Now before you dismiss this post as splitting of hairs, stick with me a minute or two. I think the difference is more than semantics. The difference between the church as people or place is crucial. If the church is a place that one attends, then how we get people to come to it becomes a real question. It deals with marketing and consumption. We want to give our attendees a great experience, a good product, so that they will become faithful customers/attenders. Is this not what we are all about in the church these days--attracting customers? Loyal customers who stay with us year after year. Even more so, we want customers who will become salespeople, like your classic pyramid scheme. This is just one of the many pitfalls of redefining church as a place we attend. Now, if the church is a congregation that we are a part of, then it would make sense that we should gather periodically. We need to gather to refresh our relationships with one another. Just like families gather; we gather not to become family, but to stay current, to stay in touch and enjoy each other’s company. But the church is more than a family. We are the body of Christ. This means we share in his vision and mission. So we also need to gather to discuss how to work together in that mission and to celebrate the reason we are one in the first place. This is often called worship. We gather to sing, shout, rejoice, and learn so that we can represent him better and better within our spheres of influence. So what does this have to do with diversity? Well, if church is something we attend, then it really doesn’t matter where we attend. We can pick the consumer experience that best caters to our own personal likes and needs. This view of the church results in a segregated church. If on the other hand, the church is something supernatural that we belong to by the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, then I don’t get to choose who I congregate with. The reasons "I am in Chris"t should dominate the choices I make in who I congregate with- namely, to represent him well in the world as his body extended to each other and our community. This view of the church drives us towards diversity. Let’s face it. The work of racial reconciliation is hard. We are asking fleshly human beings to reject their own natural worldview and self-interest and choose God’s kingdom instead. This is not an easy message to communicate and even more difficult to embrace and live out. Today, fight discouragement and the temptations to withdraw from the battle with some wonderful truths right from Christ’s resurrection. 1. Embrace suffering. Jesus gave his life on the cross, not for anything that he did, but for us. In the same way, we need to embrace the suffering of others as our own. This is such a key element in being a racial reconciler. Mourn with those who mourn and, as much as is possible, empathize and sympathize with sufferings that are not your own. 2. Stay hopeful. Yes, many days it will look like we are making little progress. There may even be times that things look completely lost. At those times remind yourself that we serve a living Savior and with him there is always hope. The tomb was not the end of the story -- HE ROSE! 3. Embrace death. Everyone loves the victory of the resurrection! It is God’s triumph over sin, the flesh, and the devil that he so generously shares with his children. Yet, there is no resurrection without death. In our work of bringing reconciliation between former enemies there is much we must die to: our own desires, hurt feelings, being understood, other opinions of us, etc. These and so much more must die if we are to see Christ’s life flow through us. 4. Be a bridge. Jesus was God in the flesh. He brought heaven to earth. He made the eternal accessible. In his person he connects so many elements that do not seem to go together: justice and mercy, humility and unashamed self-proclamation, compassion and rebuking, to name a few. In the same way, although our work to see heaven on earth today may seem impossible, in Jesus it becomes more than possible. 5. Remain focused. Our work is not to build our own kingdoms but to see his kingdom come and his will be done. Just like Jesus in the garden we must respond to the difficult cups we must often drink with, “yet not my will, but yours be done." We must never lose focus and always keep what we do squarely centered in making our Father proud and our Lord famous. Photo credit: shadowgirls-stock.deviantart.com When Jesus’ bride is divided racially, socio-economically, and culturally we are a fragmented bride. This is not God’s plan for his Church. Abundant accounts are given throughout Scripture of God unifying the diverse for His name to be made known in the earth. Revelation describes the great multitude gathered around the throne of God from every nation, tribe, people and language (Rev. 7:9). This is our model for Church Like Heaven. “The global church [celebrating] astonishing cultural diversity while enjoying unity in Christ” is our example for helping advance the Kingdom of God today (Shenk, 402). Jesus prays for us in John 17 that we, his disciples, would be one just as Christ, the Father and Spirit are one, in order that the world would believe (John 17:20-23). Not only will this be a testament to the world of the saving love of the triune God, but it also brings about the kingdom of God via the human soul, not through revolution (Montgomery, 64). The hope for a united Church is profound, but the path to completion is a strenuous one. With Christ’s work on the cross breaking down the ultimate barrier between humankind and God there is potential and promise for the wall of hostility to be broken down between people groups. The Church of Jesus Christ in America could not be in a more opportune time to lead in and pour out the reconciling love of God. We can see God tearing down the dividing wall of hostility in our city by displaying his grace in our lives through cross-racially healed relationships and also addressing historic and systemic injustices. Our greatest obstacle is the absence of authentic relationships spanning racial and socio-economic opposites. A subsequent fruit of diverse unity within missio Dei is multi-cultural teams going into all the earth. According to Harvie Conn, “indigenization validates all human languages and cultures before God as legitimate paths for understanding his divine meanings” (481). God’s image is represented in every human being, from every unique culture. When groups of people penetrate a new culture while bringing multiple cultures with them, they create openness in the recipients simply by being diverse. Each unique missionary reflects the image of God encouraging those hearing the good news that God’s image is also in them and that His gospel includes them. Although we know the consummation of missio Dei to be the New Jerusalem, we will continue the work of being missionaries, even as Paul, in explaining the mystery of the gospel to the world. Our hope is that as the homeless, CEOs, brown, white, male, female, Hindu, atheist, urban, suburban, walk through the doors of our church, they will feel safe enough to stay and hear the beautiful, matchless story of the unified triune God providing a way of salvation through the cross. Conn, Harvie M. 2000. “Indigenization.” In Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions, general editor A. Scott Moreau; associate editors, Harold Netland and Charles Van Engen; consulting editors David Burnett, et al., 481-482. Grand Rapids: Baker. Montgomery, Helen Barrett with Shawn B. Redford. ed. 2000. The Bible and Missions. Revised Edition. Pasadena, CA: Fuller Theological Seminary. Shenk, David W. 2000. “The Gospel and Culture.” In Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions, general editor A. Scott Moreau; associate editors, Harold Netland and Charles Van Engen; consulting editors David Burnett, et al., 401-402. Grand Rapids: Baker. If you enjoyed this post check out Belkis Lehmann's recent post, Unity. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” declares John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton. On the surface it does not seem a truer statement has ever been spoken. A look through the pages of history reveals example after example of power enticing, infecting, and corrupting: from Genghis Khan, to Stalin, to Idi Amin. It is true of the secular as well as religious, of military as well as civil leaders. Yet, there is one figure that stands drastically apart from this pattern: Jesus the Messiah. Here is an individual exercising power over the elements, over sickness, over the material--even over death itself--who remained untouched by the lures of power. At the start of his ministry, Satan showed him all the kingdoms of the world and tempted him saying, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” His reply was simple, but emphatic, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” At the end of his life, when his disciples fought to prevent his arrest, he rebuked them saying, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” He did not call upon them however, but instead laid down His life. In the three and a half years that encompassed his ministry he did not once use his power to accumulate wealth, conquer kingdoms, or take advantage of women. How many other leaders of history, even religious leaders, can this be said of? By his life he redefined the world. He taught us that leadership is not about “lording it over” people, but about service. Instead of avoiding the weak and marginalized, he pursued them. He lived and died, not for himself, but for others. Jesus lived in perfect accordance with the Kingdom of God; a kingdom so different from those of this world that the gospel of Matthew consistently refers to it as the “kingdom of heaven”. In doing so, he laid down a radically different, not-of-this-world pattern for his followers to live lives of sacrificial service for society’s easiest victims; throughout history these have been women, children, foreigners and the poor. Those who are without power, are those the church is called to love, protect and fight for. Our country’s demographics are drastically changing. We are fast becoming a majority-minority country. This scares many people who are afraid of losing power. But it should not frighten those who follow the Nazarene carpenter. He called us to give up power, long before anyone tried to take it from us. Power is not evil; power used for self ultimately becomes such. Today use your power for others, just like our humble King. I woke up a little after midnight unable to sleep. On Facebook, an African American student from one of our Chi Alpha groups messaged me asking for my prayers and help. The KKK is handing out flyers in his town (more flyers). I can't imagine the many emotions he is feeling, but he told me, "This really angers me, but it angers me to want to do something about it through spreading the love of Christ even more, and how we are all one blood under Christ." I am so proud of this student. In the midst of his own feelings, he is staying focused on Christ’s mission. So, I am up praying and crying and asking myself, “How can this group still exist today?” But, of course I already know the answer. We are not a post-racial society. There is so much going on in our world, but most in the church are so very ignorant of it that I am inspired today to speak out and bring some truth to bear. Ignorance, by the way, is simply not knowing. There is no shame in not knowing, only in refusing to learn. Let’s start with some basic definitions to help us sort through some of the lies. Racism. This word gets thrown around a lot, but what is it actually? I like the clarity that sociologist Michael Emerson brings in his paper, “The Persistent Problem”. “Research consistently finds significant differences in the way that racial groups tend to define racism” (e.g., Yancey 2006). Whites tend to view racism as intended individual acts of overt prejudice and discrimination…In short, it defines the person’s essence. To be called “racist” by others then is so very offensive to so many whites because it communicates an amazing charge. It says, “You, white person, walk around holding crazy stereotypes in your head, and you then go around intentionally and directly parading your racial prejudice and discrimination against me and others. Whatever else you may be, white person, this racist label is your master status.” Ouch. No wonder the word makes the blood boil. Most people of color define racism quite differently. Racism is, at a minimum, prejudice plus power, and that power comes not from being a prejudiced individual, but from being part of a group that controls the nation’s systems. So while anyone can be prejudiced, only whites can perpetrate racism in the United States, for they hold and have always held most of the power in American institutions. Even in a nation that currently has a president as black, nearly all senators, representatives, governors, and CEOs, to name a few, are white. This view of racism is called the structuralist definition, and stands in stark contrast to the individualist definition.” Let’s be clear. Both definitions of racism are sin. The individualist definition violates the sacredness of humanity. The structural definition violates the very essence of the gospel. Those who claim the cross are called to serve and lay down their lives for others, not to use whatever power they might have for self-protection and self-aggrandizement. White Power/ White Privilege. Here are some more terms that are incredibly misunderstood. Again I turn to Michael Emerson. When trying to understand sociological concepts, turn to a sociologist. He uses the term, “structural advantage” probably to lighten some of the weight. “White Structural Advantage: As alluded to earlier, white Americans occupy the location of dominance—politically, economically, culturally, and numerically—within the racial hierarchy. They have disproportionate control of influence of political parties, legal system, government-controlled institutions, industry, and business. These structural advantages provide privileges to whites, where privilege here can be defined as benefits accrued by virtue of having a white identity. This advantage is in everyday situations and at institutional levels. Some examples, with varying degrees of significance for life outcomes: whites easily purchase movies, literature, or greeting cards with whites in them; white Americans can ignore the experiences, writings, or ideas of racial/ethnic minorities without penalty; whites are assumed to be middle class, law abiding, and well meaning, unless they prove otherwise (and they will have to work at proving it) whereas for other groups it is typically the opposite; whites have the ability to set laws and policies (in part because elected officials are overwhelmingly white)—including who is defined as white and who is not, the power to interpret what is a racial problem and what is not, who gets into the country and who does not, the ability to pass housing policies that favor their racial group, and whites shape the development of educational curriculums that emphasizes Western history and social experiences, and much more.” I find people are often offended at the notion that they might have “white power”, like they have done something wrong. Look, if you are white (actually I don’t like that term, but will use it for the purpose of this discussion), the truth is that you do have structural advantages. This does not make you a bad person! If you are a Christian, then I would challenge you to use this advantage for the benefit of others who do not have this advantage. THIS IS THE GOSPEL. Jesus shares his power, privilege, and advantage with us. He has all of these, and does not deny it, but instead uses it. KKK. I do not claim to be an expert on this group. On the website listed on this flyer they say, “Our goal is to help restore America to a White Christian nation founded on God’s word. This does not mean we want to see anything bad happen to the darker races... we simply want to live separate from them as GOD intended (Lev. 20:24-25).” A few things regarding these two short sentences. Leviticus 20:24-25 says, “But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations. “‘You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you.” Regarding the scripture reference- Yeah, I don’t get it either. I guess they bank on most people not actually looking this up or they think that God’s command to the Hebrew people to live separate from idolatrous nations around them somehow equates to racial segregation today. Race is a human construct that was not part of the ancient world and that is one, among many reasons, why this Scripture is horribly misapplied by the Klan. Secondly, White and Christian are not synonymous terms, though I think perhaps the Klan thinks they are. Christianity was in Africa before it made its way to Europe. Most Europeans were idolatrous “barbarians”, much like the people Moses warned the Israelites to separate themselves from, before the gospel took root there. Christians are people who have embraced Jesus as Lord and Savior and actually live by his ways and do his will. By the way, believers were first called Christians in Antioch because their multi-ethnic congregation of Jews and Gentiles necessitated a new term. Thank you, Luke, for recording the leaders of this great church for us so that we will not get sucked into the lies of groups like this. “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas (Jewish), Simeon called Niger (Sub-Saharan African), Lucius of Cyrene (Greek), Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul (Jew from Greek city).” Acts. 13:1. Italics are mine. Lastly, Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month are not racist because they celebrate the culture and contributions of often over-looked groups. Ethnic specific events, media, and resources exist because many of us feel we are completely lacking from the general culture. If we want to make these things obsolete then let’s create school curriculums, movies, and events that truly represents all of us. Here’s the bottom line, brothers and sisters. Everything that quotes Scripture and claims Jesus’ allegiance is not of God. Jesus taught us to judge a tree by its fruit. This is a good standard to apply to all of our lives. The kingdom of God is made up of every nation, tribe, people, and language. THIS IS TRUTH. As Mark Deymaz says, “if the kingdom of heaven is not segregated, then why on earth is the local church?" It is time to deal with the reality of the racial injustice in our world through a Biblical lens. Like my brother put it, "This really angers me, but it angers me to want to do something about it through spreading the love of Christ even more, and how we are all one blood under Christ." Me too. Will you join us? In my ministry work I have the opportunity to speak with city leaders, non-profit directors, and people from other faiths that are working on solving the issues of racial injustice in St. Louis. Many of these leaders have been fighting systemic racism for years and others are coming into the situation with a new energy and desire to help make change. Since I am new to the city my posture is always one of learning, building relationships, and offering assistance with the things that are happening before bringing forth my thoughts and ideas. I do this so that people understand that I care about the same thing that they care about and they know that I care about them. In a recent meeting, I had the opportunity to share that the city and the rest of society will begin to heal racially when the church continues to heal racially and grows to be as diverse as the Bible tells us we should. I have shared this many times before and the response to this comment is usually the majority will simply distill the comment down to the idea that I’m a pastor that wants to make the church diverse and leave it at that, but there is always the one person who hears the whole statement and asks “So, do you believe that society is only going to change once the church changes?” For most people this is a crazy assumption, especially for people who are not Christians. However, I have found that a fair number of Christians don’t fully believe this statement to be true. Non-Christians tend to believe in the foundational humanity of mankind. They believe that mankind is ultimately good and all we need to do is convince the majority of people to do the right thing and society will change. So the need for God to be apart of societal change is ridiculous for them. They are fine with us Christians using God or the Bible to convince our groups to do the right thing, but they reject the idea that God or the Church has any influence over the rest of the world. The Christians who do not believe that the church will lead this change in the world do so because they can’t imagine a diverse church in the first place. They usually believe that a diverse church is a good idea, but because of our sin nature and cultural preferences it is something unachievable. Therefore, the church can’t lead society in this way because we can’t do it ourselves. Perhaps you may even fall into this way of thinking. My answer to the question posed is an emphatic “Yes, I believe the world will only change once the Church does!” My reasoning is very simple: I do not believe in the intrinsic humanity of man. I believe that we are all driven by our flesh to protect and provide for ourselves and the people who we care about, even at the expense of others. My belief is not only rooted in scripture, but all of history has provided the data to prove that humans left to our own vices are self centered at best and a powerful destructive force at worst. We only need to read a history book or look at the world today to verify this fact. Next, God is the only solution for our personal and societal ills for which racism is one. This answer is only partially satisfying for non-Christians because they will then ask why is the church the solution? Why not another religion or all religions working together? I love it when we get to this question because that means they have progressed to the idea that God is the solution. If we can entertain the idea that God is the solution then we need only to look at the Bible to see that our God has always been about reconciliation and bringing people together while others have focused on self improvement or individual actions pleasing God. While Jesus is clear that our calling is to love God and to love one another, reconciliation to God and reconciliation to one another is the unifying threat throughout all of scripture. The Bible is full of scripture talking about believers being reconciled to each other, whether it’s John 17:20-23, Rev. 7:9, or Gal. 3:28, to name a few. So the Bible lived out in the church is the only spiritual voice of reconciliation there is or has ever been. The reconciliation in the Bible extends to any separation in the church and therefore applies to the racial divide in the church of America. We can see that the church is supposed to be a diverse body reconciled to one another worshiping in communities on Earth as it is in Heaven. From a practical point of view we can see how this will change the way people in the church live their lives at work, school, and home. When their closest friends are people of different races they will respond to societal racism differently and that will begin to change the American culture. Most importantly, when we, the Church, are truly reconciled to each other across racial lines we will not be divided by politics or social agendas and the world will see love that has not been seen since the first century church. That will move the world to turn toward Jesus and their hearts will be changed. That will be the end of systemic racism in America. I have no doubt that the church is the solution to the race problem in America. Once the Church embraces this understanding we will see the Church leading change in the area of racial equality along with other biblical justice issues. Brandon Wilkes is a contributing author and the Pastor at One Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Last week we talked about that elusive goal, unity. It’s wonderful; it’s beautiful; it’s essential; it makes the gospel true in the eyes of unbelievers. But, it’s almost impossible. So how do essentially selfish creatures live in unity? First, we must die to ourselves. Yep, that old gospel standard: death to self. If our flesh is the problem (and trust me, it is), then we must say no to the flesh. Death to our desires, to our own perspectives, to our need to be in control or to our need be right is essential for unity to thrive. This is probably the reason we find very few examples of true unity in the American church. We do not like death, we prefer comfort, happiness, and fighting for our “rights.” Yet, to have unity, we must deny ourselves daily. Second, we must submit ourselves to God. Ooh, there’s another word we don’t like: submission. Truth is there is no Christian life without submission. Christians are those who have rejected their own self-rule and--denying themselves--have embraced the kingdom of God. Submission and self-denial go hand in hand. They are two heads of the same coin, two aspects of the one call: worship. Worship is not the singing of songs, no matter how much passion it is done with; it is a life lived in complete submission to God’s laws, God’s ways and God’s authority. If we are to live in unity, we must submit ourselves God and all of what that means. Lastly, we must live out the gospel. Denial and submission are just the foundations of the gospel--the core is love. Love is not a silly emotion that comes and goes, but the difficult choice to act on behalf of someone else no matter the cost. This is the love Jesus modeled for us in his life and death. This is the love that will work for unity, because unity is work. How are you working for unity in your local context? What are some of the ways you have had to deny yourself and chose God’s ways of love instead? Being One? Is this possible? "For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 1 Cor 12:13 "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." Gen 2:24 "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one." Deut 6:4 One. In the kingdom of God, one is a marvelous word. From God himself, to marriage, to the church, one is used to describe, not individuality, but unity. Just as God is one God in three persons (think about that too long and it will make your brain explode), husband and wife are called to be one. After 23+ years of marriage I can tell you that making the two one is no easy feat. In the same way, the people of God are called to be one. Why? “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.” John 17:20-22 Jesus reveals two reasons for the unity of the body in his prayer for future believers: first we must be one because God is one. It is core to humanity to be the image of God, the imago deo, in the world. God is the perfection of unity in diversity; the people of God are to reflect this divine trait. Secondly, it is part of our apologetic in the world. Through our unity, Jesus prays, the world will believe that the Father sent the Son. The unity of the body corroborates the gospel message. Unity is beautiful, but it is difficult. It is a struggle for me to live in unity with one human being I chose and love. How difficult is it to be in unity with those we have not chosen, or even more so, may not like? Is the goal of unity, especially a unity across racial, ethnic, and economic lines, even possible? I confess, I often ponder this question. I am not sure human beings can pull this off. Actually, I am convinced they can’t. In our flesh, we cannot achieve unity, only through God’s Spirit is it even remotely possible. How do we practically do this? Check back next week for some of my ideas or share yours below in the comments section. |
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