Racial Strife and Social Justice: The Challenges and the Opportunities Before Us
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. Three excellent resources to consider are a book by Dr. John M. Perkins One Blood, another 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.) Dr. Perkins is Black and grew up in the South in the 1930's. McPherson is multiracial and identifies as Black; Piper is White. All 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 last year before the quarantine, Dr. Michael Henderson, a Converge pastor who was the keynote speaker at the regional conference in March, addressed some of the issues dividing the church along racial lines. (Hosted by a fellowship that is primarily made of Hispanic and African American believers coming together. Our leadership team learned a lot from them!) 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. In the context of our missions work both in our country and overseas, many of us from The Way Church have experienced being under the leadership of believers that come from different races, nationalities, and backgrounds. 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.
After Step One of Understanding and Step Two of Listening, we can move forward into action, Step Three. We can be committed and serve others instead of just seeking our own needs to be met. We can proactively draw others in to work alongside us, building relationship, strengthening unity, and advancing God’s Kingdom. Leaders are called to steward His church and help others grow in using their gifts, but they are also called to develop future pastors, elders, and ministry leaders. It can be hard to share leadership when we are so committed to our work and “know” what has to be done and how to do it! But we must. Sharing and developing new leadership is ultimately an expression of our trust in God, our humility before Him and others, and an agreement to advance the kingdom by letting others struggle and strengthen while they grow. What if Jesus hadn’t given the Twelve and then the Seventy-Two real authority and power? What would our world look like if Barnabas had not embraced Paul as a new convert? (See Acts 9.) What if Paul hadn’t developed and entrusted other men such as Timothy and Titus? This model is before us for a reason- and it even began in the garden before the Fall of man when Our Perfect God passed on authority to Adam and Eve.
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. We all 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 the previous 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 long been 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 our 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.
Almost one year ago, our website was refreshed to better reflect all our values and our mission statement. This was not a knee-jerk reaction to the murder of George Floyd or anyone before him. Many years ago as a leadership team, we had asked ourselves these questions: How could we at The Way Church share our hearts for unity and diversity- both with believers looking for a church as well as those in need of Jesus? Would those wanting to know more about Jesus find us welcoming while we still maintain our Biblical integrity and a passion for God's Truth? It’s only one way we are being serious about better communicating who we are. It’s at least a start. The proof in our commitment to this- and the blessing from God- is a growing multi-ethnic community serving in various ministry roles and church leadership.
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 our future as God is calling more and more people to Himself! We are all part of God's mission for us- and what a joy that is!
"The Way Church exists to create committed followers of Jesus, to exhibit the power of God’s love to our community, to be a catalyst for spiritual transformation, and to be a center of passionate worship of the one true God."
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. Three excellent resources to consider are a book by Dr. John M. Perkins One Blood, another 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.) Dr. Perkins is Black and grew up in the South in the 1930's. McPherson is multiracial and identifies as Black; Piper is White. All 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 last year before the quarantine, Dr. Michael Henderson, a Converge pastor who was the keynote speaker at the regional conference in March, addressed some of the issues dividing the church along racial lines. (Hosted by a fellowship that is primarily made of Hispanic and African American believers coming together. Our leadership team learned a lot from them!) 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. In the context of our missions work both in our country and overseas, many of us from The Way Church have experienced being under the leadership of believers that come from different races, nationalities, and backgrounds. 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.
After Step One of Understanding and Step Two of Listening, we can move forward into action, Step Three. We can be committed and serve others instead of just seeking our own needs to be met. We can proactively draw others in to work alongside us, building relationship, strengthening unity, and advancing God’s Kingdom. Leaders are called to steward His church and help others grow in using their gifts, but they are also called to develop future pastors, elders, and ministry leaders. It can be hard to share leadership when we are so committed to our work and “know” what has to be done and how to do it! But we must. Sharing and developing new leadership is ultimately an expression of our trust in God, our humility before Him and others, and an agreement to advance the kingdom by letting others struggle and strengthen while they grow. What if Jesus hadn’t given the Twelve and then the Seventy-Two real authority and power? What would our world look like if Barnabas had not embraced Paul as a new convert? (See Acts 9.) What if Paul hadn’t developed and entrusted other men such as Timothy and Titus? This model is before us for a reason- and it even began in the garden before the Fall of man when Our Perfect God passed on authority to Adam and Eve.
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. We all 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 the previous 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 long been 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 our 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.
Almost one year ago, our website was refreshed to better reflect all our values and our mission statement. This was not a knee-jerk reaction to the murder of George Floyd or anyone before him. Many years ago as a leadership team, we had asked ourselves these questions: How could we at The Way Church share our hearts for unity and diversity- both with believers looking for a church as well as those in need of Jesus? Would those wanting to know more about Jesus find us welcoming while we still maintain our Biblical integrity and a passion for God's Truth? It’s only one way we are being serious about better communicating who we are. It’s at least a start. The proof in our commitment to this- and the blessing from God- is a growing multi-ethnic community serving in various ministry roles and church leadership.
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 our future as God is calling more and more people to Himself! We are all part of God's mission for us- and what a joy that is!
"The Way Church exists to create committed followers of Jesus, to exhibit the power of God’s love to our community, to be a catalyst for spiritual transformation, and to be a center of passionate worship of the one true God."
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