My wife and I went to a 40th
reunion of her high school class last weekend and I was asked to bless the
food. There was several Black folk there and during the prayer I asked Abba to
make the Charleston situation a uniting rather than a dividing factor. One of
the men came up later and thanked me for mentioning the issue. This was after I
had driven by an AME Zion church that morning with a marquee that said “This
Means War”. So back to the future:
I live in the great state of South
Carolina. Whenever people ask where I’m from I say “South Carolina
– the last free state in the Union ”. I love
this state and I’m proud of being a resident. I also take pride in my southern
heritage and like the song Dixie .
Personally, I like the confederate flag and don’t associate it with racism.
Oops, better check with Abba.
OK, OK - I know that racism exists.
I’ve heard white people say “If (people of a certain race) are in Heaven, I
don’t want to go”. Don’t worry, you won’t. There is not a true Christian in the
known universe who believes this. Tony Evans is one of my favorite Christian
teachers and one of the things I look forward to in Heaven is spending time
with him.
The worm has tuned somewhat and my
experience is that just as much, if not more, racism exists in the black
community as the white (see Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton). This is becomes
obvious when a black politician publically complains racism is the source when
someone disagrees with some asinine comment on their part. As the old saying
goes, “The guilty dog barks first”. I do believe this to be a minor anomaly in
today’s society and feel, as addressed above, that a majority of the people of
any race see people as people.
In the 1999, my oldest son and I
attended a Promise Keepers conference in Charlotte. Many of my favorite
Christian leaders were there: Greg Laurie, Chuck Colson, Joe Gibbs, etc. A
black pastor was there who made a statement that some people didn’t like him
because of his race. He said “I didn’t do it – God did”. If you are black by
the glory of God, or white by the glory of God, it is the glory of God. Take
delight in your race as well as the race of others: “For there is no respect of
persons with God”.
The NAACP has sponsored a boycott
of South Carolina due to the confederate flag being on the capital grounds. The
impact of the boycott doesn’t seem to have been of much effect and that’s not
really the point. What does the scripture say we should do in situations like where
we may offend Christian brothers, of our own or other ethnicities?
Prov. 24:23 – “These things also belong to
the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.”
Rom. 2:11 – “For there is no respect of
persons with God.”
Eph. 6:9 – “…. knowing that your Master also
is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with Him.”
Rom. 14:13 – “Let us not, therefore, …. put
a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in (our) brother’s way.”
Rom. 14:14 – “I know, and am persuaded by
the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself ….”
Rom. 14:21 – “It is good neither to eat
meat, nor to drink wine, nor anything by which thy brother stumbleth, or is
offended, or is made weak.”
So, where am I left in service to
my Lord who died for me? It is clear; I take no offense to the confederate
flag, but I have many black brothers to whom it is an offense and a reminder of
their heritage of slavery. Therefore I will not display it and will take no
delight in its display in public.
My
Father
Blessed
be your name for ever and ever.
Have
mercy on us Holy Father,
And forgive
our sin of respect of persons.
Cleanse
us Father of the sin
Of our
thoughts
And toungues
In this
regard.
Have
mercy upon us
And let
your grace rain down on this land.
Cleanse
our toungues
With an
ember of righteousness.
That
we might glorify
The Savior
who died for us
Even Christ
Jesus
Lord
and King forever.
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