Color Blind

There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call–  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

On Friday night Pastor Jim Cymbala from the Brooklyn Tabernacle came to Philadelphia as the guest of Acts413 Ministries.  He came for a “Prayer Gathering.”  His message was clear and his delivery was Biblical – God wants His churches to be houses of prayer.  He spoke about how God has changed his own Brooklyn church through prayer and how individuals have come to faith and the church has grown in numbers as they prayed. 

 

I have been in church all my life.  The first 38 years I spent in churches that were not teaching the Bible.  They used it but did not faithfully teach from it.  Since then (and after God gave me ears to hear the difference)  I have been in Bible preaching churches.  Though theologically these churches were very different, in one way they were very much alike: the people who joined them were Caucasian.  The church we currently attend is probably the most integrated church I have belonged to.  Though it is predominantly Caucasian, people of color are there and they seem to be comfortable.  We also seem to have a nice mix on the socio-economic scales. 

I grew up in a small town that was about 30% Afro-American and 70% white.  In that town and in that era, races did not mix in church.  The schools were desegregated but only because they were forced to.  I also lived in the city of Reading, PA for 25 years as an adult.  I have read it is about 50% Hispanic, 10% Afro-American- 3% Asian and 37% Caucasian.  I lived as a minority in that city for a number of years.  My neighbors were from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.  Our children grew up in that environment and to our delight, they seem colorblind.  They see people for who they are and not the color of their skin. 

Since my childhood and the prejudices of the day have had a definite effect on the way I think and see things I was delighted by Friday night’s gathering in Philadelphia to hear Pastor Cymbala.  As we walked into the convention center it was already obvious that there was going to be a good sized crowd for this gathering and that there was a oneness of Spirit among those attending.  And, because I was raised noticing these things, I couldn’t help but see the racial mixture in attendance. 

It was great to be an auditorium with 3000 people who love the Lord Jesus Christ!  It was a wonderful feeling to know that every voice in that hall was honoring Christ as we opened, singing praises to our God.  He was honored in the words and He was honored in the interaction among His people.  At least to me it seemed that racial walls were down among these fellow believers.  As I was noticing these things I  remembered this verse from Colossians 3, “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”  Colossians 3:11

No one, including Pator Cymbal, would ever pretend that all of the racial prejudices of the past have been overcome or forgotten in this nation.  It is nice, though, to think that among God’s people this is so.  We prayed on Friday night for churches – from all ethnic backgrounds – to open their doors to anyone who seeks to worship the Lord, who may not yet know Him and needs to see Him reflected in His people. 

Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors, even prostitutes.  He healed the sick and confronted the sin of the woman at the well who had been married five times and was liviing with a man who was not her husband.  This woman was a Samaritan; most Jews would not have given her the  time of day but Christ led her to saving faith.  He did not see the color of skin, the size of the bankroll, or the level of education.  You see that color is not the only thing humans have prejudices about.  As Christians we are not to have any of it.  We are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Pastor Cymbal’s preaching was great.  I learned from him and will be blessed by the prayers that were lifted up before God at this gathering.  I wouldn’t choose the music they did but then my demographic (caucasian women over 50!) don’t like a lot of music that we hear in churches today!  But, for me there was an added benefit just in being with 3000 of God’s children.  To see the fellowship that happened around me, to receive the prayers and blessings of sisters and brothers in the Lord who didn’t look just like me was an encouragement and a blessing. 

James says it like this:  ‘If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.’ (James 2:8-9)  James was talking about the rich and the poor but we can certainly apply this to any difference others may have from us, race, wealth, education, nationality, etc.  

SO, in the churches we are in, as well as in our own hearts, are we doing well…or are we showing partiality?