BJU PARTNERS EVENT

INTRODUCTION

- My Calling

GOING TO PASTOR A CHURCH THE LORD CHANGED MY DESIRE

o Called to ministry at 17

o At 19 distinctly remember the Lord’s compelling on my heart mind and life to devote my entire life and ministry to the Racial and Relational unity of the church

o IN MY NEWFOUND ZEAL

Going to a white pastor I had met, briefly, in the community to share my newfound passion and calling: Son, you are young and I admire your zeal – but we don’t do that around these parts

Called my pastor: All the white church wants to do is bring you in, remake you and send you back to our community as one of them. We will be united when we get to heaven.

Man Between Cultures: I would come to understand in some great and some painful ways, that this was the calling of the Gospel

o MY LIFE AND EXPERIENCES

- Called a monkey by a 9th grader

Uncle Tom/BLM Movement

THIS CALLING FROM DAY ONE HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT ITS MANY CHALLENGES BUT...

I. RACIAL UNITY IS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE CROSS

1. Achievement if the cross - our unity with God and one-another (Jew and Gentile)

Ephesians 2:11 ESV

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—

Ephesians 2:12 ESV

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Ephesians 2:13 ESV

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:14 ESV

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Ephesians 2:15 ESV

by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

Ephesians 2:16 ESV

and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

UNITY IS NOT SOMETHING WE CREATE

UNITY IS WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO MAINTAIN

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

II. THE PRIORITY OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN AND THROUGH RACIAL HARMONY

Tabernacle

Temple

Christ

Now the church as it lives our the unity of the cross

The purpose of the church - multi

Ephesians 3:8 ESV

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Ephesians 3:9 ESV

and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

Ephesians 3:10 ESV

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

MANIFDOLD = MULTI-COLORED WISDOM

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

WHERE IS THE GLORY DISPLAYED

PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS TO SHOW FORTH THE GLORY OF GOD IN ITS RACIAL AND RELATIONAL ONENESS

WHAT IS KEEPING THIS FROM HAPPENING? LOVE OF CULTURE

III. THE CRIPPLING CHAOS OF CULTURE AND RACIAL HARMONY

IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH AN

- All black church

All white church

hispanic

Asian

- Comfort in culture is disobedience to the Mission of God

Given to Abraham

Genesis 12:1 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

Genesis 12:2 ESV

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:3 ESV

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Commanded by Christ

In Matthew -

Matthew 28:19 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:20 ESV

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

In Acts -

Acts 1:6 ESV

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 1:7 ESV

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

IV. THE WARFARE OF RACIAL HARMONY

Ephesians 6:10–11 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:13 ESV

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

V. THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION AND RACIAL HARMONY

Ephesians 1:4 ESV

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

B. We believe our culture is the best

- Acts when will you restore the kingdom to Israel

-God calls them to Jerusalem Jude’s, Samaria and the uttermost parts

GOD IS AT ODDS WITH ETHNICENTRISM.

The gospel agitates comfort and it agitates cultural pride

A KEY REASON WHY TRUST IN CHRIST IS BEING LOST IS BECAUSE THOSE WHO CLIAM HIM DO NIT MODEL HIM.

THE WORK UNITES ACROSS CUKTRUE LINES BUT THE ISSUE REMAINS WITHIN THENCBHRH

WE ARE AT WAR WITH SATAN A D DEMONS BUT LET ME MAKE A STRONG STAREMENT

“DIVISION IN THE BODY IS THE FRUIT OF THENKINGSOM OF DARKNESS. DARE I SAY THAT IT IS DEMONIC

4. How do we get this done?

Blacks need tk forget

Whites need to remember.

5. The gospel free us from the sin that keeps us from one another.

FREEDOM IS A RESOONSIBIKITY AND WE ARE DALLED TK LIVE FREE

Josiah Henson