A Guide to Racial and Spiritual Harmony

I do not usually do this, but I am going to begin by reading our main passage.

James 2:1–10 “My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? Yet you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you into court? Don’t they blaspheme the good name that was invoked over you? Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well. If, however, you show favor…” (CSB Translation)

We went to the zoo a few weeks ago, and it had been many years between my visits to the zoo, but one thing always amazes me when I go, and that one thing is the variety found in God’s creation.

As we were looking at the different animals, I noticed that the animals were different sizes, colors, and shapes, but not once in my mind did I think of the lion as being superior to the tiger, or the monkey as being superior to the crocodile. Each animal was unique in its own right, and each had a special place in God’s creation. If not, then why did God create them?

As we toured the zoo that day in 135-degree heat, I began pondering this question, and James 2 kept popping up in my mind.

“Do I treat everyone regardless of shape, color, size, shape, and social status the same? Do I treat others differently based upon my preconceived prejudices? Do I see the color of someone’s skin and think that person is not as good as me because that person is black, and I am white? Do I treat someone with more respect because that person is more wealthy? DO I look down on someone because that person is poor?”

Do I do that? Well, that is exactly what James is addressing, and I dare say, especially being born and raised in the South, that most if not all of us has at least had thoughts that focus on the perceived differences between people.

Did you know that all of us are alike? We are all the same regardless of color, money, or whatever else you want to use. DO you want me to prove it?

Romans 3:10–12 “as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.”

Genesis 5:3 “Adam was 130 years old when he fathered a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.”

Romans 3 says that none of us are any good because we have all turned away from God. No color is mentioned. No banking account information is listed. We are just grouped into one category. A category called all and no one.

Even though the Bible makes no distinction between us, we do treat people differently based upon many different factors, but the Bible is very specific as to how we are to treat all humanity.

Mark 12:28–31 “One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

James 2:9–10 “If, however, you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.”

The Bible says that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, and that it is sin to show favoritism or to treat others differently because of status, color, political affiliation, or for whatever reason.

Believe me. You can justify whatever you want to in your mind, but God cares nothing about that. It is God who has told us how we are to treat our fellow man.

That poor Mexican coming into this country illegally needs Jesus just as much as the wealthiest white kids in Dburg do, but somehow for some reason, we think of those rich, white kids as being more worthy than that poor Mexican crossing the border illegally. Don’t we?

Let’s go a different direction. Nancy Pelosi, Donald Trump, and AL Sharpton walk through the door of the church. Are you going to treat one differently from the other two, or are you going to show God’s love equally to all three?

The Devil has successfully divided us by race and economic status, and now he has added another level of division, and that is political affiliation.

Did you know race is nowhere to be found in the Bible? In the Bible, we all belong to one race, and that is Adam’s doomed race, and Adam’s race is called mankind.

Believe this or not, but it is true, racism and prejudice in all forms are sins against God. How can you justify racism and prejudice when you are to love your neighbor as yourself?

Do you know why it is so easy to mistreat others? Since we belong to Adam’s race, it is easy and natural for us to sin.

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.”

Sin is as natural to Adam’s race as swinging on a grapevine is to a chimpanzee. To mankind, it is natural to do our own thing. That’s why, as parents, we have to teach our children how to behave. Very rarely, do you have to teach a child how to misbehave. That comes naturally. It is inherited behavior.

What is the solution? How can we get past all the differences between us? I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that there is no natural solution to getting past our differences, but there is a supernatural solution.

1. Faith in Jesus Christ will remove all obstacles.

Most everyone in the world believes in something, and actually, those beliefs create great divisions in society. For example, some believe in Allah. Some believe in Buddha. Some believe is witchcraft. Some are deists. Some believe in themselves, but none of those beliefs removes obstacles. As a matter of fact, that kind of belief worsens and strengthens obstacles. It is the kind of belief the devil and demons have.

James 2:19 “You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.”

This kind of belief does not lead to change. It does not lead to repentance. Only the power of the Cross can change a person. It is the power of the Cross that brings about a new birth.

John 3:3 “Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

We do not use that phrase born-again much anymore, but it is the new birth that removes obstacles between mankind. It is the power of the Cross that will change a person.

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.”

The power of the Cross can save the Jew, and it can save the Gentile. The power of the Cross can save a black man, and it can save a white man. The power of the Cross can save the rich, and it can save the poor. The power of the Cross can save the Republican, and it can save the Democrat. The power of the Cross can save the homosexual, and it can save the addict. The power of the Cross can save the atheist, and it can save the church member.

It is the power of the Cross that makes the new birth possible. It is the power of the Cross that removes all obstacles. One of the great scenes in all the Bible is found in the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 7:9–10 “After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

In heaven, no one will be focused on any kind of difference. In heaven, all from all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages will be focused on the Lamb of God who made salvation possible.

We will be in spiritual harmony worshipping in unison the Son of God who made it possible for us to be there. That same harmony is made possible on earth by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit comes into a person the moment that someone confesses their sin to God believing on Jesus Christ to save him or her. The Holy Spirit seals that person into the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:30 “And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.”

Now, I need you to focus in for just a minute. Come up close and pay careful attention.

Getting saved does not make you automatically love your neighbor as yourself. Loving your neighbor as yourself goes against your nature, but the Holy Spirit makes it supernaturally possible to love all mankind. Let me share a couple of important passage with you to help explain it.

Ephesians 2:8–10 “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

James 2:17 “In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.”

If you are saved, you were saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Salvation is a gift from God. No amount of works can save us, but when you were saved, you were saved to do good works which is what both Paul and James are saying.

Good works are the opportunities we are presented to show Christ’s love. Good works do not pass any judgments.

Good works does not see political affiliation. Good works does not see skin color. Good works does not see bank accounts. Good works are those opportunities to show the love of God to the world.

As a matter of fact, James asks a serious question. What good is faith if it is not producing good works?

Good works reveal our faith in Jesus Christ.

Good works are made possible by the Holy Spirit living in us who is more than wanting to produce spiritual fruit in our lives.

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.”

If you and I would only allow God to be God in us, the world would see the love of Christ in us. The love of Christ in us opens our eyes to the needs of those around. Filling those needs could open the door to the acceptance of the Gospel. Did you know that? Let me give you a couple of scriptural references.

James 2:15–17 “If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.”

Luke 8:1–2 “Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come out of her);”

Jesus first addresses the physical, mental, and emotional sickness of Mary Magdalene, and then he preached the gospel to her.

Luke 8:4–5 “As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it.”

Some people need to see the love of Christ in us in order for their hearts to be opened to the Gospel. It is the love of God and the Gospel of Christ that breakdown all barriers, and I mean all barriers. All barriers were removed at Calvary.

Matthew 27:51 “Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.”

At the end of the age, there is no difference between any of the races. At the end of the age, there will be no difference between the poor and the wealthy. At the end of the age, there will be no difference between the young and the old. At the end of the age, skin color will not be mentioned.

Revelation 20:12–15 “I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.

Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.”

All of Adam’s race needs Jesus Christ, and dear friend, you better believe if you are saved, you are going to be judged for what you did for Christ before the lost world and the church.

Matthew 25:35–40 ““ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

May Beech Grove to be the type of church that is described in Matthew 25. May we be the type of church that sees obstacles as opportunities. May we be the type of church that sees God’s blessings instead of financial restrictions. May we remember God’s Word as we go into the world.

Galatians 3:28 “There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 10:13 “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”