The Red that Covers Black and White

intro

Church family, before I put together this message, I asked the Lord to reveal something in His word that would be undoctored by my own pre-suppositions. I didn’t go into the text with a conclusion already in mind. And you know what, the Lord gave me a conclusion I wasn’t expecting to make.

Church family, I have noticed a trend while preaching. There are certain topics that people tend to perk up for. Because quite honestly, we don’t hear very many sermons on these subjects. For instance, If I told you I’m about to preach about SEX…Hey suddenly some of us are sitting up more ready to listen. Politics is another…now you will NEVER hear me make political endorsements or tell you how to vote. Campaigning from the pulpit something I fundamentally disagree with. But I have and will speak on the issues. Sadly in our country many current issues become so politicized people are afraid, and pastors are afraid to share. The toxicity from social media platforms and frankly the news media steer us to go ballistic the moment we hear something we don’t agree with. When there is injustice taking place it shouldn’t be about what a political party advocates for, it should be about whom and what God has called me to advocate for. I am not looking for or expecting my government to operate upon my Biblical values the way I expect as brothers and sisters in Christ that we would be willing to love all people equally and treat each other fairly.

A rule I practice in sharing, one you have likely heard me say before.

Sharing truth in hatred, is not sharing truth at all.

Sharing the right thing, the wrong way, can destroy your message.

Today you could read my sermon title and maybe take guesses as to what subject matter I am prepared to present. Yes we are going to talk about identity and RACE. But before I share, please listen with a sincerely open heart, if possible through the lens of Jesus and not through politics, prejudice, or agenda.

Before we go further lets go to God in prayer.

Throughout the New Testament, specifically in the writings of the apostle Paul, we see Paul continually appealing to listeners to treat the gospel as something meant for all people and to get.

When the day of pentacost took place, and the Holy Spirit was poured out amongst the people. People of different nationalities, skin colors, back grounds were all hearing the same Word, in their own tongue. The reward was the same for both Jew and Greek, African or Anglo.

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Acts 2:5–6 ESV

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

The gospel was piercing at all divisions that existed.

Notice the onlookers response:

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Acts 2:12–13 ESV

And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Isn’t that what we see so often, when God is challenging our accepted practices and social norms, that there are some listening and asking questions, saying what does this mean? And there are some who would mock most any change, calling humiliating names, mocking and seeking to discredit.

On this special day of pentecost, the apostle Peter declares to the people, drunkenness was not the cause but that God was working before their eyes. He reminds the people of the words of the prophet Joel.

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Acts 2:17–21 ESV

“ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Don’t let that last line sneak past your scope of vision as I suspect even the great apostle Peter may have.

EVERYONE who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. The scripture makes no asterisk or exceptions here.

Those who love prophecy, may analyze the signs and the wonders. There is certainly a place for that and we mustn’t minimize the importance of the gripping message.

But some things we shouldn’t miss is the new covenant appeal, which led to the baptisms of 3,000 souls, Both those free and in bondage would prophecy. Men and Women would prophecy.

The proverbial roof was coming off to say the least. God’s people were no longer to be thought of as the bloodline descendents of Israel, the remnant of that line, the Jews….God’s people would be counted as those who were saved, defined as Everyone calls upon the name of the Lord.

A point was being made, Heaven was no longer a place to be thought of as discriminatory upon birthright. The truth is it never was. The only discrimination of Heaven is for sinners who have refused to become cleansed.

Peter spoke pointedly and purposefully to those listening. In this moment he did not pull punches even for the Jewish believers listening.

His words cut to the heart. He reminded the House of Israel for their role in crucifying Jesus.

vs. 37 of Acts 2 says that the people felt convicted and asked what could they do? Peter told them to repent and be baptized.

He goes as far as saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” Words his master used himself in Mathew 17:17.

Those who received His word, whose hearts were opened and not hardened were baptized. This was an important day, in church history. It was from this day, the church formed, and you and I are the fruits and remnant.

However, even Peter the one known for all the moments Christ had to correct him had more lessons still to learn.

In Acts chapter 10, Peter has a trance like dream, where the heavens open and all kinds of ceremonially clean and unclean animals are shown descending. Peter is commanded to Rise, kill, and eat, but he objects because he has never eaten anything common or unclean in his life. The voice tells him, what God has made clean, do not call common.

Peter was certainly perplexed as to the meaning of his vision, but soon, the reason was made clear to him when 3 gentile visitors arrived, ones who had been sent by the centurion Cornelius. Cornelius had responded to God’s prompting, sending the men to find Peter.

If you take the time to read the full chapter, Peter realizes God was talking to him about his own partialities, his subtle but present social bias. Prejudice had not been fully uprooted from him.

Even the Apostle Paul when writing to the Galatians in the 2nd chapter had admonished Peter for behaving one way with gentile believers and another way when Jewish believers were present. And as a leader, others were noticing and adopting these practices as well.

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Acts 10:34–35 ESV

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

What followed as Peter declares this newfound reality and is sharing with his gentile brethren was another pentecost.

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Acts 10:44–48 ESV

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Peter had not been alone in his subtle or less subtle prejudice of gentiles. After this 2nd Pentecost which took place, He went back to the local Jerusalem conference office (i mean counsel). The other leaders had heard what was going on. Peter had been associating with the gentiles, the uncircumcised.

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We’ve now moved to Acts 11. Look at verse 2

Acts 11:2–3 ESV

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

The circumcision party. I laughed out loud when I read that language. Talk about identifying with political parties, Acts tells us that by Peter associating with gentiles now, he’s having to answer to “the circumcision party.”

Peter recalls to the Jerusalem Counsel what God has revealed to him about his prejudices, and that what God has made clean, do not call common.

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Acts 11:16–17 ESV

And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

Things are coming full circle for Peter, and these experiences are reminding him of his younger days following Jesus where He went. He suddenly understood and it clicked what Jesus had been saying all those years ago.

To those listening to at the church’s headquarters in Jerusalem, they listened to what Peter had shared and it impacted them.

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Acts 11:18 ESV

When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Pastor Ross the Gospel and salvation being for everyone isn’t really a new message.

You are right about that.

But the prejudices we carry for those whom do not look like us is still an ever present struggle.

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In the year 2000, the movie “Remember the Titans” came out. I’m sure many of you have seen it, and if you haven’t, I certainly recommend it. The movie stars Denzel Washington, playing Coach Boone who takes over as the football coach when the school integrates. Through no small feet he brings his team together, a team made up of formerly all white players now joined with black players.

The film portrays the football team coming together as well as impacting their town as well, as the Titans prove to go undefeated and win the state title.

Remember the Titans is a hollywood movie, so many would probably fairly say, “well thats hollywood, and I live in real life.”

Well one thing the movie I think portrays very well, is a moment where Coach Boone shares to his team when they are struggling in their first game (after privately learning, he would be fired immediately if his team would even lose a single game.) He acknowledges to his team, the team they are currently facing is like all the other teams they would be facing, all white teams. The other teams don’t have to deal with race, but says “we do.” But then He says, “You are better for it!” We don’t let anything, “nothing” to come between us.

Church family we live in a world that is still filled with prejudice. We are a part of a denomination filled with Biblical truth, yet uncured of prejudice. And we have a lot of unconverted Peter’s out there with subtle and less subtle prejudices also. I bring up “Remember the Titans” because our church could be considered an anomaly depending on where you live. Just look around and you know this place is a diverse group. We are not filled with or made up of Black and White people, but Latinos, Asians, Islanders (pacific and carribean and African). We are made up of immigrants and American born. We are made up of young people, and not quite as young people, and very much not as young people. Church there is nothing wrong with worshipping in churches made up of largely your people culturally, or one that meets yours preferred worship style, but our doors must be welcome to all.

Like Coach Boone says to his young uniquely diverse team I say this to you speaking to our diversity, “We are better for it.”

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God has positioned this church and school to reach the suburbs and the intercity. It has positioned us to be a safe space for young people and young professionals. It has provided us to be a space for mentorship and mission, and it has lended itself for us to culturally unite beyond just simply at the potluck table.

Our hands extend further together.

But church we handi-cap ourselves when we do not allow God to chisel away our prejudice, racism, bias, or where-ever on the spectrum we are. While Peter did incredible things from the moment he encountered Christ and onward, but he was continually being reminded he had more growing to go. Church family if it could finally click for Peter, it can click for you.

Let’s get uncomfortable for just a moment. Lets shed our political party affiliations for a few minutes. I’m not going to get political. What I am asking. If we see a hate crime against someone of another race. Shouldn’t we allow our friends within that community know we hurt alongside them? To often we turn to social media, and we see people speaking out, some with stronger expressions than others. Suddenly you are sucked in. All to often we allow our politics to dictate our response. Its not political to hurt alongside someone who is hurting.

If you are paying attention current to current events, you know that illegal immigration is on many people’s mind. It’s a complicated issue in our country. You know what is not complicated?… the love and compassion we can show and demonstrate as a church to every person within our gates and our surrounding neighbors. There are people currently afraid, and in this Spiritual house my desire is for their to be no one to have fear. Love church family love. Have Compassion. You don’t have to agree on every policy in our great nation to have compassion for those who are afraid or hurting.

Pastor Ross, I don’t have an axe in the fire. I don’t want people to be afraid. Issues on race, or immigration, or injustice isn’t the fight I am currently in. That may be true brothers and sisters, but for someone sitting next to you, their feelings, and hurt, and traumas are very real and as brothers and sisters in Christ, I promise you it won’t kill you to be compassionate.

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I like this quote by Ben Sasse, from the book , “Them, “Why we hate each other and how to heal.”

“When we look around our neighborhoods, we should have eyes to see what common interests and goals we share that are more important than just about any question of federal policy—chief among those goals, raising our children to become kind, thoughtful, gritty, respectful adults who use their skills and talents to serve others. I don’t want to worry that politics is going to prevent my neighbor from keeping an eye on my kids when they’re all playing in the front yard; and I want my neighbors to know that, even if we disagree on every policy from A to Z, my wife and I will scoop their son up if he scrapes his knee. There truly are things that unite us above and before the things that divide us. We have plenty of actual enemies looking to harm us. We don’t need to add to their ranks.”

Jesus lived this principle, first by never really engaging in politics to begin with, but secondly never let the barriers of society from preventing Him from showing compassion. It may not have been socially acceptable for for him associate with tax collectors, or beggars, or prostitutes, or the ceremonially unclean, or samaritans or gentiles.

He crossed borders and demonstrated kindness and love to every person.

His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well is the primest of examples I can think of. His disciples wouldn’t have asked for water from her, they wouldn’t have even spoken to her. Jesus did!

When you are thirsty church family, will you be to proud to ask for water from someone you are in conflict with or that you mistrust?

Mrs. White writes in Desire of Ages,

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“The hatred between Jews and Samaritans prevented the woman from offering a kindness to Jesus; but the Saviour was seeking to find the key to this heart, and with the tact born of divine love, He asked, not offered, a favor. The offer of a kindness might have been rejected; but trust awakens trust.”

When Christ spoke of the living water which the one who drank of it again to this Samaritan woman, He was revealing himself as the Messiah not simply to the Jews but to mankind. The blood of Himself which would be shed, was to pay the ransom for sinners both Jew and Samaritan alike. This is the red which would cover both black and white and all the spectrum in between. Church family sometimes I think we live on in this world as if Heaven will be as equally cutoff as many of us choose to remain away from each other.

Culturally we can celebrate our differences. But prejudice is a different story. Prejudice is the subtle and less subtle cancer that still infects so many. I think buried deep down even in our our most noblest and well intended among us still exists a rooted prejudice we haven’t yet allowed the Holy Spirit to Chisel away.

Church family, before I put together this message, I asked the Lord to reveal something in his word that would be undoctored by my own pre-suppositions. I didn’t go into the text with a conclusion already in mind. And you know what, the Lord gave me a conclusion I wasn’t expecting to make.

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This coming April and throughout 2025 our church and school will be participating in the North American Division’s initiative Pentacost 2025. We’ll be among 3,000 churches hosting proclamation and prophecy series. Our conference, has set a goal of 2,000 baptisms in the Carolinas alone. Personally I think it should be 3,000. If the apostles could baptize 3000 souls in one day on the day of Pentacost, surely over 170 churches across the carolinas can baptize 3000 in one year.

But family, what was holding back more pentacost. What was revealed to Peter that was still somewhat in his heart? Prejudice, bias, partiality, a subtle racism, tribalism. It took a peer such as Paul to show some accountability. It took a dream delivered from the Lord to reveal to Peter the good news was not to be contained by birthright and bloodline. The good news is for all who would humble themselves before the Lord. The gospel is not for the republican party, the democrat party, the libertarians, the independents. It was not only for the circumcision party. When Jesus looks at His people remember this:

Galatians 3:27–29 ESV

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

As Peter told the people asking, what must we do to be saved, now that we know the truth.

Peter quoted Jesus,

Repent, and be baptized!

He said this to all people.

I say this to you now.

Church family if the sin of prejudice exists in your heart. Repent. Be Baptized.

May we see Pentacost, may we see the Holy Spirit transform our hearts and transform this place.

Is there anyone who would join me here at the front? Would you join me in praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

Come join me!

If you need the red that covers black and white and all the spectrum in between, come join me!

If you want to give your life to Jesus!! Come join me!