Diverse and Unified

Diverse and Unified

Text:  Galatians 3:26-29

Topic:  Race Relations

Big Idea:  God's people are called to be hospitable.

Purpose:  To encourage hospitality.

Introduction:

Story of Rod (Cooper)

-2nd African American to attend Dallas Theological Seminary

-Some treated him with kindness

-God showed that He was providing for ministry preparation

-but many on campus made it clear that Rod was not welcome.

Rod was growing frustrated, tired of the treatment

-teetered on the fence of leaving ministry preparation

-due to the treatment he received

-because of his race

Shouldn't happen

-in Christ's Kingdom - people viewed with less than hospitality due to skin color

-yet Rod's story is sadly not uncommon

Race - is a tense subject

-emotionally charged

Tonight we want to see the reality

-and be challenged in how we can respond

Statement:  Racial Tensions are prevalent in our world.

            Christians are not isolated from these tensions.

            We want things to be better.

            But do we understand the problem?

            Do we realize the opportunity do to act Christ-like in the midst of racial tension?

            What can we do?

Sermon Body:

Movement 1:  *People have always struggled with relationships across racial and cultural lines.

*Historical Overview of Race Relations:

1.   Old Testament History - Jacob, Esau, Ammelekites, Moabites

-these were not merely race, but also religious divisions

-each nation worshipped their own god

-therefore, when God said no marrying - He was not pointing out a racial problem

-but rather, a need for commitment to Him

2.  New Testament History

-Christ came to bring healing, peace

-offered grace to Canaanite woman, Roman Guard

-Peter - baptized Cornelius and family

-but many struggles in early church

-revolved around the issue of welcoming Gentiles into Christian community

-Acts 6:1 - food distributed to widows, question of racial fairness

-Paul - Apostle to Gentiles

-accused Peter of being racially prejudice (Gal 2:11-14)

3.  American History

-slavery - indentured servants

-slavery became identified with racial separation based on skin color

-when there was a movement to end slavery, many Christians used Biblical teaching to justify the practice, and even argue that slaves should be content in their position

4.  20th Century

-Nazis and Jews

-Civil Rights Movement

-Apartheid in South Africa

-Many in my congregation - Dutch Immigrants

-felt like strangers in a foreign land

-Use this memory to help them see current concerns

5.  Issues today

-in the news, Illegal Immigration (which race)

-Civil Rights Groups

-May cause you to wonder - has it ever been this bad?

Summarize:  Our world has always struggled to find unity in spite of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Movement 2:  *God has always welcomed diverse races into His family.

*Biblical Examples of God's welcoming tendency.

1.  Individuals:

-Ruth, Rahab, David's Mighty Men - all were welcomed into Israel

-Although God told Israel to remain separate from other nations

            -He was ready to welcome the nations to Israel

2.  Providing for Aliens

-Leviticus 19:10 - leaving grapes in the vineyard

-Leviticus 19:33ff - do not mistreat alien

-God’s commandments made it very clear that Israel should welcome others

3.  Legal Status of Aliens

-Lev. 24:22 - same laws for aliens and Israelites

-Foreigners were even supposed to receive legal equality with the Israelites

4.  Jonah - brought prophecy to Nineveh

            Sometimes, God declared judgment on the nations

            However, In Jonah, He sent a prophet to call the nations to Himself

                        -God’s desire was not to condemn the nations, but to make a place for them

5.  New Testament Church

-did not demand circumcision of Gentiles

-Acts 15 - clarified how Gentiles should live in newness of life

(did not give comprehensive list of commandments)

Summarize:  God has always been concerned with the nations of the world.  Even his commandments to remain separate were not due to hatred, but in order to keep His people from falling into the worship of false gods.  Outsiders were always welcome to worship the true God.

Movement 3:  *Despite our desire to be racially unified, we still struggle with racial tensions.

*Levels of racial tension/animosity.

1.  Hatred

            -there are some who hate people merely because they are different

            -I had always thought this was the definition of Racism

                        -therefore, if I did not wear the robes of the KKK, I was not a racist

                        -however, this does not mean that I was effective in making room for outsiders

            Question:  how many hateful people does it take to make life miserable?

                        There might be a very small percentage of people who are hatefully racist,

                                    -but it only takes a small number to make our nation miserable.

                        For a comparison – if you struggled with people in school, how many did it take

                                    to make your school experiences awful?

2.  Prejudice with out Vehement Hatred

            -there are many more who may not be hateful, but hold prejudices

            -they have opinions about a person’s intelligence, work ethic, character

                        -based on nothing except a person’s racial heritage

                        (give some examples of statements that show this)

                                    All Mexicans are…

                                    Black people usually…

            -those who struggle with prejudice may not be hateful

                        -but they do not feel at all driven to engage others of different races

            -this kind of prejudice leads to isolations

                        -churches based on racial identity

                        -neighborhoods in cities based on racial identity

3.  Awkwardness trying to overcome Prejudice

            Some recognize their prejudices, even though they are not hateful

                        -and genuinely want there to be racial harmony

                        -but find it very awkward to

4.  Meaningful Unity - very rare

            It is rare to find people who do not hold prejudices

                        -who are also comfortable in the presence of different races

            How can we grow toward this?

                        -exposure

                        -willingness to endure awkward moments

            We may have to acknowledge that it may happen slowly – over generations

                        -consider the nature of Dutch immigrants

                        -first generation speaks Dutch

                        -second generation holds Dutch Identity

                        -third or fourth generation often begin to feel more American than Dutch

                                    -that exposure and willingness to engage slowly breaks racial identity

Summarize:  Even though we may not be hateful toward other races, we can acknowledge the strain of racial tensions that lie within each of us.

Movement 4:  *God calls His people to practice hospitality.

Describe hospitality:  The effort to make space for someone who is viewed as an “outsider.”

            -we do this in our homes when we set a place for a visitor for dinner

            -in conversations (standing in a circle) when we broaden the circle for a newcomer

Commend congregation for practicing hospitality:

            This congregation has a warmth – that is natural

            Some in this congregation have a tremendous gift of hospitality

                        -have seen it in the way you open your homes

                        -invitations, kindness to people who are visiting, and new members

Diffuse excuses for avoiding hospitality:

            I recognize that hospitality toward other racial groups

                        -people can question your motives

                        -you may wonder how you appear to others

            Romans 13:10 – love does no wrong to a neighbor

                        -if you are showing love to another – you are not harming anyone

                        I know people who make excuses for not showing love

                                    -If I am kind to one person, another person will feel left out

                                    However, all that does is keep you from loving anyone

            Be generous with you effort to make space for others

Acknowledge roadblocks to hospitality:  Full life, season of life,

            -you will go through seasons of hospitality – life will prevent it at other times

                        -illness, season with children

            -but even these excuses – call us to leave room to be hospitable to others

Action Steps:

1.  Recognize when people may be in an uncomfortable situation (outsider)

            -this is a movement of awareness – to see the concerns of others

            -this can be difficult when reaching across racial lines

-because we have a level of discomfort with racial differences

2.  Recognize your ability to effectively practice hospitality.

            -maybe you can welcome someone into a group

            -maybe you can welcome someone into your home

            -it might be as simple as engaging a newcomer in conversation

3.  Be magnanimous in practicing hospitality.

-not as an obligation, but moving toward a way of life

DISCLAIMER:  I am not under the illusion that this will cure all of the struggles of race relations

            BUT:  it will go a long way to help those relationships develop

Conclusion:

Rod's story

-six friends saw him withdrawing

-made time to corner him and say, "What is going on?"

-they learned of the treatment of others

-and they ran interferance for him

-making certain that others knew

-if you have a problem with Rod, then you have a problem with me

They modeled hospitality

-made a space for Rod

-Rod went on to graduate

-fruituful ministry

-earning a PhD. teaching in seminary

God calls us to hospitality

-that will welcome those who seek Him

            Race relations continue to be an area that we struggle with in the church

            Although we might not be able to cure all the ills of race relations

                        We can grow when we realize our own prejudices

                        And we can strive to offer the kind of hospitality Christ showed us