The Sin Of Not Caring

"Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.”  – Luke 10:31-32

 I read a post this morning asking why Christians who are white should ask for forgiveness for sins against people of another skin color – including Black that they did not commit. I don’t think the point is that they, me included, are being asked to repent of those sins. What we are being asked to do is repent of the sin of “Not Caring”.

 There has been great injustice done to people of color (any color than white) since, well since there were people of different colors. A struggle for racial or color dominance. If I think less of you then I can somehow raise myself up by standing on your back.  Not everyone felt that way or feels that way. But what is more common is the sin of not caring.  We may not participate and feel somehow superior to those who do, but, at the same time, it doesn’t directly affect us so it is not our problem.  That may be the prevalent thinking in your circle of relationships – but it is not Biblical.  The priest and the Levite – both spiritual to some extent, espousing God’s tenants in word, failed to demonstrate them in deed.  They didn’t care about the man in the ditch – even though he was the same color.  They didn’t care.  They didn’t have time. It was not their fault that he was in the ditch. That he had been mistreated. 

 “Bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

 So you might ask, like the lawyer asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor – my one another?”  In an attempt to justify not caring. So Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, recorded in Luke 10. For Christians, the problem that has been revealed is one of not caring. Not embracing other Christians because they are different.  They are saved by the same Jesus – but they are different – and persecuted.  They are laying in the literal ditch and the churches that have Christians that are predominately white, walk on by, just like the priest and Levite.

I am using the term “Christians who are” out of deference to something I heard Pastor Tony Evans say.  “To say Black Christian is incorrect. You see Christian cannot be modified with an adjective.  All Christians are the same.  There are Christians who have different shades of skin color, live in other countries, speak in different languages, practice different styles of worship – but that does not modify their nature or their spiritual ethnicity.” (loosely quoted)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28

“….. since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” – Colossians 3:9-13

Something I noticed when we served in Haiti.  Some Christians who were white would spend a lot of money to come to a nation that is comprised of at least 95% black people.  They came to share the Good News and rejoice when even one would be saved in their sight. And yet these same Christians would return home to their churches who were waiting anxiously to hear the report of ‘Victory’. These same churches that were not willing to cross the road in their own towns and cities to help the man in the ditch. And were not sorry that the man was in the ditch.  Do you see an inconsistency there?  Please do not interpret my words to mean that there are no Christians who are white who don’t care, who are not like the Samaritan who showed compassion. Because there are … many .. thousands.

As I told a friend the other day .. like Elijah, you may think that all is lost, but God is saying there are thousands who have not bent their knees to the sin of not caring that you don’t know about.

What you see happening in the world and in the Body of Christ has a spiritual root. It is a result of the sinful nature of man. It can only be resolved through repentance for the Church and salvation for the lost in this world.  But it will not be eradicated until Jesus returns. For the Body of Christ to be what God intended, there can be no “sin the camp.” And there is. Lord help us!

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone