“We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also..” — 1 John 4:19-21
(Note: This may seem somewhat academic and long, but it is about an essential Biblical truth - a reflection of the failings of the world to achieve unity apart for the God who created us)
Who Is My Brother - Who Is My Sister? I am certain you know what racial profiling is. Probably most often you have heard the term as it has to do with law enforcement making arrests based upon nothing more than the hue of someone’s skin. But what exactly is profiling? Well – it is the application of a generalized idea of what someone in a particular people group is like that is solely based upon ethnic heritage or skin color. Then it is applied to everyone in that particular group. Profiling is assuming someone has done something wrong just because of their race. It does not mean the person has not done something wrong, however, you cannot possibly know that based solely on what a person looks like. (That requires Spiritual Discernment) So often you read about innocent people being stopped or even arrested or worse just because they fit a certain profile. Profiling is most often applied to people who are in the ethnic or socio-economic minority. But profiling people who are in the majority by the minority is also a problem. Profiling is not just a problem in outside of the Body of Christ, it is a problem with Christians as well. With me so far?
I am also certain you have heard the term – White Privilege. Especially today. That has to do with the privileges extended to the majority which are largely denied to the minority. Those receiving the privileges rarely, if ever, think of them as privileges. They consider them to be part of their way of life and are pretty much transparent to them. But they not so transparent to those who are denied those same privileges. When made aware that they have privileges others do not, the majority finds it hard to believe that those “privileges” are not extended to everyone – even those in the minority. In fact it never occurred to them that those privileges were not part of every American's life. And if you don't have them it must be your own fault.
You are familiar with the idea of Equal Opportunity. Foundational to the fiber of this country is the idea that everyone should have the same opportunity. But the denial of those rights to some, although largely transparent to the majority – is lived out every day by the minority. Ok – I think you get it. I am referring to social justice, or the lack of it and the natural world that we live in. But that is not the point of this devotion. I AM (sic) about to get to the point.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." United States Declaration of Independence
That was declared at the conception of these United States, but has not been practiced, in full - extended toward every citizen, to this day. Why? Because apart from the transformational power of God, it is an impossibility. Let’s say there are five people – Red, Yellow, Brown, Black and White. Each person has their idea about each group represented by the others. It is the natural way of things. It is a product of man’s sinful nature. Let me give you a quick refresher on the nature of the natural man's thinking so you are not thinking that I am making this up.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21
That is pretty inclusive. It does not matter what ethnic background we represent – every person's heritage is derived from the first Adam. We all struggle with the works of our flesh and how that affects the way we treat others. It is in our nature. Every one of us - irrespective of our natural - ethnic heritage.
“For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” – Romans 3:22-24
As Christians, we are not doing so well with this and the reason is that there is sin in the Church that is being justified with carnal thinking. And not just in what some might think of as the "White Church". Sin knows no bounds.
“if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
When Jesus walked the earth – the distinction was simply Jew and Gentile. Being a Jew did not make you less guilty, just like being a Gentile didn't make you more guilty. Both were guilty of sinning against God – just like today – just like it will be until Jesus returns for His Bride.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 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 neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” — Galatians 3:26-29
We have been reconciled to God and "should" be reconciled one to the other. Sadly, I must say that I don’t find the “all sons of God” attitude referenced in Galatians 3 being prevalent in the Body of Christ. That right attitude being that we are all the same in Christ. Red and yellow, black and white we are precious in His sight - but in our sight, not so much. You know what the Bible says, I am certain. But I will remind you anyway - Tomorrow.
(End of Part 1)
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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