The Gospel, Grace, and Race

I guess it's fitting that the black guy pull out the dreaded "R" card. Yep. Race. My brothers, isn't it amazing how a something created in such a awful time in U.S. history has been adopted to stay away from each other on perhaps the ONE day in the week (at Least) where we should be coming together. And if it's not separated by skin tone and preference, it's through theological differences. Now I am not saying that we should Rob Bell on 'em and say everyone is going to heaven, nor am I saying go out and find you a black/brown/white/etc friend, but I am asking for a little bit of Voltron/Power Ranger Unity (by the grace of God). Learning to hang out with people of differing races, and to a certain extent, some like minded Christians from different backgrounds, allows you to see God from a different facet. It troubles me when people can only see that their church is the only one in an area doing something with the gospel, like they've got a hold on what God is doing. It can start to sound like the Jews for a minute, who thought they had dibs on what God is doing and everyone else was "unclean".

This thought process has been brewing for a minute after pastor JD referred to the minorities at summit as heroes for putting aside their personal preferences for the sake of the gospel. I was conversing with another brother and he suggested sarcastically that I was a "hero". Due to the nature of my brother's comment, it seemed to me that he missed the bottom line of what JD was saying. For example, being black, a couple of months ago, had I just stayed for praise & worship, I probably would have dipped. Let's be honest-it's just not my style. However, I am glad that I stayed to hear the Gospel for the first time. It wrecked my world, and I don't think that I have been the same since. It has altered my though process in dealings with other people, especially with my wife. Matt A. and Ninjattitude are great brothers, and I pray that we would continue to draw other brothers that don't look like us, but are drawn to the glorious message of the gospel. This is the only thing that can bring us together. God gets glory when anyone comes to trust in Him, but what a picture to share the gospel with people who look like you, and don't look like you! When we get outside of our comfort zones and preach the gospel to ALL nations, our Pop in heaven goes crazy! So I pray that we would continue to spread the message of the gospel, that draws people from different backgrounds, racial, ethnicities, people groups, and nations.

"He's got children of many colors, He goes hard in the paint!"- Sho Baraka

Mike B.