Having said that, I have not read many articles that have offered
a positive alternative to the racial
tension that seems to be growing in America.
Here are some thoughts on how Christians can work to overcome the
flames of Ferguson and how we might go about minimizing the personal distrust that exists in many of our
communities.
In Carmel, Indiana our family enjoyed a special relationship with our Muslim next door neighbors (immigrants from Turkey) and had a wonderful friendship with our (Christian) African American next door neighbor (Kim). These relationships began with small talk. They grew with “random acts of kindness” and eventually they blossomed into friendship meals in each other’s homes. Matthew 22:38 is not rocket science but applying this verse will require prayer and Spirit-empowered effort.
In our current neighborhood we strive, by the grace of God, to be good Samaritans to all of our neighbors. This includes taking meals to the widower next door, talking over the fence, showing interest in the lives of our neighbors, etc. We also enjoy a very friendly relationship with our black neighbors who live across the street from us. I have shoveled their driveway before and they have brought us over some delicious baby back ribs.
Our neighbors seem to really enjoy our children (most of the time anyways) and our kids enjoy our neighbors. Children often bring people together as they are a source of much happiness, joy, and life. Teach your children the virtue of serving others and show them how believers can care for all different kinds of people (old, young, white, black, etc). Help them to understand what Matthew 22:39 should like in your unique context.
2) Get to know other Word-centered pastors and support one another in the ministry of gospel reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).
Many different like-minded pastors have filled the pulpit at First Baptist, Freeport but one of our favorites is Pastor Rick Bovell. Rick is a faithful lay leader at Morningstar Church (Rockford). Our congregation has also been blessed by the pulpit ministry of Deryk Hayes of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church. It has been edifying for our congregation to hear faithful ministers of the gospel of all colors preach the Word of God!
3) Reach out to people who are not the exact same race or “social group” as you (John 4).
As a child I remember my parents opening up their home to Christians of all colors (all the time). One of my favorite memories is when they housed international pastors during the annual Shepherds Conference. During this time we got to know some very special brothers from the country of South Africa.
My family moved to the Pacific Northwest the day before my junior year of High School. As you can imagine I knew no one when I started classes the next day. During my time at Olympic High School most of my closest school friends were Filipino. These friends were loyal, gracious, family orientated, and fun loving people. They also introduced me to lumpia.
In college I chose to room with a black basketball player from the Bahamas. Jimmy Mackey was a great roommate and he became a good friend. I think the only thing we ever fought over was the thermostat (even in Southern California Jimmy was always cold). In time Jimmy even let me wear one of his FUBU shirts.
When I started playing tennis again in Illinois my favorite hitting partner was a black school teacher (Kevin). Kevin and I eventually grew close enough in our relationship where we could communicate openly with each other and even ‘trash talk’ on the courts. I could give a dozen other personal examples here but I think you get the point. It’s much easier to entertain racist thoughts if you only spend time with people of one race/nationality/etc. It is healthy to get outside of our comfort zones and to reach out to people who are not the exact same race as us.
Over the years our congregation has reached out to our local community through our Awana program and Youth Ministries. Our current Awana club is comprised of approximately 85% of children outside of our own local church. Many of these kids are Black or Hispanic. Most of these children come from "unchurched homes." Like many of our public school teachers, some nights involve lots of behavior issues and not as much instruction. Having said that, the leaders have found that most of these kids are looking for love, attention, stability, and hope. It is our privilege to love these children and to point to them each week to the Prince of peace.
4) Prayerfully consider being a foster parent or adopting a needy child into your family.
My brother Josh (a white police officer) and my sister in-law (Kim) were loving foster parents to many different children of different races. They recently adopted a boy and a girl into their family of three. They now have a son who is not Caucasian and they love him unconditionally. Their example is a wonderful testimony of God’s amazing grace.
I have other Christian friends who have adopted needy orphans from Africa, Asia, and Russia. God does not lead everyone to adoption but it is something every Christian family should prayerfully consider. Blended families are visual illustrations of many biblical truths.
5) Show the love of Christ to every member in your local church and to every guest who visits your fellowship (Galatians 3:28; James 2:1-7).
Our congregation is blessed to have a wonderful Christian family from India who are a vital part of our body (Galatians 3:28). It’s healthy for our people to hear the Bible read in the worship service (1 Timothy 4:13) with an accent different than that of their pastors.
The Lord recently brought a Mexican family into our fellowship. I have seen the flock reach out to these brothers and sisters as family (which is what we are in Christ). Biblical unity in the midst of racial and socio-economic diversity is a beautiful thing!
Whether someone is rich or poor, eccentric or hip, black or white, the Body of Christ must fight against showing sinful partiality to anyone (James 2:1-7).
When it comes to race, “red and yellow, black and white, human beings are precious in Jesus’ sight.” Therefore, let us seek to “love all the children/people of the world.”
6) Above all, strive to love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37-40).
Those who grow in their love for the Lord (Matthew 22:37-40) come to love what the Lord loves and to despise what the Lord hates. For example, God loves the nations and He hates racism. God loves the truth and he hates falsehood. God loves holiness and He hates iniquity.
The global heartbeat of God for the nations is evident in the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:3), in the Church’s “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8) and is beautifully portrayed in the following inspired snapshot of Heaven (Revelation 5:9-14). And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
My younger sister (Rebekah) has spent the past two and half years serving the people of Uganda. The village she lives in is dirt poor but it is also spiritually ripe (Matthew 9:37-38). The love of Christ led my sister (and many other missionaries) to give up the comforts of America to bring the gospel of peace to those around the world. Genuine missionary zeal flows out of a deep and abiding love for the Lord and for the lost.
7) Acknowledge the many tensions that exist in this fallen world and respond to those disagreements in a Spirit-filled way (Galatians 5:14-25).
Here are some of the “tension” points that come to mind. How can we protect and support our public servants (including police officers) and at the same time ensure these men and women employee the proper use of authority (especially when using deadly force)? For the record the Bible does not say, “Thou shall not kill.” It does say, “Thou shall not murder.”
Romans 13:1-7 provides us with a biblical commentary on the role of governing authority including a stern reminder to Christians. Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience ' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
One of the purposes of government is to punish evildoers (as defined by God in Scripture) and to protect the innocent (those who follow the law). So I ask again, how can we protect and support our public servants and at the same time ensure these men and women employee the proper use of authority (especially when employing deadly force)?
The Bible also teaches us that those in authority have greater accountability. This principle is brought out in Hebrews 13:17 (with church leaders) and with teachers in James 3. The Minor Prophets also uphold this general principle. Suffice it to say, the stewardship of leadership is enormous! How should we respond if/when authority is being sinfully abusive? How should we respond when the situation is more grey than black and white?
Let me share another potential tension point. How can Christians maintain “the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace” when we view the situation in Ferguson differently from other brothers and sisters in the faith (Eph. 4:1-3; Phil 2:1-10; 1 Cor. 13)? For example, some believers loved Thabiti Anyabwile’s personal commentary of Ferguson while others thought these articles were biased and that they lacked necessary balance. Other Christians (like this author) really appreciated the response of Voddie Baucham; while some, such as Pastor Bob Bixby wrote, “I have not very much respect for Voddie Baucham who I think is being as opportunistic here as anyone else may be.”
Certain Gospel Coalition leaders, such as Matt Chandler, told their congregation, "Until there is an acknowledgement of (white) privilege and repentance for discrimination, the kingdom and what God has purchased for us in Christ isn’t going to be displayed and lives are still going to be destroyed. It’s systemic, historic and horrific."
Until glory we are never going to agree on every implication of Ferguson, O.J. Simpson, Michael Brown, & Darren Wilson. (Like: how does 'white privilege' impact this narrative? Are innocent black men being hunted down like animals by white cops? What about the black on black crime rates in America? Is our President and Attorney General playing racial politics here? Do the facts and statistics back up the commentary that is currently being promoted by the NAACP? etc).
CONCLUSION: Satan would love nothing more than to use this situation to not only divide our nation (which to some degree has already happened), but more importantly to divide the Body of Jesus Christ. In the early days of the Apostles (see Acts 2-28) one of the pressing concerns of the Holy Spirit was that the Body of Christ NOT divide herself along racial/cultural lines. In other words, that a Jewish Church, a Samaritan Church, and a Gentile Church would not emerge as three witnesses to the gospel rather than provide the lost world with one witness. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). May the biblical ministry of reconciliation be our central endeavor (2 Corinthians 5)! Sinful Man must be reconciled with holy God first (per Romans 1-5), if he is to enjoy any measure of peace and harmony with his fellow man. New Orleans Saints tight end Ben Watson was correct to point people to Jesus Christ (as the ultimate Reconciler). God help us all.
