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Hmmm, it seems like I abandoned this place doesn't it. Well, as of right now, that's far from happening. I have been busy and not so busy. I figured I better start writing some stuff here before the few people who subscribed start quitting. 
RACE RELATIONS AMONG BELIEVERS - A FEW THOUGHTS
This past Sunday (March 13th) a few of us went to a Reconciliation Service held at a local A/G church here in the Chicagoland area. Basically it seemed like this was going to be just a book signing event held after a Sunday evening service, but it was so much more than that. The book being launched was, THE HEART OF RACIAL JUSTICE (How Soul Change Leads to Social Change), by Brenda Salter McNeil and Rick Richardson. I discovered this book on-line back in December and ordered a copy right away. I have read about 2/3 of it and would highly recommend it to everyone.
So, this event we went to was quite awesome. In some respects it was like a standard Sunday evening service. There was a time of congregational singing, there was preaching from the Bible and an offering was taken. What else was there that made it so fantastic? The times of actual ministry by the Holy Spirit. To some, this may sound a bit pompous, but since I'm not describing my own event, I think it's ok. Now what I experienced, and I think a lot of others did too, was a real sense that GOD Himself was present seeking to comfort and enable hurting hearts to find rest in His love and healing from lies and errors.
Interspersed with the various teachings, and there were several, was a time when the Speakers; Dr. Brenda, Rev. Rick or Pastor Berryhill, would invite people to come forward and be prayed for. In addition to those who came forward though, ministry was also going on right in the pews where people were either sitting or standing. Some people were challenged to believe that GOD had various works for them to do in the near future. Congregations to start and lead, books and articles to write and all sorts of other ministry opportunities to serve GOD through.
The meeting was just under 3 hours long, but I loved nearly every minute of it. I didn't agree with everything that was said and taught, but in the larger picture I feel that GOD is at work birthing a vision in His people of true unity in diversity. I can't go over all the points of teaching that were spoken, but I will mention things that might spark a continuing conversation here.
ABOUT DR. BRENDA AND REV. RICK
Brenda Salter McNeil is an Afro-American woman of GOD. She herself is an ordained minister and she is married to a minister and the mother of three children. She was formerly a staff worker with InterVarsity and Rev. Rick was her boss at that time (early 1990's). She is a conference speaker and workshop leader who specializes in reconciliation in many venues all over the country.
Rev. Rick is a European-American and the associate director for evangelism with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. In addition to that work he is presently doing graduate work in intercultural studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and Dr. Brenda have been working and teaching together in the Chicago area for the past fifteen years.
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Exposing the ideology of colorblindness as false.
At a certain time in the service, both Dr. Brenda and Rev. Rick took turns preaching about some topic or concept from the book. These few words that I'm writing here are from my notes and memory as Rev. Rick was preaching. After giving a brief introduction to this idea of colorblindness in a race relations context, Rev. Rick went on to expose the idea as a lie and a false notion.
Some of you, my dear friends, may be a bit confused so please allow me to interject a few comments and thoughts of my own, in an attempt to make things clearer.
As we face the reality of the evils that have been done in our country and world regarding racial discrimination and injustice, one of the possible solutions being suggested is of a colorblind society. Since race was previously used as a basis of segregation and exclusion, then if we would just begin to ignore racial differences and judge people solely by their character and abilities, then the world would be a better place. In short, this is an ideology that one hears quite frequently in such discussions. A subsidiary idea is that if we stop talking about racial differences and problems, and giving them so much emphasis, then the problem itself will begin to fade and go away.
Rev. Rick made two points that counter this ideology in a powerful way.
- The everyday experiences of white people and people of color are vastly different. The Chinese proverb that says, "The fish doesn't know he's in water," comes to mind. White believers cannot allow themselves to be so naive or insensitive, as to not recognize that they get differential treatment in our society, which is most often to their advantage. Afro-Americans are all too often the victims of unfair or ill-treatment, simply because they were 'black in the wrong place at the wrong time.' (Granted this same thing can, and does, occur to Whites, if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the number of such instances is far less than those experienced by Blacks, and other people of color.) When a white believer says that they don't see color in people, they are denying the pain and injustice that people of color live with all the time. Although that individual may not be aware of color, it's for certain that our society is, and so are the people of color who suffer because of it.
- Becoming colorblind, or learning to ignore the differences in appearance among various peoples, is contrary to the will and the purposes of GOD. It was not an accident or a mistake that GOD made us all the way we are. Rather than de emphasizing our differences, the Bible teaches that GOD created us to be a beautiful mosaic comprised of peoples from all tribes and tongues and nations. (Rev 5:9 & Rev 7:9) Instead of ignoring or denying our differences, GOD is blessed and delights in it, and so also should we.
After making these points, in the clear and succinct way that he did, Rev. Rick and Dr. Brenda then spoke words of healing and comfort to those present who may have held such views. They prayed and took authority over the false ideologies that would deceive the people of GOD with lies about our true identity in Messiah. Our oneness is not based upon sameness. In the Body of believers there are male and female, two entities which are certainly not the same, but they are equals. Unity in the Bible is referred to as a composite unity.
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Gen 2:24
Unity does not imply uniformity. GOD wants each of us to embrace our individuality, and that includes gender differences, physical features and culture. We should not be ashamed of who we are, neither should we be proud, in the sense of considering that we are therefore privileged and thus better than others. A rightful understanding of Biblical unity is based on humility in the sight of GOD. He alone is our GOD and we are all together members of His creation. We are all brothers and sisters, whether young or old, rich or poor, white or black, Jewish or Gentile.
We each need to embrace our calling and discover our unique combination of gifts and talents and give ourselves whole-heartedly to the work of building and manifesting GOD's Kingdom here on earth.
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As I said already, I had a great time at that service. I was extremely blessed and very impressed with the spiritual emphasis and ministry aspect of their presentation. I'll share more on this topic another time along with more insights from this and other books that I find along the way.
Blessings in Messiah Jesus,
Shlomo
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