I have been spending time in Kentucky, seeing my WR friend
Casondra. I had the privilege and the honor to be on a team with her for three
months. To be honest though there were some really
hard times with her because she knows how to push my buttons! However, she
never gave up on me and continued even after the race to push me in the right
direction.
That’s what I call true
friendship that reaches far beyond culture.
I never saw the difference in color between Casondra and I. It has never once been a cause to change
our friendship or our will to love each other into greatness.
While staying in Kentucky my eyes were opened to the value people place in color. It breaks my heart to know the racism is still alive and well in central parts of North America. I am not just talking about the past
between whites and blacks. I am talking about a deliberate hatred towards a
person of any race or culture.
We say we live in a free country, however, are we truly
free? We all come from one Father. We are stamped in Christ image. Genesis 1:27
ESV says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them.�
We come from one seed, the first Adam and the second Adam. “So
it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being�, the last Adam, a
life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and
after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the
second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the
earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And
just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image
of the heavenly man.” 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 NIV
In Acts 17:26; the bible refers us (His creation) as being,
“one blood.� So why all the judgments, even within the so called “Christian
Church?� Can the bible really be used to justify racist attitudes? In my personal opinion there is no
doubt that the bible teaches only on equality not damnations on races.
Job even recognized that we are equal before God. “If I have
despised the cause of my male or female servants when they complained against
me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When he punishes, how shall I
answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one
fashion us in the womb? Job 31:13-15.
The bible continues to teach, “there is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there
is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are
Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.â€� Galatians 3:28-29 EVS. Also, read
Colossians 3:11 and Romans 10:12-13 for further insight.
We all know that the scattering of races began in Genesis 11
at the tower of Babel. Lord makes it clear He scattered the people and it was
because they united in rebellion against Him.
As the body of Christ though, we should not use Genesis 11 as
an excuse to be scattered now.
When the Lord makes it clear in His word to be united.
If you have a problem with the color of someone’s skin, then take a serious look at the condition of your heart. We are
called to be Christ ambassadors and minister to all people. Paul went to the
Gentiles preaching the Gospel. Were they one race? No!
What terrifies you about different cultures? Maybe it is
time to explore. Instead of sitting in your normal pew, in your normal white
cultured Sunday morning church service, why not reach out and go to a church
that is not like your own. Or host a international night to get to know your
neighbors.
I am not just speaking to whites, I
am speaking to us all. Love one another, embrace each other as the word says
with a “holy kiss.” Do not be afraid to educate yourself and learn to see each
other through God’s lenses.
To those who have been struggling
with their identity and wondering how they fit in the cookie shaped world, when
they stand out in a sea of the same faces. I want you to know that I do not see
your color. I choose to see how you were woven together by a creative and
genius God. You are
not a mistake. Your precious color is not a mistake!
Jesus Christ died for us all and
His life giving blood is flowing through all of our veins. Reach out today and be a friend to all
people, race, and tongues. And
say, “I do not see your color. I choose to see Christ image in you.�
