I really believe it’s the Church’s job to lead people back to each other.
In this time of COVID-19 quarantine we have experienced intense separation due to biological realities. These months of social distancing and the lingering uncertainty make it seem scary to try to get back together. Yet, our governmental and health care leaders have given the “go ahead” for churches like ours to start gathering—with certain recommendations.
So Living Streams Church will be resuming our Sunday morning in-person services on June 28th. We will communicate more details soon, but I wanted to let you know so you can set the date. We are very excited about this and, at the same time, we know there are some who will not be excited about this. If you are not excited about this, no worries at all. We will also continue to live stream our services.
Another way we can apply the phrase, “It’s the Church’s job to lead people back to each other” is in the arena of racial reconciliation. The horrific death of George Floyd has reignited a longstanding powder keg of racial unrest. The injustices our African American brothers and sisters have endured over many years have left a wound that is not easily healed. For many African Americans the pain is real and the anger is justified. So what can be done?
Paul the Apostle, who was himself familiar with racial injustice and inequality, wrote a lot about what we can do. In his day the Jews and Gentiles, or Jews and Romans, were at odds. He wrote a letter which was inspired by the Spirit of God to the church at Corinth which says this:
“Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. –2 Corinthians 5:14-19 MSG
God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. If your gospel does not include racial reconciliation it is not the gospel of Jesus Christ put forth by the New Testament. Jesus’ desire is expressed through His prayer in John 17. He prayed that everyone would become one, no matter their gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, or physical condition. He loves it when brothers and sisters of all diversities dwell together in unity.
We must never forget that sin is what has brought about all the evils in our world today, including racism. But we also must never forget that nothing else but Jesus’ blood can cleanse us of our sin. Nothing else but Jesus’ Spirit can empower us to overcome our sinful nature. And nothing else but Jesus’ return will bring about the full eradication of sin and the sinful nature forevermore. Jesus is the answer for the world today. Above Him there is no other. Jesus is the way.
We have a lot of work to do to lead people back to each other. We have a lot of listening to do. We have a lot to learn about each other. We need to invite people who don’t look like us or think like us into our homes and venture into theirs. Let us eat together at the table of brotherhood. We have a lot of pride to swallow and humility to put forth. But Church, Jesus has given us all we need to accomplish the ministry of reconciliation. Led by His Sprit let’s do our part.
David
P.S. Don’t forget the work we have ahead of us leading Democrats and Republicans back to each other as well. Lord, have mercy!