Great Discussion on Racism and the Church

One of the blogs that I follow is Scot McKnight's "Jesus Creed". His last two posts are significant in that he discusses the importance of confronting racism in the church.

Here is his beginning paragraph from his first post:

If you embrace a kingdom vision of the gospel itself, racism is nothing short of disgusting. If you embrace a judicial perception of sin, the Cross, and the gospel, racism is more tolerable. I’m sorry to put in such bold terms, but it all comes down to how you understand the gospel.

His second post goes on to discuss the themes that the New Testament presents which totally destroy any justification that racism and the Kingdom of God have any place together.

In my opinion, this is one of the greatest issues of powerless and flaccidity in the church. The empowering of the church in the Book of Acts was inseparable from the experience of "reconstitution" for humans who had been victims of racism and prejudice - each group (or in the case of Pentecost, groups) who were introduced to the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit were welcomed into the Kingdom by God - and in doing so God issued a direct challenge to all who would hold on to racism.

The confrontation with Peter in the Book of Acts over the inclusion of Gentiles into the church is probably the starkest example in the NT of God's radical determination to communicate with bigoted and prejudicial humans that these are His rules and we are to love who He loves.

Take a look at these posts and take a look into your own heart - Love God, love others - that is what we are called to live.

WH