Hey everyone, welcome to today's podcast. The title of today's podcast is unnecessary conversation. I want us to discuss for just a few minutes the racial climate in our country. Some of us I know would rather avoid the conversation because it's a difficult topic.
But listen, if we do that, then nothing will ever change if there's no open dialogue. So my suggestion is that we just take a few moments to discuss what's happening. Like many of you, my heart's heavy with everything that's happening in our world today. And while we as Christians don't have all the answers, we serve a God who does.
I like to read a lot, and I regularly read articles from christianitytoday.com. One that sticks out in my mind was an article that I recently read by the name of Justice Too Long Delayed. When you have a chance, I encourage you to go to christianitytoday.com and just type in the search bar, Justice Too Long Delayed, and you'll pull up the article. And the reason that this article stuck out in my mind is because racism has been a very real issue for many years that the church as a whole could have dealt with much better.
I love the church, and I've given the past six years of my life to plant a church and to help other churches get started. But the church has not always used its influence to properly address race and unity. And I would like to read a couple paragraphs from this article. This is what it says.
Two original sins have plagued this nation from its inception. The destruction of its native inhabitants and the institution of slavery, both sprang from a failure to see an equal in the racial other. As Bishop Claude Alexander has said, racism was the amniotic fluid out of which our nation was born. There was a virus present in the very environment that nurtured the development of our country, our culture, and our people.
The virus of racism infected our church, our constitution, and laws, our attitudes and ideologies. We have never fully defeated it. The second paragraph says, these are painful realities in a complex world. The United States has been extraordinary force of good, a powerful advocate for democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity.
The ideals it champions have brought hundreds of millions out of poverty and oppression, and its technologies and innovations and art have changed the lives of practically every person on the planet. Likewise, the American church has advanced the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ in countless ways, from sending missionaries to translating the Bible to supporting and staffing ministries that bring light and life to every corner of the world. And yet, historically, far too often, American Evangelicalism has been silent on. On complicit and or an apologist for racial inequality.
The statement we have never fully defeated it, referring to the virus of racism I think is absolutely right on. So the question becomes, what do we do? Okay, one thing that we know for sure is that we just can't keep quiet about injustice. The one thing we can and should do as many women of God is speak up about injustice and do what we can to bring attention to the matter.
So what do we do when having these difficult conversations about race and equality? Listen, this is what I do. When you don't know exactly what to say, why don't you try repeating what has already been said about unity and love in the scriptures. John chapter 17 verse 21 says, my prayer is not for them alone.
I pray for those who will be in me through their message, that all of them may be one. Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us that the world may believe that you have sent me. This is a prayer and Jesus is praying for us to be unified.
He's praying for us to be undivided. He's praying for us to be one. The gospel is always good news, but it seems to shine brighter in contrast to bad news. The gospel is still good news for all people.
Jesus is the only real solution to all our sin problems, including racism. And other scriptures, 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 10, it says, I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live and harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church, rather be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. And other scriptures, 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 8, he says, finally, all of you should be of one mind, sympathize with each other, love each other as brothers and sisters, be tender hearted and keep a humble attitude.
And finally, Colossians chapter 3 verse 14 says, above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. These are just a few of the scriptures that the Bible has something to say about love, harmony and unity within the body of Christ. So let me finish with this question. When is the last time you shared your home, you shared a meal, or even a pew at church with someone who doesn't look like you?
I encourage you to find someone to talk to, someone that will respectfully listen to your opinion and attempt to answer your questions. But more than getting your point across, you know what, you might learn something that could change your entire perspective on the matter. God bless you. See you next time.