Moving Forward TogetherThere is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neithermale nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28America has just made history by electing its first black president. It is trulya great testimony to the social reform that is taking place in the World today.As an African American I am overwhelmed with joy and excitement about what thefuture holds. No longer can any excuse be used to justify a lack of initiative.However as a Christian when I reflect on where the church is, I must admit thatI am saddened. Despite the fact that Martin Luther King, Jr. shamed hisChristian brethren in 1963 with the words "we must face the fact that inAmerica, the church is still the most segregated major institution in America."At 11:00 on Sunday morning when we stand and sing and Christ has no east orwest, we stand at the most segregated hour in this nation."According to the Multiracial Congregations Project only 8% percent of churchesare statistically multiracial, meaning that no one racial-ethnic groupconstitutes more than 80% of the membership.Obviously, there are some practical reasons for separate worship such as musicperformance, preaching styles and worshiping closer to home.Worshiping separately is both bad and a good thing. Bad in the sense it givesthe impression of disunity within the body of Christ. It says that we are whiteor black first and Christian second. It could be viewed as good only in thesense we get to worship in freedom, where we want.Paul, in his letter to Galatians said "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there isneither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one inChrist Jesus." In Christ we are Christians! Our race, ethnicity, income,posterity and educational achievements should all be secondary to the fact weare Christian!Let's not let reform only exist in the world of politics; let's reform thechurch by understanding who we are in Christ and walking in love.
Comments