**What the Church Must Do**In John 8:32, Jesus says, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shallmake you free."When we all know the truth about racism, we will all be free of it. The only waythat the chasm of racism will close is for everyone to understand that we areall one, as God made us.Each segment of society has played and continues to play its part in racism.However, I'm writing about the Church because that is my mission, because theLord Jesus Christ is at the center of my life, and because the Church has playedan important part in perpetuating racism.Some prominent leaders of the Church have supported or have at one time appearedto support racism. Many others have remained silent when the only true Christianresponse is to speak out and act to end it. The Church's role is doubly sinfulbecause not only does it go against God's Word about the different nations ofpeople; it also goes against what Jesus says about the Church.In Matthew 5:13-14, Jesus tells us: "You are the salt of the earth; but if thesalt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing butto be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world.A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."What a responsibility and a privilege to be the salt of the earth and the lightof the world! How miserably the Church has failed until now!When Africans were brought to America as slaves, instead of some churches comingout for the abolition of slavery, the Church as a whole did not throw God'slight on the evil institution to make sure that it ended as quickly as it began.Matthew 25:45 says: "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you,inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it toMe."Some Christian leaders have ignored the fact that all of us of every color arepart of the same race, the human race, and that as Christians we are all one inJesus. However, the Scriptures tell us that in Christ, old things pass away andall things become new. This means that anyone who up to now may not have knownGod's teaching against racism can in Christ renounce racist thoughts and waysand become new.I Peter 4:17: For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God;and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obeythe gospel of God?Let this warning also be an inspiration. If the Church finally becomes the houseof God that it was meant to be and leads the way against racism as it was alwaysmeant to do, it will light the way for everyone else.If the Church takes on its role as the salt of the earth and the light of theworld, and if all Christians everywhere condemn racism as the sin it is, the"huge racial chasm" will finally close.
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