Is This Really An Option?
Recently I was given the incredible privilege and opportunity to attend a conference up in Washington for the Free Methodist Church. Many speakers delivered powerful and challenging messages concerning our focus on proclaiming redemption, the way we see one another, asking the right questions, diversity and the family of God, and overcoming the power of oppression.
The sermon that most moved me was from Danielle Strickland on how we ought to see people. Her central premise while preaching from Acts 3 was on the theme of vision and how the apostles were outside the temple (Church building) when they encountered somebody who was in need of healing. Her challenge was to join the parents of Moses in recognizing that each person is "no ordinary child" (Heb. 11:23) as we look for opportunities to bring about hope and healing wherever we may be. Danielle spoke, "To see through the social disguises and into the origin purposes (of people) is the work of the Church right now."
In other words, all too often the Church finds topic after topic to focus their attention on to blame, to shame themselves, to control others, or to avoid altogether. However, the work of the Church in the midst of a world filled with many disguises, divisive issues, painful "ism's," and harsh communication strategies is to see people, to love people, and to bring forth a significant movement of hope and healing.
One such place of agony that continues to permeate our world and the Church is the reality of racism. I am not implying that race is a social disguise, but I am asserting that many people hold onto stereotypes, prejudices, and discriminatory thoughts that lead to oppressive and segregating actions. I am declaring that for far too long humanity has clung to misconceptions as truth and exchanged love for pride, hope for fear, and empathy for indifference.
Interestingly enough, following Danielle's presentation at the conference was an address on diversity and the family of God. I thought to myself, "How beautiful that following a sermon on seeing the origin purposes in each other another message comes on diversity, inclusion, and what it means to be family." As I listened, I heard many truths about the definition of family: having the same Parent. I caught the differences between just wanting diversity for a photo opportunity versus getting people from every nation and language together to create a Spirit-filled, committed family.
This speaker confronted the reality of the Church's segregated and racist tendencies and left me longing for the Bride of Christ to look more like She is described in the Scriptures: "from every nation, tribe, people, and language (Rev. 7:9)." It was challenging and gave me rich thoughts of how I can continue to pursue not only diversity but an inclusion of all races in life and worship together. I was stirred to think beyond just the simplicity of giving everybody the same resource but engaging with each person to know exactly what is needed for true equality.
However, as I was going on adventures in my land of thoughts, I was reminded of the scene from the movie Hotel Rwanda in which a reporter shows the footage he filmed of the Rwandan genocide at their hotel restaurant. The dialogue from the movie is as follows:
Paul Rusesabagina: I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene.
Jack: Yeah and if no one intervenes, is it still a good thing to show?
Paul Rusesabagina: How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities?
Jack: I think if people see this footage they'll say, "oh my God that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners.
Beloved, I can't tell you how many times I have sat through sermons, read blogs, and watched persuasive presentations on topics to say, "That's awful," or "I need to change," or "What can I do?" However, for as many times as change occurred, there were also the same amount of times that I would go back to eating my dinner and forgot all about it.
I believe the Church is in this same place. We are confronted and challenged by the many glaring issues of our days, we say, "That's horrible," and then we go back to our ordinary lives. Maybe we read one article, make a post on social media, and think that we have solved the problem. Or worse off, maybe we think to ourselves, "That's for somebody else to deal with."
I can't say this directly enough, but this IS NOT AN OPTION.
We must begin to wrestle with our ability or inability to effectively interact with people of different cultures, opinions, and beliefs. We must become aware of our views, understand our attitude toward differences and contrasting thoughts, gain knowledge, give respect, and learn how we can become more skilled in cross-cultural communication and celebration.
How is it that the Sunday morning worship service is the "most segregated hour in the world" while society lives in more unity than the family of God who is bound together in the UNITY OF THE SPIRIT? I observe the people of God comfortable in thinking that everybody should look and sound the same. I witness a broken, fearful, and exclusive Church who is supposed to be inviting others into hope and healing.
Is this REALLY an option? Of course, there is always a choice. But I will say this: the people of God do not look like they did in Acts 2, nor do they look like they are described in Revelation 7. And I think we have something to do with this: both the way the Church looks now and how the Church can look in Christ's unifying power.
I believe Jesus came for all people. I think that the color of one's skin does not dictate the worth of their life. I hold that colorblindness is racism justified with a misconception of truth. Why would the Greatest Artist ask for us to be colorblind when He created color? I consider every person of infinite value to the Lord, which means they should be to us as well. I propose that we are called to be a people who know each other's stories, celebrate each other's differences, and give room for "valuing and ensuring the participation of diverse cultures, ideas, experiences, perspectives, and skills (Virginia Cumberbatch, The Role of the Church)."
In all honesty, I'm tired of the Church's leadership only being white males. I'm frustrated with the lack of invitation to other groups of people because it won't fit into the convenience of the service order. I'm disappointed that the people of God think that holiness means exclusivity when in fact Jesus revealed that in being set apart He calls ALL unto Himself. To go one step further, I don't think Jesus, an Arab Jew, would be welcomed in most American congregations if He showed up on a Sunday.
You can read this and think, "Wow, maybe we do need change," and go back to your dinner OR we can continue the work and ministry of reconciliation that has been given to us (2 Cor. 5). We are called to be the family of God, living in the unity of Christ by the power of the Spirit with One Divine Father who loves without partiality. We are appointed to see God's original purposes for each person and empower one another to live in Love as Love lives in us.
Is this really an option? I don't think we can say it is. We need change, and the transformation starts with us all.
Here are some questions to help get the ball rolling (from Virginia Cumberbatch and Pastor Fraser Venter):
-- How might you recalibrate how you are approaching and equipping your church or yourself to facilitate these conversations inside and outside the four walls?
-- How is context informing your leadership decisions?
-- How can you reshape the narrative of inclusion to build community/congregational equity and equality?
-- Are you equipped with the stories of the marginalized and underserved to develop community trust and shape culture?
-- Does your congregation represent the demographics of your community? Why or why not?
-- Look at your relationships. Does everybody you hang out with look like you? Why or why not?
John Wesley prayed, and I believe we should too: “I continue to dream and pray about a revival of holiness in our day that moves forth in mission and creates authentic community in which each person can be unleashed through the empowerment of the Spirit to fulfill God's creational intentions.”
To the Church that looks as diverse and sounds as harmonious as heaven, I pray, "On earth as it is in heaven." Amen.
