We all know it, we all sang it! They are precious in his sight! What we didn't sing and maybe what we didn't understand is that we are all the little children of the world. From birth to death, we are all God's children! So, why are we (for the most part) separated from each other on Sunday morning?
I know we live in the South and the South seems to be slow to move on many issues (and for the most part, I am ok with that). I remember being a 12 year old in Wilmington, NC when the public schools were integrated. It was scary times. Riots and firebombing were the daily discussion. I watched fights between blacks and whites and my belief system was informed. (sadly) I still struggle with feelings from those early years. I have come far, but still have a ways to go.
Our nation is divided in ways that I never imagined it could be. Women and men. Rich and poor. Black and White. Latino and Black. White and Latino. I don't even know how to reference the gender issues. On and on, the differences between us are being used to divide us. It isn't a question of who is dividing us. We know who is behind this. All Christians know who divides God's children.
The bigger question is, what will the Christian community do about it? Are we willing to sing the old song and welcome everyone as Jesus did? Are we willing to reach across the differences and tell the story of what unites us? We are all His children. We are all sinners. (Romans 3:23) We are all His! (Psalm 24:1) The quantity of melanin in our skin, the size of our bank accounts, the location of our birth... none of that makes us better or worse and none of that removes us from His family.
The Jew and the Gentile had the same issue in the Bible. They treated each other differently based on appearance and who their daddy was. Praise be to God that He dealt with the wall that separated His children...
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2: 13-22)
If there is a wall, it is our doing! If there is segregation on Sunday morning, it is our mess. The Wilkesboro church of Christ wants to be a place of peace for all people. Over the years we have been home to many races and cultures and I love that. If you are Black, please come and experience the love of Christ and be part of the body. If you are Indian, we want you in our congregation. If you are Asian, there is a place for you! If you are White, we welcome you to join us. It doesn't matter who you are or what you have done, Jesus extends His love and forgiveness to you! Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious in His sight! Jesus loves the little children of the world... and as His church, His body, we do too!
See you Sunday morning at 9:30 AM for Bible Study and 10:30 AM for Worship! I hope we have to bring in more chairs!!
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