A Better Covenant

First things first. I realize that many people will not be excited about this post. There are numerous ministries that will disagree with what I will say here. I understand why, but I don’t agree with them, thus this post. As I was writing my last post, I started to wrestle with some things. I will not waver on my position that White Reformed Churches have to step it up in the area of evangelism, training and maybe losing some of their distintictives and evolving other ones. As Paul so beautifully penned “I became all things to all men that I might win some”. Paul was a Chameleon. He adapted to the culture abroad, because of his deep love for the Gospel. As he says ” For me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. If many of the White Reformed Churches would adopt the heart of Paul and his deep love to make disciples of every gentile nation that he could, then this bridge would be a bit wider, so that more could cross over it. However, I want to discuss why I think blacks can also play a huge part in building this bridge.

As you may well understand building anything takes a collaborative effort. We have architects, engineers, welders, cement layers, cable runners, and even the guy who holds the sign to tell you to slow down so that no one gets hit by an unaware driver. Each is important and all must play their part to have a successful and sturdy bridge that people feel safe on. So what does that have to do with racial reconciliation? Great question.

My partner and co-laborer on this blog has done just what I am talking about. Not only that, this brother has even taken it to a house church. Tyris belongs to Christ Fellowship of Kansas City, which is a predominately white fellowship and not only that it is a house fellowship. I remember when I first talked with Tyris, he wasn’t a member there at this time. As Tyris was looking for a church, his only concern was the purity of God’s word! That was his prerequisite. He had already made up in his mind, that if he had to be the only black man in a 500 mile radius, then so be it. He was not willing to compromise the word of God to stay “black”. The Gospel was his only concern and I was so excited about that. We hit it off immediately and have been good friends every since.

You see Tyris did what I am challenging many blacks in this post to do. Put on racial and cultural blinders, and let the GOSPEL be your guide. Now if you can find a black fellowship that refuses to compromise on the Gospel go for it. But if not, then the only viable option is to say as Paul said “rather in the body or apart from it, we want to be pleasing”. I will say quite boldly here that God requires you to be in a doctrinally sound congregation. As the Holy Spirit is writing to Timothy, Titus and the Church through Paul, He challenges them over 5 times to “teach what is in according to SOUND DOCTRINE”.  This is a command from God! There is no exception. The Holy Spirit is not saying “if it means that much to you, I would rather you be comfortable” NO! It is the exact opposite. Truth trumps relevance on any given day!

I would also propose the challenge to those who pastor black churches and those who belong to black churches to have the same heart for diversity as we expect from whites. If this is not our heart, then we don’t have the heart of God. As Christ was giving the Great Commission he didn’t stop until He said “the outtermost parts of the world”. This command was given to the Body of Christ so, we don’t stay in “Jerusalem” (our comfort zone) and ignore the clear commands of our Savior to get at it for the whole world.

I believe to shrink back from this is to disobey the Lord, which is to sin. So for black churches in the suburbs or the hood, we have to be just as persistent in fighting for diversity as we are for fighting for social justice and change. If holistic ministry means healing the WHOLE MAN then the whole man means his/her heart on racial issues also. I used a picture of Jackie Robinson to illustrate a point. That point being, blacks fought for equality and inclusion in business, sports, education, and geographical areas, but for some reason we have not brought the same tenacity to FAITH. If we are going to fight for inclusion in such menial things as sports, why not fight hard for the desegregation of our churches. Does not the same issues exist?

I close with this. Just as I pose the challenge to White Reformers I post the Challenge to Blacks and Black Churches. We have to open our doors and go to the white chuch on the corner and invite them to fellowship with us on every 5th Sunday. We have to find ways to let them in our lives just as much as they have to find ways to let us in theirs. The scale is balanced on responsibility. We can all play a significant role in building these bridges. Here are some practical ways this can be flushed out.

1. Do a evening service in which we can invite a white church to fellowship with us.

2. Do a joint evangelizing campaign.

3. I think the best way is to partake in the Lord’s Supper together. Nothing tears down the wall of division like the Blood of Christ and His table. Spend some time in prayer, worship, a short exaltation but spend the most time in worshipping the Lord through communion.

4. Do a 5th Sunday reconciliation service. This will force us to spend at least 4 times per year together.

5. Do a joint Vacation Bible School. Start training our children on the issues of diversity and what it means to truly be one in Christ.

6. Once you find a day to worship, have blended worship. Where both styles of worship are on display, how beautiful that would be.

7. Finally display this to the community however, you decide to do it.

The Church has to be the catalyst of racial reconciliation and black churches and black folks who would rather go to theologically unsound churches can play a huge role. Lets make this an issue of the  cross and adopt the heart of God!