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Ephesians 2:14 – Racial Churches
Even those not historians are usually familiar with the advice, “Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them.” Clarence Darrow observed, “History repeats itself, that’s one of the things that’s wrong with history.”
What mistake am I talking about? Christians separating themselves into separate churches along racial lines.
Africans were forcibly sold by their own race of people, and bought by different and distant races. A miniority were even later bought by their own race. Past Americans share in that shame with the tribes of Africans who sold their enemies. Slavery is no more, partly due to the advice heeded by many given by our Lord – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12).
After slavery, segregation ensued. Lawmakers enacted laws, but laws do not change hearts (Matthew 5-7). Attitudes of the time led to segregation, even in churches. Martin Luther King boldly declared that the most segregated time in America was on Sunday morning! Whites and blacks, unable to worship together due to hate, claimed to worship the God of love.
Today, segregation in churches still exists somewhat, but not because of hate. We inherited a system of segregation. Yes, Whites and Blacks worship together in many churches, but many towns still have the predominantly White church across town from the Black church. We visit one another; support each other and fellowship each other – but history, economics, and styles keep many apart. While some make an effort to reconcile, others see no need. Too many caucasians meet in their big, new buildings, while too many of their non-white brethren have a dilapidated meeting house. In many urban areas, “white flight” leaves just a few of the old guard trying to hold on to a building meant for hundreds. Across town, the black church thrives, separately, and often crowdedly in their too small building. Although the United States Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional the “separate but equal” status quo, many churches today are still voluntarily living in such a world.
Today, another group of people is rushing to our shores. Yes some are illegal. But many are legal. Voluntarily they come, looking for freedom, and a better life. The question is – will they be segregated? Latino’s are becoming, and in some places already are, the largest minority group in America. A typical Hispanic family is often three generations. The grandparents speak little if any English. The parents are bilingual, though Spanish is their first language. The children are also bilingual, but English is their primary tongue.
It would be easy to let them worship in their own churches. Within the same town we could have the White church, the Black church, and the Spanish church. It would be easy, but is it right? Goethe said, “Sin writes histories, goodness is silent.” We who are in the majority, in race, language, and culture, need to open up our minds, hearts and lives to those who are different. And we need to make the first move.
When the N.T. was being written, there were congregations filled with different races, languages, and cultures. And yet we never see a letter written to the Jewish church with another letter written to the Gentile church down the road in the same town. The point then was, “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall” (Ephesians 2:14). When did it all change? Or should we, as the Baptist Creed declares accept, “…but now it is different.”
A more racially and culturally diverse road is the future. Where this road will lead us? Abraham left his home and traveled to a strange land, “not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8). More importantly than knowing where he was going, he knew with Whom he was going. We could sit back and demand that everyone wanting to become part of us must bend to our American and white ways, or we could become all things to all men (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). We in noninstitutional congregations decried being left out. We pleaded for tolerance. We asked for concessions for the sake of unity. Those disagreements were in the realm of doctrine. Today we must welcome people of different cultures, languages and skin color. We also must be willing to serve, be tolerant, and give scriptural concessions. We might be somewhat uncomfortable in doing the same thing in a different way (1 Corinthians 9:20-23). I do not know what the future holds, but I do believe in Him who holds the future.
Let’s learn from the mistakes of the past. Let’s worship with each here on earth so we can worship with each other for an eternity. Instead of having a church of Whites, a church of Blacks, and a church of Hispanics, why don’t we just have a church of Christ?
Well said brother! Praying that many will read this article and take it to heart!