Last Wednesday, after sharing and repenting of my own judgmentalism, prejudices and racism with MissionGTA, I felt led to do the same for Life-Spring Family at our time of intercession. This is an extension to the rest of the Family with a closer look at the passage in Ephesians 2.
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 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, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Racism has raised its ugly head since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. It sparked demonstrations protesting against racial injustice in more than 400 cities across America and the world.
Definition of racism – Oxford Dictionary – “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.”
Racism is a problem we cannot ignore. It has been an issue throughout history. Even in the Bible, we see the division between Jews and Gentiles. What could we learn from the Bible concerning the ministry of reconciliation, a possible answer to racism?
Reconciliation is the removal of prejudices and the restoration of a relationship to healthy understanding and appreciation for each other or between people groups. – (adapted from newspring.cc)
The ministry of reconciliation is crucial because our God is a reconciling God. The Gospel, at its core, is a message of reconciliation. In fact, we who were once dead in sins, and separated from God, is now reconciled to Him through the Lord’s work of redemption on the cross. Thereafter, He has committed to us the message and ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
Lessons from Ephesians 2 (focusing on v.14-18):
- Jesus is our Peace. He is the Prince of Peace. He has reconciled the two estranged parties into one. Jesus brings peace when there is strife.
- He has destroyed the barrier, broken down all dividing walls of hostility. Paul stated in Romans 10:12 – “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.”
- He has put aside the system of law with its commandments and regulations. This shows that all legalistic institutions cannot fulfil the work of reconciliation.
- The reconciliation has to be “in Himself” – it has to be “in Christ.” Without Christ, there is no true reconciliation.
- It has to be done “through the cross.” It is at the cross, that we begin to see our sin of pride that put ourselves as superior or better than others. It is at the cross, that we are given the opportunity to repent, receive forgiveness from God and put things right.
- Christ preached the message of peace. Today the church, that is called to be the ambassador of Christ, has to preach the message of peace to those far and near.
- Through Christ, the reconciliation is not only between 2 estranged groups, but they are also reconciled to God, and given access to Him by the Holy Spirit. We all need to be reconciled to God for only through His love could peace and harmony be maintained.
What then should be the church’s response? 1 Peter 4:17 – For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God… It begins with acknowledging our implicit bias, racism, etc.
- Search our own heart – ask the Holy Spirit to show us of any hidden and subtle attitudes or assumptions that are discriminating. (Psalm 139:23-24)
- Repent of our own judgmentalism, prejudices and racism.
- Some of these could be generational – meaning we are influenced by our ancestors to have such attitudes. Then we need to forgive our ancestors for passing these to us, and repent to God for our family lines.
- If our family has been hurt or harmed by another people group (e.g. my family suffered under the Japanese), we need to forgive those people groups.
- Ask God to heal and restore us with His love so that we could love others with His love.
- Intentionally love everyone as Christ loves them. – honor one another as one whom God created in His image, and as one whom Christ died for.
- Be the church that God wants us to be. Practise the fruit of the Spirit, especially on those who are different from us. (Galatians 5:22-23 – now we know why we are memorizing it! 😊)
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, please reveal to me any hidden attitude and assumption that I have that leads to my prejudice and judgement of another person, or people group. I repent of my pride that puts myself as better than others. Please forgive me and my family for these ungodly attitudes and sins. We choose to forgive all those who have hurt us in the past. Lord, please heal me and my family of all these hurts, and fill us with Your love. Open our eyes to see the value that You see in each person that we meet. Help us to accept and love each person as one who is created in God’s image and one whom Christ has died for. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: He is Our Peace