Church attendance, cultural practices, and racial differences among congregations are the topics, today. A “Yahoo! Answers” fighter using the ID “Keith” (Level 7 with 25,811 points, a member since September 16, 2013) posted the following:
Christians: Why attend Black church or white church:?
Segregation on a Sunday morning?
WWJD and does it matter?
Update : The reason I asked, is based on a comment recently, by a so-called Christian, that the black churches are loud and different to the quieter churches, found it offensive personally. Since we should not criticize others based on what we do not understand or based on bias--viewed as being un-Christlike!
THE GOLDEN ARROW: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4: 4-7, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Sin of Pride? (08/13/2014); Choosing a Church? (05/31/2014); Church is Good? (06/15/2013); Feeling Loved By GOD? (06/16/2013); A Spirit Church? (04/04/2013); My Brother’s Keeper (04/05/2013); Issues for Children’s Church? (04/06/2013); Attending Church? (11/12/2012); A Holy Kiss? (11/13/2012); Escape from Racism (10/24/2012); Christians Who Ignore GOD’s Laws (10/25/2012)
“Keith”, here are a few points important to spiritual growth and participation in communities of faith that may be useful:
(1.) Christian believers are called to become “new creatures” on the basis of their fellowship with other believers, their daily lifestyle, their intimate communication with GOD (we say, prayer life), their sacred knowledge, and their content of divinity received by baptism (i.e, death of ones inborn spirit, rebirth containing spirit substance from the makeup of GOD). For that reason, many embrace openness and racial integration as a “no brainer.” Ethnic lines and barriers are erased through communion and sharing.
(2.) Church attendance is a sacred practice (some say, sacrament) that permit’s the acknowledgment, increase, and nourishment of a believers spirit content. Church attendance is at once a duty, and a privilege. Believers are further cleansed, corrected and supplied for service to GOD.
(3.) The church founded by Jesus Christ is not intended to answer all the carnal, emotional, material, and social features of life in the earth, so much as to establish a spiritual foundation that generates inner awareness, control and discipline for the ongoing management of ones life. Although believers are born again, they must all “grow up” again, and endure the same “growing pains” that challenge everyone who lives in the earth. On the surface, experiencing faith through our families, with peers, and in our living communities seems to be only a matter of convenience, cultural arrogance, remaining within ones “comfort zone,” errors of ethnic pride, and self-promotion. However, removing the many obstacles to trust toward GOD are an essential feature for endurance, growth, shared communication, and effective service to GOD.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Spiritual redemption, perfection, salvation, and sanctification are not a result of social exchange and interaction. Divine process must be continued by the Spirit of GOD that alters and permanently transforms the believer, who must be made immortal and incorruptible to have place as an eternal companion to divinity. Properly discerned (i.e., recognized and responded to in terms of ones own spirit content), the differences in expression among congregations pertain to their needs and provisions. A long-standing imbalance for economic, educational, political, and other opportunities has been in place between blacks and whites around the world for thousands of years. Thus, the existing damage imposed by finite beings upon one another through the operations of self-will, sin and ungodliness will likely be eliminated only through the coming of Christ to govern the earth as Messiah—the Second Coming.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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