From The Greatest Story Ever Told - Simon of Cyrene,
an African carries the cross of a Jew
an African carries the cross of a Jew
Today, reply is made that racism and other operations of sin do not display an authentic image of GOD. Only those belonging to Christ through his death on the cross and their receiving of the Holy Spirit will be admitted into heaven as the redeemed of Christ. The imparted Spirit of GOD has never been the origin of arrogance, cruelty, injustice, exaggerated pride, and selfishness such as we see in expressions of racism. Diversity and plurality appear throughout the history of those blessed by GOD as partners in covenant relationship. Thus, we see a mixed multitude (Gentiles) also left Egypt with Moses and the twelve tribes of Jacob; and those who received the Holy Ghost at Pentecost were from various cultures, language groups, and nations. Bigotry and prejudice come against balance, edification, godliness, and the healthy growth of church congregations in the same way as idolatry, inordinate affection and hate, false witness, presumption, counterfeit judgment, and fear. The racism that may continue to exist indefinitely within developing Christians is usually suppressed and effectively eliminated by the believer carrying out the will of GOD, demonstrating obedience to divine law instead of self-will, and achieving their own highest possible level of spiritual maturity before being instantly transformed at the coming of Jesus. A young fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Jonathan” (Level 1 with 98 points, a member since October 18, 2014) posted the following:
Would racists be accepted in heaven?
Here s the catch: My dad is a Christian. Even Christians make mistakes and are imperfect, like all of us because we are human. I acknowledge that fact, but I don t tolerate the fact that my dad is a Christian who s racist. I know that God wouldn t accept any hatred or superiority of people in heaven. But would God accept racists?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17: 24-31, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Accepting Christ, Accepting Change (10/20/2017); Joy, Survival and Worship (06/21/2017); Fulfillment of His Dream? (04/05/2017); No Less GOD’s Creation (12/01/2016); Diversity and Divine Purpose (08/28/2016); Can Christians Be Racists? (07/25/2016); Not Yet Delivered From Racism? (12/21/2014); Racism Is Not From GOD (12/22/2014)
“Jonathan”, our lessons from Creation include the incredible variety of the rose and the tulip. The requirements and standards for entrance into heaven do not center on attitudes, behavior, and issues that are carnal, material, secular, and social. Foremost is containing and actively displaying the image of GOD that appears through a full endowment of divine “life essence” (breath, spirit, word). The process of salvation is to establish mankind with the oneness without sameness that exists among the persons of the GODhead (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit). The conflicts, disputes and divisions that arise through ethnic arrogance, bigotry, hate crimes, and racism have the same effect as iniquity and transgressions of sacred law. Like the operations of sin, evil surmising (i.e., distrust, intolerance, slander, suspicion), gossip, and prejudice oppose the fulfillment of eternal purposes; corrupt the necessary continuity of communication, exchange and interaction that are established through praise and prayer; and disrupt the transforming relationships with divinity (e.g., adoption, fellowship, priesthood, rebirth, stewardship).
The work of the final judgment is to identify those who will be eternal companions to an immortal, incorruptible GOD as well as those that must be totally destroyed because they can no longer be separated from sin. Inseparable aspects of the divine makeup will appear within those who are ripe (mature) for the harvest and return of Jesus Christ (we say, the Rapture, the Second Coming). Included are faith, forbearance, longsuffering, lovingkindness, respect, reverence, wisdom, and wrath against sin. Many of the operations of GOD to accomplish the recovery of Creation from sin are fixed, immutable and unchanging. There must be divine order, predetermined conditions, and well-tested structure. Even so, there also is diversity that provides flexibility, fluidity, and freshness.
Accepting and acknowledging differences are a nonnegotiable duty within the body of Christ (the church). The work of the Gospel goes beyond celebrating, rejoicing, and sharing good things. The new life as a believer also includes enduring hardship, unselfish giving to others, passing through periods of darkness, overcoming persecution, resisting sin, continuing to show resilience in spite of temptations and trial, and suffering. Those “born again” must “grow up again” to assist and serve one another as the divine offspring containing the “active presence” who is GOD. Thereby sinners become believers, and believers are never alone or separated from the fullness of GOD. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Galatians 3: 27-29, King James Version (KJV): 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
(2.) Colossians 3: 9-15, KJV: 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
(3.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
There is far more to be said, correctly practiced by those who believe, properly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Malachi 3: 16-18, KJV: 16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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