The last two weeks there is a whole lot of talk about racism, with protest and riots over a tragic and senseless death of George Floyd. It has been making me question my own heart in regard to race. Some organizations will make you begin to question your own racial heart intent. 

I was raised by both my mother and father not to look at the color of another person.  Even though my father lived during an era where it was prevalent. A portion of my dad’s early years he was raised in New York City, where cultures were divided into neighborhoods. He never allows us to take on these views. My brother during the 70 had a different cultural girlfriend without issue from my family.  

In my early teens, my mother and father assisted the local black theater company to have access and performances on the main stage of our local civic theatre. They were both were offered roles in the production on The Great White Hope a play about a black boxer in 1910.  I remember the lead actor was a muscular, tall, bald-headed man.  As a 12-year-old, I would follow him around in amazement and respect, not because of his color but his size and strength. 

I have sat under the authority of black pastors, have many black friends. I have tried my whole life not looking at color but character.  This is how we taught and raised our daughter, so when she when on a date with a black man I never thought of as a black man, just someone dating my daughter. 

We are made to feel that if we don’t 100% agree with these fore mention organizations, it does not make me a racist. I follow God and determine in my heart to love everyone as God loves them. 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭ESV

Pastor Sue, a friend of our minister from this passage recently and gave me a fresh perspective. If you take the word LOVE and replace the word JESUS in the passage. We will see how Jesus walks out His love for all people.

JESUS is patient and kind; JESUS does not envy or boast; HE is not arrogant or rude. HE does not insist on its own way; HE is not irritable or resentful; HE does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. JESUS bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

If we really desire to be like Christ we can check your own heart to see if you are truly walking in love. Replace love with your own name. 

We can not look at our past good works or what your forefathers might have done to justify or judge your current action of love. We need to look at our current action the lens of love.  The love that Jesus walkout.  

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John‬ ‭13:35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Love for one another” is not referring to just people that are like you, but all people. Israel was to be a light to the nations if they would have a love like this the world would of notices. Could we become that nation that will love to that level?

This will only come through understanding one another. I love the opportunity to sit with others from other cultures and nations to understand more about people. To love takes effort on your part.

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭ESV

APPLICATION

• Always check your heart to see if you are holding on to cultural division.
  • If so repent, and ask God to give you a new lens of love to look through.
  • Find another Christian person from that culture and sit down and talk, repent, and pray together.
• Began to love one another as Christ