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ISBN 1-58119-034-4
Cover Design: Graphic Advertising Layout: Beth Close
Acknowledgements
This work is dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ without whom acceptance by God and oneness with one another would not be possible. We would like to acknowledge our pastor, Rev. Greg Kittredge of River Hill Church(Clarksville, Maryland). Thank you for exercising the humility and courage to begin breaking racial and denominational barriers in our community. You are a blessing to us. To our deceased mothers, Mrs. Monzella Saunders and Rev. Bessie Leak-Tindal, thank you for raising us in the fear of God and teaching us to seek the kingdom first in all that we do. To our dads, Elijah Saunders, M.D., and the late Pastor Elbert Leak, thank you for rearing us in the church that we might learn the ways of God. To Rev. Marion Cattrel (Aunt Marion), thank you for your prayers. To Rev. Bob Mumford and Rev. Luther Blackwell whom we do not know personally. However, through the teachings you gave on reconciliation about a decade ago in Washington, D.C., we were inspired to learn more about the Bible’s instructions on breaking barriers in the body of Christ. Also, to Rev. Jim and Carol Cymbala and The Brooklyn Tabernacle church. We believe your ministry exemplifies God’s idea of Spirit-filled life and community. God bless you.
About the Authors
JEAN LEAK, M.S., R.N., L.P.C.
Ms. Jean Leak is a registered nurse and licensed pastoral counselor who trains and practices in the Maryland area. She is cofounder and director of Guide Health, Education, and Research Consultants of Maryland, a consultant service to faith-based communities and human service agencies which desire to integrate facets of ministry practices with health prevention and educational initiatives. Ms. Leak has a wide range of experience in the fields of health, mental health, and ministry. She received her bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University and her master’s degree from Evangelical Theological Seminary. Ms. Leak is currently completing her doctorate in counseling psychology through Cornerstone University. In association with the co-author, Dr. Donna Saunders, Ms. Leak recently completed a collaborative study on Teen Challenge’s drug treatment program which looked at the effects of religious drug treatment on psychological risk factors of late adolescent and young adult males. The results of this study are currently being submitted for publication. Ms. Leak has also served on research teams regarding studies dealing with high-risk teen pregnancies at such health institutions as the University of Maryland Medical Systems and the Johns Hopkins University. As an ordained minister, speaker, and trainer, Ms. Leak has spoken to churches, retreats, and conferences on a variety of spiritual growth topics such as overcoming depression, understanding addictions from a theological perspective, and women’s issues in faith experience. Ms. Leak brings a wealth of experience and skill to this project as an African-American and a committed minister of reconciliation.
DONNA SAUNDERS, Ph.D., C.P.C., A.A.C.
Dr. Donna Saunders is cofounder of Guide Health, Education, and Research Consultants and serves as subcontractor for several healthcare and research firms in the Maryland area. Dr. Saunders has earned two doctorates of philosophy, one from Howard University with a concentration in counseling psychology and one from Evangelical Theological Seminary with a concentration in clinical pastoral counseling. She also has a wide range of certifications in the field of counseling psychology and pastoral counseling. Dr. Saunders has devoted her career to tracking the relationship between spirituality, health, and social change specifically concentrating her research on the application of religious/spiritual practices in personal and public health prevention with emphasis being placed on the faith community’s role in prevention efforts. Dr. Saunders has spoken to a wide range of audiences including Harvard University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Wheaton College, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Howard University School of Medicine, National Institute for Drug Abuse, and the Department of Defense. Media appearances have included Essence magazine, Howard University Television’s Evening Exchange, Maryland Public Television, and several radio programs throughout the country including the Robert Schuller Hour. Dr Saunders has recently completed a collaborative study of Teen Challenge’s religious drug treatment program which examined the effects of religious treatment on psychological risk factors of late adolescent and young adult males. The results of this study are currently being submitted for publication. Dr. Saunders has a passion for mobilizing the faith community (the church) toward health prevention and social change and is committed to the ministry of reconciliation.
About the Consultant
Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee is president emeritus of Living Free Ministries. He has served as a consultant to Dr. Saunders and Ms. Leak in the development of this curriculum. He is the author of Understanding the Times and several small group studies published by Living Free Ministries.
One Nation Under God
Session 1 One Nation: One in Christ
Session 2 One Nation: New Creation, New Relations
Session 3 One Nation: Christ as Center
Session 4 One Nation: Divided History, United Future
Session 5 One Nation: Breaking the Barriers (I)
Session 6 One Nation: Breaking the Barriers (II)
Session 7 One Nation: Breaking the Barriers (III)
Session 8 One Nation: Ruled by One Spirit for the Common Good
Session 9 One Nation: Making Christ Visible Through Love in Action
Lesson Topics and Objectives
One Nation Under God
Topic
One Nation: One in Christ
Biblical Theme
God’s standard for race relations (Ephesians 2:11-22)
One Nation: New Creation, New Relations
One Nation: Christ as Center
One Nation: Divided History, United Future
One Nation: Breaking the Barriers (I)
One Nation: Breaking the Barriers (II)
One Nation: Breaking the Barriers (III)
One Nation: Ruled by One Spirit for the Common Good
God’s standard for race relations (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)
God’s standard for race relations (Colossians 1:15-19)
Historical roots of racism (Genesis 11:1-8)
Uprooting racial division— addressing the problem of prejudice (John 4:4-29)
Uprooting racial division— the importance of prayer (Acts 10: 1-6, 9-16, 30-34)
The enabling role of the Holy Spirit, His character, His intentions (1 Corinthians 12:1-27)
One Nation: Making Christ Visible Through Love in Action
From awareness to action (John 17:11, 20-23, 13:35; Acts 2:44-47)
Introduction Workbook
This nine-week study pursues the subject of race reconciliation, a highly sensitive but important topic to be addressed in the body of Christ. Christ has made us one as believers through His shed blood at Calvary (Ephesians 2:14). The problem is that we fail to experience this oneness in our Christian lives, particularly in the area of race reconciliation. It has been said that 11 o’clock Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of our Christian existence because Caucasians are in one church while African-Americans and other racial groups are in other churches. The notion that “never the twain shall meet” has become the prevailing reality among the various ethnic groups in the body of Christ. The fact is that there are consequences for division of any kind. Jesus stated, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25). This obvious truth applies to the body of Christ. Regardless of the power that God has given us to triumph over the gates of hell and to witness God’s power to a dying world,
such power will not be experienced under the weight of division, particularly racial division. The foundational truth for this entire process then is oneness in Christ. As a group member, you can be used of God in moving group members into the experience of race reconciliation (Ephesians 2:1415). This entails openness to God’s correction in your own life as it relates to this topic given that you can only guide others to places where you have gone or are willing to go. This entails a willingness to let the Holy Spirit teach you how to be an active minister of reconciliation. The Bible lessons to be discussed in the next nine weeks will enable the Holy Spirit to accomplish this work in you. Some additional pointers to guide your participation in this group are:
• PREPRAYER – Prepare for each session with prayer to God for wisdom, guidance, and understanding on how to minister reconciliation to one another. This also means careful and diligent study of the lesson texts and homework assignments prior to the given session.
• PRESENT – May we present ourselves with Godgiven conviction yet gentleness of spirit applying Jesus’ instructions to His disciples to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16b KJV).
• PURSUE – Apply what you learn in each lesson to your own life so that you may share in the testimony that through Christ and by His Holy Spirit, we indeed are made one new man.
1Session One Nation: One in Christ
Welcome
Welcome to our One Nation Under God Group. You have taken a positive step. We thank God for you.
Take 30 minutes each day to be alone with God in meditation and prayer. Read Ephesians 1 and 2. Write a personal prayer about race reconciliation based on Ephesians 1:18.
Personal Preparation: Getting Ready for Session One
Self-Awareness
Imagine yourself as a 13-year-old child who has to move to a foreign land with your missionary parents. You have been taken out of a school that you were familiar with and away from your friends. In this foreign land, you don’t look, act, or speak like everybody else. You are regarded as a stranger and are mocked and made fun of by all the kids your age.
Personal Notes
How would you respond in this situation?
How would you feel?
How would you likely do in school because of this situation?
What would you need in order to be comfortable with your new life in this foreign land?
We all have a need to feel accepted and be regarded as an equal, particularly when we are in a new and strange environment. There are things we can do to help people different from ourselves to feel accepted.
Even more important than being accepted by people that we like is being accepted by God.
What are some ways that acceptance by God and acceptance by people are alike?
How is acceptance by God different from acceptance by people?
S piritual-Awareness
On our journey toward oneness in the body of Christ, we will visit different locations in Scripture to increase our spiritual awareness. We will start with a passage that actually teaches about oneness in Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-12
Who is the Apostle Paul addressing here?
What was the predicament of these people before they received Christ?
Ephesians 2:13-14
How did Christ’s death on the cross change their hopeless condition?
What does it mean to destroy a barrier?(v.14)
What does this suggest about how God sees the relationship between Jews and Gentiles?
Ephesians 2:15
Why did Christ destroy the dividing wall of hostility that kept Jews in God’s family and Gentiles out?
Ephesians 2:18
What spiritual benefit did Gentiles receive as a result of the peace that came through Jesus Christ?
Romans 8:15-17
How does the one Spirit, the Holy Spirit, give Gentiles access to the Father?
Ephesians 2:21-22
Why did(is) Christ join(ing) Jews and Gentiles together as one new man created in Him?
What happens if we as believers do not allow Christ to build us up together?
Ephesians 2:19-20
What is the new status of Gentiles who are believers in Christ?
Who are the Gentiles the Apostle Paul is addressing today?
How does the gospel of Jesus Christ break down barriers that divide people by race? (Read Ephesians 2:13-14.)
Why is it that some churches maintain dividing walls that keep certain people out and other people in?
How can this problem be overcome?
How does your church family treat people who are socially or racially different?
How should believers treat people who are socially or racially different? (Ephesians 2:19).
If God were speaking to your church family about being one in Christ, would He give words of praise or rebuke?
What is every Christian’s relationship to every other Christian regardless of race, gender, social class, etc.?
What is your role in helping your local church family show unity in Christ?
Application
How can you show God’s love to an outsider this week?
To what Christian individuals or groups who are different from you could you extend the peace of Christ this week?
How?
What do you want to receive during this course?
Write a prayer based on Psalm 139:23-24.
2Session One Nation: New Creation, New Relations
Personal Preparation: Getting Ready for Session Two
Take 30 minutes each day to be alone with God in meditation and prayer. Read 2 Corinthians 5 and Philippians 3. According to 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, God has given us a ministry.
You have been given the opportunity to live on another planet for one year to experience and explore what life is like there. What is unique about this planet (called Innocence) is that no crime exists here. You are told that locks are not used for doors because there are no burglaries and that banks are not used for the safekeeping of money because no one steals. In fact, the whole planet is built on trust and faith in one another.
Personal Notes
Objective
a. That group members will better understand what it means to be new creatures in Christ.
b. That group members will actively pursue the experience of doing away with old [worldly] ways of thinking and embrace new [Christcentered] ways of thinking about themselves: their past, present, and future; and those of others in the body of Christ.
How trusting would you feel about leaving your valuables (camera, money, science equipment, etc.) in your new “unlocked” living quarters? (Explain your answer.)
For those who would have difficulty trusting immediately, what would it take for you to become as trusting as the rest of the people on this planet?
For many people, entering into “family relationships” with persons of other cultures is like entering another world, another planet where people dance to a beat that is unfamiliar. This takes some getting used to. The fears associated with such an experience are a normal part of the process.
Give some reasons why people resist new experiences.
How do these reasons apply to new experiences in our spiritual lives?
We can often resist growth in Christ because we are afraid of failure or afraid that God will do something to devastate us. Sometimes we are merely satisfied to stay in our place of immaturity because it is comfortable and involves less responsibility. Whatever the reason, these resistances serve as hindrances to growth and should be overcome through faith and determination. While acknowledging the normalcy of these reasons, we can also see the importance of dealing with them appropriately.
Are new experiences easy for you?
We can help each other face the challenge of new life and experience in Christ with boldness and courage rather than avoid it because of fear. We can help each see that the true rewards of being a Christian are experienced by those who are willing to “boldly go where no one has gone before.”
Spiritual-Awareness
As we continue on our journey toward oneness in Christ, we will look at what the Lord teaches about being a new creature in Christ. We will also explore how this teaching should influence our perception of God, ourselves, and others in the body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
We should regard no one from a “worldly point of view.” (v.16)
What does it mean to regard people from a “worldly point of view”?
Ephesians 2:1-6
At what point in our lives did we look on others from a fleshly (worldly) point of view?
Ephesians 2:14-15; Colossians 3:17
Now that we are in Christ, how are we as believers to look upon others, particularly fellow believers? Why?
Why is it sometimes difficult not to look upon others from a “worldly point of view?”
Romans 6:6-7, 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Galatians 5:17
What are the consequences of being worldly minded in our thinking concerning ourselves and others?
2 Corinthians 5:17
New creations: “The old has gone, the new has come!”
What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says that we who are in Christ are new creations?
How is being a new creature different from being a repaired, refurbished, or reformed creature?
Why does God make us brand new creatures rather than reform us as old creatures?
Philippians 3:2-9
Compare this passage with 2 Corinthians 5:17. Describe.
What were Paul’s credentials before he received Christ? (vv.5-6)
How did Paul regard his credentials after he had received Christ? (v.7)
How did Paul view his putting “confidence in the flesh?”(v.7)
How does this truth about “old things” being past away apply to your life, particularly as it relates to race reconciliation?
What are some “confidence in the flesh” issues that confront you?
Colossians 3:5-17; Galatians 5:16
According to these passages, how do we as believers accomplish the task of seeing old things as passed away and seeing everything in our lives as new?
What old things in your life have past away and been replaced by new things since you have become a Christian? How has the change made your life better?
What old things do you struggle with letting go and allowing the Lord to replace them with the new? What makes it difficult for you to let go?
3Session One Nation: Christ as Center
Personal Preparation: Getting Ready for Session Three
Take 30 minutes each day to be alone with God in meditation and prayer. Read Isaiah 6 and Colossians 1. In Colossians 1:22 we see that the believer is reconciled through Christ’s death. How is the believer presented?
S elf-Awareness
Steve Irkle of the sitcom Family Matters went away to college for a brief period to study science. The college he attended was full of geniuses, most of whom looked, dressed, and acted like Steve (high-water slacks, glasses, a cackling laugh which ended in a snort). Consequently, the Steve that was once regarded as a nerd in high school was now an admired hero in college. He was “in.” Being the intelligent person that you are, you also enrolled in this
Personal Notes
Objective
That group members will focus on Christ as the supreme center of their faith and actions. As group members, we can help each other see Christ’s lordship as the basis of our commitment to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters from all cultural and social backgrounds. We can help each other to recognize that as the saying goes, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross” so that everyone stands equal in status in the eyes of Christ.
school of geniuses However, you did not fit the stereotype because you dressed “cool.” As a matter of fact, you were the admired hero in your high school because you were so fashionable. Your fashionable look led these college students to conclude that you were like all of the other jazzy people they left in high school: all beauty and no brains. They are sure you will fail in this college because you do not have the brains to succeed.
Are these students judging your ability to succeed in this school fairly and correctly? Explain your answer.
In the final analysis, how will the school determine whether you can succeed or fail?
What could happen to you if the school dropped its grading standards and let your fellow students decide whether you qualified to pass or fail?
Consequently, why is a standard so important for determining how we should be treated?
Just as there are standards by which our righteousness, guilt, or innocence is judged in the eyes of the world, so there are standards for judging our righteousness in the eyes of God. Consequently, persons who are well-respected and highly regarded in the eyes of the world can be viewed very differently in God’s eyes. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:912 that there is no one righteous and that all [people], both Jews and Greeks, are under sin. The prophet Isaiah backs this up by saying that “all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). This means that all of us need forgiveness and salvation in the eyes of God regardless of our social status or ethnic background. We all stand in need of God’s plan to save us through Jesus’s death on the cross. Indeed, the ground is level at the foot of the cross and we all are in equal standing before God, deserving of His wrath yet recipients of His grace through God’s standard of righteousness, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s learn more about who He is.
S piritual-Awareness
Now we will look at the supremacy of Christ and our place in the presence of God.
Christ, the Supreme Standard of Righteousness
Colossians 1:15-23
Who is Christ in light of all creation? (vv.15-17)
Who is Christ in relation to the entire Church of Jesus Christ? (v.18)
Who is Christ in relation to God? (v.19)
How much importance should we place on Christ’s opinion of us and others who are different from us (persons of another race, gender, or economic status)?
Man’s Place in the Presence of God
Isaiah 6:1-5
Describe what Isaiah saw in verses 1-4.
What did Isaiah mean by “woe to me” in verse 5?
How did Isaiah see himself and his people after seeing the Lord?
In the same way, in what condition are we in the presence of God without Christ?
Is anyone righteous?
Romans 3:23
In light of Christ’s sovereignty and holiness and on the basis of this passage, can anyone of us claim greater righteousness before God than someone else for any reason? Explain.
John 8:1-9
Based on this story, how does Christ respond to people who regard the sinfulness of others as greater than their own?
Ephesians 2:4-6
What three things make us acceptable to God?
Was there anything we had, anything about us, or any work that we did that made us acceptable to God?
Ephesians 2:8-9
In light of God’s holiness and His critical and primary role in effecting our salvation through Christ, how important is our race, gender, socioeconomic status, or our worldly achievements?
Application
In addition to being the Supreme Standard of Righteousness, Jesus Christ is our example for words and deeds. His attitude and actions in Philippians 2:5-8 are a pattern for us to follow.
What kind of mind did Jesus have?
How should we apply Christ’s example in our relationships with one another?
4Session One Nation: Divided His-
tory,
Meet With God
Take 30 minutes each day to be alone with God in meditation and prayer. Read Genesis 11 and John 17. Describe Jesus’ goals in John 17:25-26.
S elf-Awareness
Michael McReynolds, who works in the ministry of reconciliation, states: America’s past is littered with examples of a divided nation. The abuse and domination of American Indians, slavery of African-Americans, reconstruction, segregation, confinement camps for Asian-Americans and institutional racism are but a few examples that can be cited.
Much of the same can be said about other countries such as the aboriginal people in Australia. Morrie Thompson, an Australian pastor, states: “But this I know. Australia must own its past; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Repair what it can and move on. We have no future until we reconcile our own past.”
We have heard it said that “those who don’t learn from their history are bound to repeat it.”
Personal Preparation: Getting Ready for Session Four
Personal Notes
Objective
That group members understand:
a. How the races became divided.
b. How to avoid mistakes made in history in order to secure a united future as believers.
What do you think about this statement?
What things has history taught you? (The historical source could be the Bible or modern history stories.)
Have you ever failed to learn from past mistakes? If yes, what happened?
How can we avoid repeating mistakes from the past?
SA good source for learning from history is the Bible. The passage that will be discussed today exemplifies how we can learn lessons from history. See Genesis 11:1-8.
piritual-Awareness
This passage tells us the reason for the scattering and multiple languages and cultures experienced by the inhabitants of the earth. They were unified but for the wrong reason.
Genesis 11:1-8
In what condition was the whole world after the flood? (vv.1-2)
What evidence is seen of the people’s togetherness? (vv.3-4)
What specifically caused the Lord to come down and look at what the people were doing? (vv.4-5)
What were their motives for this project? (v.4)
What did God conclude about the ability of the people to speak one language and be one people? (v.6)
What does this tell us about the power of unity?
What did God do to deal with the people’s oneness? (vv.7-9)
How do you explain the fact that God divided the people in this passage while Jesus prayed for us to be one in John 17:22 ?
What will happen to us if we seek power and success through oneness outside of Christ (racial unity or racism, gender unity or sexism, class unity or classism, denominational unity or denominationalism, political unity, etc.)?
In what ways do you think this statement is true: The Church of Jesus Christ is God’s antidote to the Tower of Babel. In your life, how can you help build toward this Christ-centered unity?
Matthew 23:12
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Based on this passage, what is the best posture to take if we want God to build our lives to fullness?
Application
The lesson of the Tower of Babel teaches how pride can lead to division and ultimate failure. Think of an area in your life in which you are experiencing division with a sister or brother in Christ. Acknowledge specifically an incident and/ or situation(s) where you have failed in the area of reconciliation. Prayerfully examine how pride is playing a role in the division.
Write a prayer of reconciliation which is aimed toward a failure in the area of racial and/or other reconciliation(s).
One Nation: Breaking the Barriers (I) 5Session
eet With God
Take 30 minutes each day to be alone with God in meditation and prayer. Read John 4 and Acts 15. Describe the dispute at the Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15. How was it settled?
Self-Awareness
Today we will be learning about prejudice. Prejudice is the act of prejudging someone on the basis of something other than fact. For example, I assume that a person is unfriendly for some explainable or irrational reason (maybe because of the neighborhood in which they live).
We prejudge people on the basis of how they dress, what their family members are like, stereotypes given by the media of this person’s ethnic group, etc. We are all prone to prejudicial behavior and need the love of God to free us from this tendency.
Personal Preparation: Getting Ready for Session Five
Give some personal examples, if possible, of ways we prejudge people.
Personal Notes
Objective
That group members will better understand what prejudice is and how it blocks us from receiving the blessings of God that are in Christ and in one another.
According to Hebrews 13:2, what is the danger of rejecting or misjudging someone because they are different from you and, in that sense, a stranger to you.
The Bible passage that we will study deals with the problem of prejudice. As we read John 4:4-29, be thinking about how prejudice develops in people’s lives and what are its spiritual consequences.
Spiritual-Awareness
The popular phrase, “What Would Jesus Do” (WWJD), applies here in the way He dealt with prejudice.
Jesus does the unexpected.
John 4:4-29
Why was it such an unusual thing for Jesus to ask this Samaritan woman for something to drink? (vv.7-9)
What is the first reaction of this woman when Jesus asks her for a drink? (v.9)
Based on this woman’s statement to Jesus in verse 9, what assumptions was this woman making about Jesus?
Based on Jesus’s response to this woman in verse 10, what was this woman’s racial prejudice blinding her to? (Also see verses 14 and 20.)
What had to be surrendered by this woman in order for her to receive the living water Jesus was offering her? (You may list more than one thing.)
How did she use religion to support her prejudicial views? (v.20)
In the same way, what must we surrender in order to receive the living water that Jesus wants to give us?
The consequences of rejecting God’s gifts because of prejudice.
What would have been the consequences if the Samaritan woman had rejected Jesus by holding onto her cultural tradition of being prejudice against Jews?
In the same way, what are the consequences that we suffer when we reject the gift of God because of the race, gender, or status in which the gift is wrapped?
Freed from emptiness to fullness in just one encounter. What became of this woman as a result of surrendering her prejudice and receiving the gift of God in Jesus Christ?(v.39)
In the same way, how will surrendering our prejudice and receiving from Jesus affect our lives and testimony?
Application
There are many forms of prejudice that can creep into our lives. Name some other forms of prejudice by which we can be affected.
Describe forms of prejudice you have experienced as both a receiver and a giver.
Jesus taught us to pray to the Heavenly Father like this, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” However it is done in heaven is how God wills for it to be done on earth.
Read Revelation 7:9-10.
How do they worship in Heaven?
What is the heavenly Father seeking for on earth?
6Session
One Nation: Breaking the Barriers (II)
Personal Preparation: Getting Ready for Session Six
Take 30 minutes each day to be alone with God in meditation and prayer. Read Acts 10 and 11. Peter again explains his actions in chapter 11. How did he respond to the accusations in verses 2 and 3?
Personal Notes
Objective
That group members understand and appreciate the critical role of prayer in overcoming racial as well as other kinds of barriers which divide the body of Christ.
What is a comfort zone? A comfort zone refers to a known situation or set of behaviors that is comfortable for an individual (for example, people who are shy find silence to be their comfort zones; that is, they are comfortable being quiet).
Today’s lesson deals with moving out of one’s comfort zone to experience the deeper truths of God.
When have you ever been challenged to come out of your comfort zone? Describe.
How did it make you feel to come out of your comfort zone?
When you were challenged to leave your comfort zone, how did the experience benefit you?
Today we will be learning about someone who had to move out of his comfort zone in order to discern the will of God.
Please turn to Acts 10 and someone read verses 1-6, then read verses 9-16, and finally read verses 30-34.
piritual-Awareness
In this passage we see how God helps us to break out of our comfort zones into insights, vision, and new friendships.
God hears the sincere prayer of the sinner.
Who was Cornelius? (v.1)
According to verse 4, why did the angels come to Cornelius?
Why was the angel’s instruction for Cornelius to send for Peter so unusual? (v.5)
God prepares the way through prayer.
While Cornelius is being instructed by the angel, the scene switches to Peter.
What is Peter doing when the vision comes to him? (v.9)
What did Peter see in his vision? (vv.11-13)
Why did Peter object to eating the food that was set before him? (v.14)
How do you imagine Peter felt when he was asked to eat this food given his strict Jewish background?
What was God referring to when He told Peter, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean”? (v.15)
What was Peter’s discovery after he met Cornelius and heard about his angelic visitation?(vv.34-35)
What do you imagine Peter, a staunch Jew, felt about this discovery?
After Peter realized God was opening the way for people of all nations to come to Christ, he proceeded to preach the gospel to Cornelius and his household.
What was the result? Explain its significance. (vv.45-48)
What role did prayer play in this historical event?
Application
Think about the important role that prayer played in destroying the barrier between Peter (a Jew) and Cornelius (a Gentile).
In the same way, what role will prayer play in our efforts to overcome racial (and other) barriers in the body of Christ? (Explain your answer.)
Peter could be nicknamed “The Reluctant Apostle of Racial Reconciliation.” What are some reasons why you may be reluctant to be involved in the ministry of racial reconciliation?
What scriptural solutions does God provide to help you overcome your reluctance to pursue unity in the Body of Christ?
See 2 Timothy 1:7 and Hebrews 4:15-16.
Write down a prayer to God which seeks His help in destroying any barrier in your life.
7Session
One Nation: Breaking the Barriers (III)
eet With God
Take 30 minutes each day to be alone with God in meditation and prayer. Read Galatians 2 and 6. Describe the hope found in Galatians 6:9 for those who continue to do what is right.
On an episode of the Wonder Years, Kevin Arnold (the star) tells the story of a girl in his class who took a liking to him when he was in the seventh grade. This girl was not very popular because of her looks and goofy way of acting. She wore three pigtails, had Coke-bottle glasses, and incessantly talked about the weirdest things (her collection of pet insects and reptiles which were rather disgusting). As fate would have it, Kevin and this girl were placed together by the gym teacher in their square dance class. While she was delighted about this arrangement, Kevin was embarrassed because of what his friends thought about the girl. Despite his embarrassment, S elf-Awareness
Personal Preparation: Getting Ready for Session Seven
Personal Notes
Objective
That group members recognize that racial bigotry or any other form of bigotry is a sin which can spread like cancer in the body of Christ.
Kevin eventually came to like this girl and actually wanted to be friends with her. He, however, feared what his friends would say if he went public about his interest. The solution he proposed was that they become “secret friends”; that is, friends who only talked in private such as on the telephone or at her house. This way he could have the benefit of her friendship and still keep the approval of his friends. As one might expect, this intelligent yet unpopular girl was offended and rejected the idea.
Why did Kevin only want to be secret friends with this girl?
How would you feel about this proposition if you were this girl and why?
Is a secret friend a true friend? Explain your answer. See Proverbs 18:24 and Proverbs 17:17.
SToday we are going to learn about a man who did a similar thing. His name was Peter. Please turn in your Bibles to Galatians 2:11-21.
piritual-Awareness
In this passage we will see how Paul opposes Peter because of hypocrisy toward the Gentiles.
Peter rejects fellowship with his Gentile brothers in the presence of the Jews.
Galatians 2:11-21
What wrong thing did Peter do in this passage? (vv.11-12)
Why did Peter do this? (v.12)
What effect did Peter’s hypocritical actions have on the other Jews present? (v.13)
What does this tell us about the dangers of bigotry in leadership?
Why did the Apostle Paul consider Peter’s actions against the Gentiles to be hypocritical?
Paul confronts Peter for his hypocrisy.
What did the Apostle Paul do when he saw Peter commit this act of hypocrisy against the Gentile brethren? (vv.14-16)
What did Paul mean when he said that Peter’s actions were not in line with the truth? (vv.14-16)
How was Peter’s behavior toward the Gentiles racist and considered unfair treatment?
Racism, discrimination, bigotry, prejudice, etc., are sins against God and one another.
In the same way, how is our discriminatory or unfair treatment of believers on the basis of their race, gender, economic status, or family/legal background sinful and out of line with the word of truth? (vv.14-16)
In 1995, both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Assemblies of God, two of the world’s largest and predominantly Caucasian Protestant denominations, issued statements of reconciliation. These statements acknowledged past racism, asked forgiveness from those offended, and declared a desire to more fully integrate their churches. Other Christian organizations have done likewise.
See resource section for denominational resolutions on Race Reconciliation.
Galatians 6:1
On the basis of Paul’s reaction to Peter’s unfair treatment of the Gentiles, what should we do when we observe a fellow believer treating another believer unfairly because of his/her race, or social background?
Application
Let’s go back to the scene in the Wonder Years that was described at the beginning of the lesson and imagine that Kevin and this little girl were Christians. As a fellow Christian, you see Kevin treating this little girl unfairly by ignoring her when his friends are around. How would you intervene and confront Kevin about his behavior?
8Session
One Nation: Ruled by One Spirit for the Common Good
Take 30 minutes each day to be alone with God in meditation and prayer. Read 1 Corinthians 12 and 13. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 describes spiritual gifts without love. What is Paul’s conclusion?
Personal Preparation: Getting Ready for Session Eight
Based on your interviews this week with fellow believers of different cultures (per facilitators information in session 7), what discoveries did you make about the existence of race discrimination in your local faith community?
How did this discovery make you feel and how do you intend to work to correct this problem in your community with God’s help?
Your hobby is assembling puzzle pieces, pasting them, and putting the assembled puzzle on the wall for display. One day, while you are diligently working on your 1,000-piece puzzle, Dennis the Menace gets hold of one of the puzzle pieces and accidently flushes it down the toilet. You are infu-
Personal Notes
Objective
That group members:
a. Become aware of the governing role of the Holy Spirit in building diverse people into one body.
b. Understand the equal importance each member of the body has and the need to give greater honor to the more feeble parts of the body.
riated by this, and when you tell him of your annoyance, he flippantly says, “I don’t know what the big deal is. It’s only one piece! You’ve got 999 other pieces to work with. Why don’t you be satisfied with that?”
How would this mishap make you feel?
Why would one missing piece be so important to you when there are 999 other pieces?
In what way is the body of Christ like the pieces of this puzzle?
SHow would you imagine it makes God, the master assembler, feel when one member of Christ’s body is excluded by other members (the eye says to the hand, “I don’t need you”)?
piritual-Awareness
Today we are learning about the one who assembles all believers with diverse backgrounds and cultures into one nation.
Turn to 1 Corinthians 12:1-27.
Paul dispels ignorance by teaching about the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:1
What is the first reason Paul gave for writing this chapter? (v.1)
Hosea 4:6
According to the Bible, what is the danger of ignorance concerning the will of God?
1 Corinthians 12:3
By what means did we confess that Jesus Christ was Lord of our lives and thereby become saved? (v.3)
Also see Romans 10:9-10.
Consequently, what is one role of the Holy Spirit among all believers who now belong to the family of God?
How the Holy Spirit operates among believers.
Based on verses 4-6, what are some characteristics of the Holy Spirit (how does He express Himself)?
What does this tell us about the Holy Spirit’s character or personality?
According to verse 7, for what purpose does the Holy Spirit manifest His diverse gifts ? Why is this important?
According to verse 11, can anyone of us because of our race choose which gifts the Holy Spirit will bestow on us? Explain your answer.
Diverse members, one body.
According to verse 18, why are none of us to consider ourselves as misfits in the body of Christ on the basis of our different backgrounds?
Does the fact that we are one mean that we all have to be the same? (Explain your answer using verses 19-20.)
According to verses 21-25, can any one of us regard him/ herself as more important than the other on the basis of our race, or background? Explain.
If we are going to be a healthy body, how must we regard one another, whether the same or different, with respect to importance? (v.25)
On the basis of verses 22-24, if anyone receives the greater honor in the body of Christ, who should it be and why is this significant?
What consequences do we suffer as a body and as individual members if we fail to obey verses 22-25? (Think of a natural body without hands or legs or toes, etc.)
ABased on your answer to the last question in the SpiritualAwareness section, in what ways do you think we as a body of believers are suffering as a result of racial and other division?
How should we apply verses 22-24 to our lives?
Going back to the story of the puzzle, imagine that the one who assembles the puzzle pieces is the Holy Spirit. How do you imagine He feels if one of the pieces is excluded from the puzzle because someone damaged or discarded it? Explain.
9Session
One Nation: Making Christ Visible Through Love in Action
Meet With God
Personal Preparation: Getting Ready for Session Nine
Take 30 minutes each day to be alone with God in meditation and prayer. Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-33. In preparation for the Lord’s Supper, write a prayer based on verses 27-32. Note in particular verse 31.
Personal Notes
Objective
That group members develop concrete plans to make reconciliation a visible reality among one another, each member’s local church, and their surrounding local communities.
A lot of things will be covered in this group session as it is the last one. We will be breaking into smaller groups to develop some action steps toward reconciliation that we will carry to our families and local church communities. In addition, we will have service in which we will affirm our love and commitment to one another and seal it with communion. We will also be completing a telephone list for keeping in touch with one another. This has been an enjoyable yet challenging experience for everyone, and it is hoped that we all will take the things we have learned and make a difference in the body of Christ and the surrounding community as ministers of reconciliation.
A lot has been covered over these past few weeks about God’s plan for us to be reconciled as one body of believers. What was most valuable to you in becoming reconciled to your brothers and sisters of different cultures and backgrounds?
In what way have you changed as a result of this group experience?
In what way do you need to continue to change in the area of reconciliation?
What actions are you willing to take to maintain the changes you have made and those you need to continue to make?
Recognizing the role of planned action in making permanent change, be thinking about some immediate and visible things this group can do to show the world around us that we have changed in order to become more effective ministers of reconciliation.
Describe what you can do.
S piritual-Awareness
The Apostle Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Oneness in Christ transcends ethnic, social, and sexual distinctions.
One as Jesus and the Father are one.
John 17:11, 20-23
In verse 11, Jesus prays that God would protect believers (His disciples) by God’s name and make us one like Jesus and the Father are one.
How are Jesus and the Father one? On the basis of that, how does Jesus pray for us to be one?
Because Jesus made our oneness His prayer, how confident can we be that our efforts to become one will meet with success? Why?
According to verse 23, how will the world know that Jesus is real and the Father sent Him?
What does Jesus mean by “complete unity” in this passage?
How the world knows we are disciples of Christ. John 13:35
In what visible way will the world know that we are one as followers of Christ?
Acts 2:44-47
What did this “love level” of relationship between the believers look like, and what were its tangible benefits?
Why do you suppose the love of these believers for one another convinced the world around them to believe in Jesus and become a part of His body?
Based on what Acts 2:44-47 teaches us about love and complete unity among believers, what practical things can we do as a group to build visible togetherness among one another?
What benefits should a local church expect as a result of applying this passage in its experience as a community?
On the basis of these insights, we will break into groups in the next session to develop a statement of commitment. This statement will describe what we as a group will do to gain and maintain unity among one another using the actions given in Acts 2:44-47. Group 1 will develop concrete plans for how we will share common experiences together (fellowship groups, letters, etc.), Group 2 will develop plans for how we will attune ourselves to the needs of one another and take concrete steps to meet those needs, and Group 3 will develop plans for how we will worship together and share intimate fellowship with one another.
In each group, one group member will write the action plan in a brief paragraph which one of you will read to the group at large at a later point in the session. At the conclusion of the session, the statements will be collected and sent to you. With your consent, the statement of commitment will be reported to your pastor and/or parachurch leader and Living Free so that others in the body of Christ may be aware of what you are doing to pursue oneness and thereby learn of ways to become reconciled.
This is our prayer for you:
“Through this experience of the study of God’s Word, we pray that you more clearly see yourself and other Fellow believers as one in God’s family. By the Holy Spirit, we confess the same Lord, worship the same God, and look forward to dwelling eternally in the same glorified heaven. We pray that each group member will look out for the welfare of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. With God’s power and your diligence, nothing will come between you and other believers. May all of us willingly submit to one another in the body of Christ. May we recognize each other as a man/woman of God. Finally, it is in Christ’s name that from this day forward we face the future as one nation under God, undivided, with liberty and justice for all. Amen.”
At this point, describe final remarks that are on your heart. Write a prayer regarding your remarks.
WHY BOTHER?
AFTER THE DISAPPOINTMENTS OF INTEGRATION, WE NEED A POWERFUL REASON TO PURSUE RECONCILIATION
by Spencer Perkins
(The late Spencer Perkins was President of Reconcilers Fellowship and Editor-in-Chief of Reconcilers Magazine
.)
For black Christians, the question of racial reconciliation has long been moot. White folks made it very clear that they wanted us to stay away from them. When we moved into their neighborhoods, they moved out. When we sent our children to their schools, they built private schools and created white school districts. We have not had to answer the question of racial reconciliation until now.
African Americans approach that question quite differently than Whites do. Many Whites come to the table with a tinge of guilt. It was Whites who enslaved Blacks, not vise-versa. It is Whites who have been, in comparison to Blacks, privileged. It was Whites who refused to let Blacks into their churches after emancipation.
Although guilt-driven motivation does not usually last, it is still a very powerful force. The drive to absolve oneself from the burden of guilt does move people into well-intentioned action.
Blacks, on the other hand, do not have this motivation. In our minds, we didn’t do anything wrong. We just reacted and accommodated ourselves to the white power structure. And the desire for justice does nothing to move African Americans toward relationships with Whites. Many times this leaves white Christians scratching their heads in confusion and wondering why Blacks are not more involved in their reconciliation efforts.
Why should African Americans, who have very little motivation, and Whites, who may be driven by less than pure motives, “sit down at the table of brotherhood (and sisterhood) together”?
There are, of course, sociological reasons to make peace, to tolerate each other, to not hurt each other, and to respect diversity. These are all good things that make the world safer. And the new multi-cultural emphasis on college campuses has guided us in this direction.
But in our quest for racial harmony, I can think of only one reason to move beyond tolerance to go the extra mile—and that is the gospel.
I am often asked by college students, “Are you saying that the only way to have racial reconciliation is through Christ? Do you have to be a Christian?” I have come to believe that the answer to this question is yes.
If I were not a Christian, I wouldn’t bother working for racial reconciliation. I don’t do this out of some do-good, feel-good emotion. I do it because I believe it is what God wants. And because it helps to authenticate my faith.
It is this new reality of reconciliation, not integration or assimilation, that the Apostle Paul was trying to communicate to the Jews and Gentiles in the church at Ephesus. “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility” (Ephesians 2:14-16).
Paul was saying to these new believers that the gospel can do something nothing else has the power to do, and that is to make Jews and Gentiles into one body.
Race and Reconciliation Online, October 2, 1996.
150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
JUNE 20-22, 1995, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Resolution on Racial Reconciliation
WHEREAS, Since its founding in 1845, the Southern Baptist Convention has been an effective instrument of God in missions, evangelism, and social ministry; and WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that “Eve is the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20), and that “God shows no partiality, but in every nation whoever fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him” (Acts 10:34-35), and that God has “made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26); and WHEREAS, Our relationship to African-Americans has been hindered from the beginning by the role that slavery played in the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention; and WHEREAS, Many of our Southern Baptist forebears defended the “right” to own slaves and either participated in, supported, or acquiesced in the particularly inhumane nature of American slavery; and WHEREAS, In later years Southern Baptists failed, in many cases, to support and, in some cases, opposed legitimate initiatives to secure the civil rights of African-Americans; and WHEREAS, Racism has led to discrimination, oppression, injustice, and violence, both in the Civil War and throughout the history of our nation; and
WHEREAS, Racism has divided the body of Christ and Southern Baptists in particular and separated us from our African-American brothers and sisters; and WHEREAS, Many of our congregations have intentionally and/or unintentionally excluded African-Americans from worship, membership, and leadership; and
WHEREAS, Racism profoundly distorts our understanding of Christian morality, leading some Southern Baptists to believe that racial prejudice and discrimination are compatible with the gospel; and
WHEREAS, Jesus performed the ministry of reconciliation to restore sinners to a right relationship with the Heavenly Father and to establish right relations among all human beings, especially within the family of faith.
Therefore, be it RESOLVED, that we, the messengers to the Sesquicentennial meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention assembled in Atlanta, Georgia, June 20-22, 1995, unwaveringly denounce racism, in all its forms, as deplorable sin; and
Be it further RESOLVED, that we affirm the Bible’s teaching that every human life is sacred and is of equal and immeasurable worth, made in God’s image regardless of race or ethnicity (Genesis 1:27), and that, with respect to salvation through Christ, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for (we) are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28); and
Be it further RESOLVED, that we lament and repudiate historic acts of evil such as slavery from which we continue to reap a bitter harvest, and we recognize that the racism which yet plagues our culture today is inextricably tied to the past; and
Be it further RESOLVED, that we apologize to all African-Americans for condoning and/or perpetuating individual and systemic racism in our lifetime; and we genuinely repent of racism of which we have been guilty, whether consciously (Psalm 19:13) or unconsciously (Leviticus 4:27); and
Be it further RESOLVED, that we ask forgiveness from our African-American brothers and sisters, acknowledging that our own healing is at stake; and
Be it further RESOLVED, that we hereby commit ourselves to eradicate racism in all its forms from Southern Baptist life and ministry; and
Be it further RESOLVED, that we commit ourselves to be “doers of the word” (James 1:22) by pursuing racial reconciliation in all our relationships, especially with our brothers and sisters in Christ (I John 2:6), to the end that our light would so shine before others “that they may see (our) good works, and glorify (our) Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16); and
Be it finally RESOLVED, that we pledge our commitment to the Great Commission task of making disciples of all peoples (Matthew 28:19), confessing that in the church God is calling together one people from every tribe and nation (Revelation 5:9), and proclaiming that the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the only certain and sufficient ground upon which redeemed persons will stand together in restored family union as joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
46TH GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
AUGUST 12, 1995, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Resolution on Black Ministries
WHEREAS, The Gospel of Jesus Christ declares God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life; and WHEREAS, The Scriptures have promised that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh; and
WHEREAS, The world for whom Jesus died and the flesh upon which the Spirit is poured out is without regard to ethnicity, class, economic distinction, or gender; and
WHEREAS, The foremost exemplary model of Pentecostal community in the 20th century is the Azusa Revival where leadership and people joined together without regard to ethnicity, providing a divine rebuke against the Jim Crow laws and racial discrimination of this worldly age and throwing a shining light of God’s intention for His church where the blood of Christ washes out the color line; and WHEREAS, Because of the deep stain and sin of racism following the Azusa Revival, predominately black and white Pentecostal denominations went their separate ways for a season; and WHEREAS, The Assemblies of God was established during that time of separation so that our Fellowship became one from which black persons were mostly absent; and WHEREAS, Our testimony to the world has suffered as a result of this separation and our Fellowship has been deprived of the rich blessings which could have been made by our black brothers and sisters; and WHEREAS, In the goodness of the Lord and in the fullness of time, the Holy Spirit prompted us as a body in our 1989 General Council to repent of and denounce racism as a sin; and WHEREAS, Across this Fellowship, congregations are opening their hearts to become multi-ethnic communities which bear witness to Jesus Christ who told us that the world will know us by our love for one another; and WHEREAS, It is right that we repent of racism and ask our black brothers and sisters for forgiveness for failing to keep and treasure the shining ideal of Jesus and the 20th century Azusa Revival; and WHEREAS, We are committed to removing every last vestige of racism from our midst and restoring to the work of the Lord and blessing of an integrated Fellowship; and WHEREAS, Toward this end, we encourage from our hearts the full participation of black persons within the Assemblies of God in fellowship and leadership; and WHEREAS, Action by this General Council is needed to give impetus to our districts, ministers, and people for the full inclusion of black brothers and sisters throughout our Fellowship; therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this General Council ask the general superintendent and Board of Administration, the executive and general presbyteries, the executive officers and presbyteries of districts, pastors and ministers, local church boards and congregations to take whatever actions are necessary or advisable to enhance and accelerate the progress being made in our Fellowship for the inclusion of black brothers and sisters throughout every aspect of the Assemblies of God.
THE 58TH REGULAR CONVENTION OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD
JULY 10-12, 1992
Report R3-01, B, 2 (CW, p. 66); Overture 3-100 (CW, p. 211)
WHEREAS, Racism, namely the mindset that considers one group of people to be superior to another, continues to hurt its victims and cause offense in the church and conflict in society; and WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that all people come from Adam: “From one man He made every nation to have the people live all over the earth” (Acts 17:26); and
WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that all Christians, regardless of race, color, nationality, social status, or gender, are God’s chosen people in Christ, who has broken down the dividing wall of hostility by His perfect sacrifice for the entire human family (1 Peter 2:8-9 and Ephesians 2:14-16); and WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations is currently working toward the completion of a major study of racism in the church; therefore, be it RESOLVED, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod urge its members to repent of any attitude or practice of racism as individuals and congregations; and be it further RESOLVED, That the Synod repudiate all racism and urge its members to celebrate God’s love in Christ and their forgiveness and acceptance as God’s children by loving and serving all their fellow humans as they have been loved and served, without any exception of persons, and to work toward social justice in their neighborhoods and workplaces and all areas of society; and be it further RESOLVED, That the Synod assembled in convention urge the rapid completion of the CTCR study; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That the members of the Synod be urged to make maximum use of this study upon its completion and to pray the Lord of the church to bless this study and cause it to effect appropriate changes in attitudes and actions.
Moving Into a Shared Future
by Professor Cheryl J. Sanders
Racism remains a central issue in the differences between black and white evangelicals. Along with this racism are the invisible structures intended to preserve “what’s ours” and keep other people out. These include doctrine, management of resources, and access to education.
I believe that there can’t be reconciliation between the races until there is repentance for this racism, and I think the full weight of Scripture supports me. Whoever refuses to hear the offense or face the facts can’t repent. The fact is that white people today are benefiting from a system of privilege set in motion generations ago, while my ancestors were being robbed of their labor without recompense.
Unfortunately, this leads to a victim discourse, making genuine repentance difficult. You can’t have repentance without someone taking responsibility, and today we are all victims.
Yet the question remains, “Are we going to advance from the past and move together into a future that is a shared future?” The Bible is the ultimate, legitimate source for a vision of inclusiveness. One of the strongest biblical images is the kingdom of God, and there is no question that this is an inclusive kingdom. Whatever I desire for my own children, I ought to want the same things for other people’s children.
In the kingdom of God, everyone has a stake, and everyone has dignity and respect, regardless of economic status, sex, color, or nationality. You see this “coming together” at Pentecost, a multi-national gathering.
The pastor of my church was an extraordinary man named Sam Hines. He passed away in 1995 but in his 25 years in Washington, D.C., he worked very hard to promote reconciliation. He used to say, “Dogma divides; mission unites.” I think that, if there is going to be reconciliation among American Christians, it will come because we reach consensus about our mission to the United States.
Before Dr. Hines died, he spoke to me about his concern that everyone, whether conservative or liberal, seems to be dropping the poor from his or her agenda. If this is true, then we as Christians have a ready-made mission that can unite us. Jesus’ primary ministry was to the poor, and he has given us a mandate to pursue the same course.
About the Author
Dr. Cheryl J. Sanders teaches Christian ethics at Howard University Divinity School and is the senior pastor at the Third Street Church of God in Washington, D.C. She has written the books Ministry at the Margins and Saints in Exile.
Selected Bibliography
Barndt, Joseph, Dismantling Racism: The Continuing Challenge to White Americans, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, 1991.
DeYoung, Curtis, Coming Together, Judson Press, Valley Forge, PA, 1995.
______, Reconciliation—Our Greatest Challenge, Our Only Hope, Judson Press, Valley Forge, PA 1997.
Elmer, Duane, Cross-Cultural Conflict: Building Relationships for Effective Ministry, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, 1993.
Evans, Tony, Developing Cross Cultural Fellowships, Moody Press, Chicago, 1998.
______, Let’s Get to Know Each Other, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, 1995.
Joyner, Rick, Overcoming Racism, Morning Star Publications, Charlotte, 1996.
Kenner, Craig, and Glen Usry, Black Man’s Religion, InterVarsity, Downers Grove, 1996.
______, Defending Black Faith, InterVarsity, Downers Grove, 1996.
Perkins, John, Thomas A. Tarrants, III with David Wimbish, He’s My Brother: Former Racial Foes Offer Strategy for Reconciliation, Chosen Books, Grand Rapids, 1994.
Perkins, Spencer, and Chris Rice, More Than Equals—Racial Healing for the Sake of the Gospel, InterVarsity, Downers Grove, 1993.
Sanders, Cheryl, Saints in Exile: The Holiness-Pentecostal Experience in African American Religion and Culture, Oxford University Press, New York, 1996.
______, Ministry at the Margins, InterVarsity, Downers Grove, 1997.
Shuler, Clarence, Winning the Race to Unity, Moody Press, Chicago, 1998.
Washington, Raleigh, and Glenn Kehrein, Breaking Down Walls—A Model for Reconciliation, Moody Press, Chicago, 1993.
