When Parking in Your People Group is Problematic - Part Three
“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.” Acts 17:26 (KJV, emphasis added)
When I committed to this conversation on race relations, I purposed to address the people of God. Specifically, people who enjoy citizenship in the Kingdom of God. We all became citizens of the Kingdom of God when we experienced the new birth by becoming born again: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, KJV). Therefore, as citizens of the Kingdom of God we should consistently maintain a conscience that captures all conversations about injustice, maltreatment and discrimination with a perspective that is not of this world but from the Lord Jesus Christ’s Kingdom. Remember: the people of this world will always reject our perspective, positions, and even us personally.
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:18-19 (KJV)
For example, let us examine the word race. Are you aware that the term race is not used in the Word of God? The Word of God, the Bible, characterizes all human beings as being of “one blood”.
“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.” Acts 17:24-26 (KJV, emphasis added)
The most common and consistent narrative from blacks in America is that they are the descendants of slaves. This is a well-established fact. However, slavery is not exclusive to one specific people group. In addition, slavery did not originate in the United States. Western slavery goes back 10,000 years to ancient Mesopotamia. Even in our current context the country of Iraq, equates a male slave worth to an orchard of date palms. Female counterparts were enslaved for sexual services. A female slave was emancipated when her masters died. Again, slavery is not unique to America but universal among all people groups. Furthermore, the Bible says that all men are slaves: slaves to sin.
People of the Kingdom of God are aware of their ancestry. The Word of God and science confirms that all are of the same human race and all are related as descendants of Adam. Due to Adam’s fall, all mankind was submerged in the slavery of sin and death. However, because of the death of the second Adam, Christ Jesus, we are delivered and are partakers of a new progeny. We have been set free!
What does the Word of God say?
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” Romans 5:12, 14 -15 (KJV)
“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 (KJV)
As people of the Kingdom of God, we should not be preoccupied with promoting and parking into our pigmentation. Neither should we be more passionate over the practices of a particular people group than the purposes and will of our true progenitor and potentate, the Lord God Jesus Christ!
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR