Cool Devotions

Mission Impossible-The Tale of Two Churches

published May 09, 2006 12:00

http://www.633main.com/dev243.htm Goodmorning Reader. This is your mission, should you choose to accept. Within the next few weeks visit a church that is predominantly made up of believers, of which are not similar to your cultural background. Afterwards, email me, and tell me about your worship experience. This message will self destruct in 10 seconds. OK it wont self destruct, but it sounded pretty cool to say. I havent seen MI-3 yet, but I thought I would use it to get your attention about something that has been bothering me these past couple of months- Intra-denominational racism. Big word huh? I'm talking about church racism. It sucks to me, I hate it. Now don't get me wrong I dont think there is anything wrong with having vastly different worship styles, but two churches of the same denomination not getting along purely sucks! Last week, I finally saw the movie Crash. (My neighbor forced it on me.) Now you know I like good movies, and I should have seen this movie a long time ago (seeing as how it won an Oscar) but I knew I was not mentally ready to see it because I knew it was about rasicm. While I watched it, I couldn't handle it. So many ranges of emotions came over me. I couldn't even discuss the movie with my wife, but to put it plainly- the movie made me cry. I can't wait til we get to Heaven where there will only be one race - God Lovers! Well let me tell you about the the tale of two churches here in Cincinnati. They are the same denomination and Union, but less than a mile apart. History tells that before the 60's there had to be two because of the civil rights movement. So these churches each had separate elementary schools. Well now its 2006, and for 50 years each school has struggled to stay open. The simple solution would be for the two schools to merge and become one, reducing overhead, and stabilizing the program. But you know what, it is 2006 and the leaders of each church can't forgive the past, and sit down and talk about the possibilities. Now I expect this type of behavior from people in the movie Crash, but the church?!? From Christians??? Come on! It seems that our Impossible Mission is to forgive, say I'm sorry, and try to love one another. In Romans, we are told that all men are born equal: 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23), but the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has brought the possibility of redemption and salvation: 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever [regardless of 'race'] believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16). And the everlasting life that the Bible is speaking of is not segregated... So today, I ask you to pray this prayer with me, "Father please help to do my part in erasing racism and loving your children, the ones inside and outside of my church. -Eric Lusain, Cincinnati, OH

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