Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday August 7, 2008

Those of you who read my articles regularly know that I am part German and part Monacan Indian. If I were to become a racist I would have to insist that the only true human had to be of the same ethnic background, a combination of Hitler and Geronimo. Can you even imagine such a race? Being aware of my mix, a friend sincerely asked;

"Larry, how do you explain the virulent feelings about race within the human race?"

I thought long and hard, at least 30 nano seconds before giving my answer, based on scripture teaching, which by the way uses the word race 4 times and each time refers to running, that every person in Christ, color not withstanding is part of the New Creation in Christ. Peter states this way in 1Peter 2:9:

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

A man who was a captain of slave ships and later a clergyman after his conversion to Jesus Christ had tremendous influence on Wilberforce stated, in my opinion, the bases of hatred of one group by another:

"There is a principle of self, which disposes us to despise those who differ from us; and we are often under its influence, when we think we are only demonstrating a becoming zeal in the cause of God."

John Newton penned these words and I agree with him as well as being enriched for many years by his song, "Amazing Grace." Newton knew the primary power that drove him as a slave runner was SELF.

The history of the world fills page after page, book after book, life after life with stories from myth and even the Bible, misunderstood to be sure, to justify the annihilation of ethnic groups because of some difference, Jews were Christ haters, Indians were red heathens, Armenians were different and black Hamites to be exterminated by enlightened ones.

It is a good practice to practice a good long prayerful thought when you feel a righteous zeal against a person or group of people to check the feelings against the truth of the cross and a very much alive self. Did Christ die for any individual within the group you feel so zealous and righteously against? Biblically, the answer is certainly Christ, potentially at the very least died for people of all what we call races or ethnic groups.

Look just below the surface and you will find SELF to be the culprit in the practice of targeting the message of Christ to any select group to the exclusion of others. Call it the "demographics pie" of the area if you like, as long as you know this practice is really about SELF. When Newton talked about God's grace saving a wretch like him/me he was on target.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit

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