Jesus told a parable in Luke 10 that begins by Jesus affirming that the reason we are to live is to love God and to love the people He gives you to love – (Love your neighbor). That’s the calling. Love my fellow man as much as I love myself. Then Jesus tells a parable so that we know our neighborhood is very big! You can listen to a message on this passage here: http://springsofgracebiblechurch.org/audio-sermons/sermon-archive/16-luke-10_21-parable-of-the-good-sa/
I want to encourage everyone in our Springs of Grace and One Hope family to make a conscious effort and labor to become informed on the issue of racism. Read articles and books that articulate positions that might make us uncomfortable and force us to think deeply. Look at the biblical commands to treat one another as more important than ourselves. Think about the implications of the biblical conviction that all people are created in the image of God and how that should impact our responses and thinking regarding biblical issues. Pray for Springs of Grace to be a place that doesn’t just give token expression to the unity that the gospel brings but rightly labors for that unity in truth and deeds.
Below are the links to some good articles and if you want to read more broadly on the subject I would love to recommend some other materials.
The first few are by Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile who writes as wisely and biblically on the subject as anyone I have read.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/2014/08/19/is-it-goodbye-evangelicalism-or-we-join-you-in-your-suffering/
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/2014/08/20/why-we-never-wait-for-all-the-facts-before-we-speak/
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/2014/08/22/i-wonder-if-seeing-really-is-believing/
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TO READ: THE CASE FOR REPARATIONS
http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-case-for-reparations/361631/
http://www.christianitytoday.com/amyjuliabecker/2014/june/should-christians-support-reparations-for-african-americans.html
John Piper –
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/power-police-and-another-shooting
http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/from-bloodlines-to-bloodline
http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/the-ethics-of-interracial-marriage
http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/gods-pursuit-of-racial-diversity-at-infinite-cost
Christianity Today
http://www.christianitytoday.com/amyjuliabecker/2014/august/racial-reconciliation-20.html
http://www.christianitytoday.com/amyjuliabecker/2014/august/just-because-door-is-open-doesnt-mean-im-welcome-here.html
READ books by John Perkins, Carl Ellis, William Wilson. Read Letters To A Birmingham Jail. As a Tulsan you should visit Reconciliation Park and be knowledgeable regarding the Tulsa Race Riot.
READ WELL AND LET’S HELP EACH OTHER GROW TO THINK BIBLICALLY AND ACT LIKE JESUS!