black church fires

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You wrote:

>I don't think that all discussions about race or 
>bigotry, discrimination or anything else along those lines 
>necessarily leads to a negative conversation. 

I would agree with that. Conflict can be healthy if done properly. However,
I have been very troubled by the tone and spirit behind some of the dialog.
I am still wondering how Jesus would have responded to much of this dialog
and for some reason, don't feel that there has been much in the dialog that
would resemble his spirit or response. Maybe we should start studying the
Lord's way of handling conflict for a new thread of conversation.....

>As Christians or better yet, Apostolics, we 
>are supposed to be a light. If you have never had these discussions 
>or thought about such things, how would you respond if put in a 
>situation that needed help with regard to race relations.  How would 
>you respond to a new child in the neighborhood who may be being 
>mistreated because they are of another race?

I would hope that everyone would respond the same way that they would for
any child that was being mistreated. The entire human race tends to mistreat
anyone who is *different*. For some reason when one is *different* it causes
fear in others. What is *different* is subjective based on everyone's own
perspective and environment. I have seen some very mistreated people that
have been mistreated because they are mentally not on the same level. Some
have been mistreated just because they are socially backward and lack people
skills. How about obeisity - ever witnessed that one? Prejudice comes in
many different forms. Are all obeise people slobs? I don't think so, and yet
that prejudice does exist. I wonder how Jesus would respond? Would he even
mention skin color or race? I wonder..........
The Jews were very prejudice....Gentiles were *dogs*....even after Peter's
rooftop experience he was guilty of separating himself from the Gentile
bretheren. I believe the Apostle Paul called him on that one (See Galations
chapter 2 and then refer back to Acts chapters 11 and 15 to see the
difference in Peter) Peter was not the enemey of the Gentiles, Peter was
being influenced by the spirit of fear. The spirit of fear is a tactic of
our enemey, the devil. This spirit influences everyone regardless of whether
they are a christian or not. I tend to think this is the real issue, the
real enemey, and that being the case, it behooves us to counter attack with
prayer and be living epistles of the love of God in our world. I don't know
that it would have done Paul much good to have withstood just any Jew to his
face regarding this issue. With the Apostle Peter he had good reason because
he knew Peter knew better. Unfortunately, we have a whole world of people
that live in fear of each other and separate themselves because of this fear
and *educating* them by telling them that they are wrong (especially if done
with a bad spirit) will not change anything. Even I have been guilty of
being afraid of other people because they were different. How do you feel
when you come face to face with a guy that is wearing earrings all over the
place, has dirty long hair, zillions of tatoos and very bad teeth? The fact
is - regardless of how he looks - he has a soul and is very much in need of
a saviour and how I respond to him may be the only Jesus he sees.

>How would you respond 
>to someone on the job who was not promoted because of race?  I mean, 
>these are issues that affect us regardless to our religious 
>convictions and yet are even more important because we profess 
>Christ.

This would be a tough situation to be in. However, I would not want to feed
anyone's bad feelings regarding this happening to them. Bad feelings
regarding unfairness breed bitterness and bitterness is a bad egg all around
- justified or not (remember the dialog of *I was right but I was wrong*?).
In this situation I think it would be easier to minister to a fellow
christian than a non-believer (and then again, maybe not! :-) ). The main
thing I see resolving this situation would be forgiveness with or without
apologies. Sometimes this is very difficult for people to come to terms with
- even christians.

>I am sorry if some think that saved folks shouldn't discuss race.  I 
>am even more sorry that you don't think talking about things that are 
>in the forefront of our society are not important.  When you walk out 
>of your prayer closets, you are thrown into a very cruel, hateful 
>world.  We need to know how to deal with it and we need to know how 
>to relate.

I don't know if discussing issues will help us to deal with the world or
not. It depends, again, on the spirit in which it is done. If we are sharing
experiences and trying to learn from each other that might help. Sometimes,
someone elses insight is very helpful. I know some people use the cliche _so
heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good_, however, nothing works
better than asking God for understanding, wisdom, and spiritual discernment
and letting Him speak to us and guide us with His Word. I really don't think
I like that cliche as a matter of fact! My experience has been that most
discussions regarding this issue have been negative in nature....
regardless of how hard I try to turn the conversation around to a more
positive light (Phillipians 4:8). I wish it were not so.
 
My prayer is that if anyone has suffered hurt from all of the dialog
regarding this issue that God would minister healing. That His grace would
abound and help them to fight against any spirit of bitterness or anger.
That He would speak to all of us and give us wisdom and understanding
regarding these matters and help us to spiritually discern the battle that
rages all around us. That we would recognize the the fiery darts of the
wicked and learn to use the shield of faith and the armor of God. I ask this
in Jesus name. Amen.

God Bless all of you.
Darla   


I Cor 16:13 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage;
be strong"