“And the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother?” And Cain replied, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:9
Next Monday, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we celebrate progress and renew our desire to see the day when, in the hearts of men and women across the land, people are truly judged by the content of their character, and not the color of their skin.
To condemn prejudice abstractly is relatively easy. To live out the implications and demands of brotherhood is more difficult. For too long, our society has given the answer of Cain, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” Cain could not escape the consequences of his unbrotherly act. Neither can we - whatever our racial or cultural background.
Booker T. Washington, when he was a lad, would take boys whom he knew he could beat, and hold them down in a muddy ditch. One day, while he was having his sport, it occurred to him that he could not hold a boy down in the ditch without staying down in the ditch himself. That stopped him. It ought to stop all of us.
We foolishly think we become superior when we try to keep another in an inferior position. Thus Japan oppressed the Chinese. Thus Germany annihilated six million Jews. Thus - throughout history - we have sinned against each other. As Christians we must realize that unbrotherliness destroys not only our bodies, but our souls. The victim of a lynching dies physically, but in so torturing him, his crucifiers kill that which is human in themselves. The person who through discrimination seeks to keep another in an inferior position, lowers himself instead.
Discrimination today may take more subtle forms than the discrimination of years ago. Its ugly head is raised in jokes, in preferential treatment for others, in a passed-over job applicant. The law of the land can forbid discrimination, but only the law of the heart can eradicate it. Only the love of God can heal from it. Only the law of brotherhood - of truly realizing our position as God's children - can bring us together in unity.
For, brotherhood is a law, the law of God. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” the Word says. We cannot hold this issue in abeyance any longer. God is no respecter of persons. In His sight we are all children of the same family. I must be a Christian first, not a white man, or a black man, or any other sort of man - or woman.
This year, teach your children. This year, speak out. This year of 2014 must be the year when we say, "That's not funny, that's not appropriate - that is my brother" to the racial joke or epithet. It must be the year those who witness discrimination call to account those who perpetrate it. It must be the year. It must be now.
The one hope for fellowship, for peace in this world of division, is the Spirit of Christ working in the hearts of all God’s children. It can begin in you, in me, in us all - today!
Lord Jesus, may true brotherhood begin today, may it begin with me, and may I never accept less. Amen.
Blessings in this New Year!!
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity
Next Monday, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we celebrate progress and renew our desire to see the day when, in the hearts of men and women across the land, people are truly judged by the content of their character, and not the color of their skin.
To condemn prejudice abstractly is relatively easy. To live out the implications and demands of brotherhood is more difficult. For too long, our society has given the answer of Cain, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” Cain could not escape the consequences of his unbrotherly act. Neither can we - whatever our racial or cultural background.
Booker T. Washington, when he was a lad, would take boys whom he knew he could beat, and hold them down in a muddy ditch. One day, while he was having his sport, it occurred to him that he could not hold a boy down in the ditch without staying down in the ditch himself. That stopped him. It ought to stop all of us.
We foolishly think we become superior when we try to keep another in an inferior position. Thus Japan oppressed the Chinese. Thus Germany annihilated six million Jews. Thus - throughout history - we have sinned against each other. As Christians we must realize that unbrotherliness destroys not only our bodies, but our souls. The victim of a lynching dies physically, but in so torturing him, his crucifiers kill that which is human in themselves. The person who through discrimination seeks to keep another in an inferior position, lowers himself instead.
Discrimination today may take more subtle forms than the discrimination of years ago. Its ugly head is raised in jokes, in preferential treatment for others, in a passed-over job applicant. The law of the land can forbid discrimination, but only the law of the heart can eradicate it. Only the love of God can heal from it. Only the law of brotherhood - of truly realizing our position as God's children - can bring us together in unity.
For, brotherhood is a law, the law of God. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” the Word says. We cannot hold this issue in abeyance any longer. God is no respecter of persons. In His sight we are all children of the same family. I must be a Christian first, not a white man, or a black man, or any other sort of man - or woman.
This year, teach your children. This year, speak out. This year of 2014 must be the year when we say, "That's not funny, that's not appropriate - that is my brother" to the racial joke or epithet. It must be the year those who witness discrimination call to account those who perpetrate it. It must be the year. It must be now.
The one hope for fellowship, for peace in this world of division, is the Spirit of Christ working in the hearts of all God’s children. It can begin in you, in me, in us all - today!
Lord Jesus, may true brotherhood begin today, may it begin with me, and may I never accept less. Amen.
Blessings in this New Year!!
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity
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