Sunday Morning Racism & Billy Graham
Tomorrow morning at around 11:30, I will be delivering a sermon based upon our continuing journey through I John. These particular verses deserve serious consideration:
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." - I John 3:17-18 (NIV)
In the past I have tried to pastor people who proclaimed loud and clear a love for God, and yet would never worship in the same church with a person of a different skin color. In one situation I tried to pastor church leaders who instructed me to never help people in financial need because the church just could not afford it. Thank God there are real Christians out there, and not all churches are like the ones mentioned. I am blessed to have a congregation that welcomes all persons into the building, and seeks to love with action and not just words. We've got quite a ways to go, but we are trying.
For the racist and the selfish so-called Christian, surely these words of John go unread.
I read today that Billy Graham, as a young evangelist in the early 1950's, insisted that his crusades be racially mixed even in the deep South. Now that must have taken courage. No wonder God has blessed his ministry. I am convinced integrity means alot to God.
What do you think?
06.25.05 (8:44 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
preceptlady (
reply)
post date:
06.25.05 (7:49 pm)
I use "Logos Bible Software" for all of my bible study. I highly recommend it (www.logos.com). I did a search on Skin, in the New American Standard Version (Update 95) there are 92 references to the word skin.
Job 30:30 (NASB95)
Job 30: 30 “My skin turns black on me, And my bones burn with fever.
Job 30:30 was the only reference I found that had a "color" mentioned with the word skin.
Job was in a constant fever, which dried up the radical moisture and even consumed the marrow in his bones. He was full of sores. Satan’s commission against Job extending both to his bone and to his flesh, he spared neither. His skin was black upon him. I don't think this is referencing "Skin color".
God created us with different skin colors and I firmly believe He expects us to love each other no matter the color of our skin.
Side note: If you don't have the logos bible software and are interested in obtaining a copy, I can help you receive 25% off any package. Let me know if you are interested.
Preach the Word, in season and out of season.!
posted by:
Kupov (
reply)
post date:
07.14.05 (1:49 pm)
It sounds like the Bible made people with black skin out to be diseased
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.15.05 (5:38 pm)
Reply to: Kupov
"Dark am I, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem..." - Song of Solomon 1:5
posted by:
mnash (
reply)
post date:
07.17.05 (10:18 am)
I attend a SBC church in Stonebridge Ranch in Mckinney TX where over 1/2 the cars in our parking lot are SUVS or luxury sedans, yet the east side of McKinney lives in extreme poverty. We have one black couple and maybe a few other ethnic backgrounds. We don't exclude them, but probably don't reach out to them either. Extremely rich community surrounding our church, yet we're in financial trouble.
