PASTOR’S NOTE

In my estimation, something wonderful took place this past week.  Safe House, which is predominately an Anglo church and Iglesia Evangelica Camino Del Rey, the Hispanic congregation that meets here at our location, went in together and sponsored a Kids Krusade.  Our guest speakers for this effort were Rev. Mike and LaDona Blue.  It was a great success.  The kids were blessed and so excited.  At a time when racial tensions are high and cooperation between churches is a rare commodity, we saw God bring two very different yet similar churches together.  It brought me a great deal of satisfaction to be able to do this good thing for our children and teens as well.  The tensions between differing groups of people are real.  At the same time they have been exaggerated by those who have to gain from our divisions, like hate groups.  This tension will remain until we as a people get tired of it and stop tolerating it.  There are those of us who can, if we will, do a great deal to bridge the gaps and bring people together for the common good.  Racism is not merely a white problem.  Anyone who works in the public sector can attest to that truth.  It is our problem, regardless of color or background.  If it is our problem, then it is within our power to fix it.  If you are waiting on the public school system to fix it, you are waiting in vain.  If you are waiting on the government to fix it, they haven’t fixed it yet and there is no need to think they will any time soon.  Those who sit in seats of authority may make laws to rid us of prejudice and hate, but they cannot legislate what is in our hearts.  We cannot start on Capital Hill and hope it will filter down to us.  It must start with us and withing our hearts, then rise to the highest authorities in the land.  In our homes, at our dinner tables, at the bedside of our little ones and on the porch swings, we must teach equality, love and acceptance.  We must teach them on our knee that division is not what God intended and we are all God’s children.  We who handle the Word of God, must stay true and faithful to the truth of the gospel to all peoples.  We cannot tolerate the hate and prejudice of days gone by.  There is nothing Christian about racism no matter who is spilling out the rhetoric.  Born again people do not hate people that Christ died for.   I have traveled to many places of the world.  No matter where I was, I have appreciated the people who opened their hearts, homes and churches to me.  Of a truth, some cultures took me by surprise.  Some things I could live with and some I could not.  But in every case, these were God’s people trying to live for God and give Him glory.  Who am I to not respect them as equally loved and important to my God?