CHURCH PARTNERSHIP
Matthew 7:12
In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
The church needs to welcome anyone of any race, culture, or class who names the name of Jesus Christ and is willing to live by the truth of Scripture. We must celebrate the variety of cultures that make up the church and hold everyone in the congregation to the same biblical standard. And our pulpits must condemn racism in all its forms. All denominations must take the same stand against racism that they have taken against other moral issues. Racism is a moral issue that must be condemned from the pulpit not only on the personal level but on the corporate and systematic levels as well.
Churches must also discover how to intentionally partner across race, class, and cultural lines to minister together in order to meet society’s needs and share the gospel, thus demonstrating unity through good works, especially to the needs of the poor and disenfranchised. A great way to do this is through churches partnering together to reach into a local community and provide help to those in need. It is a wonderful way to get to know each other across racial boundaries when we join arms together to serve others. This also produces a testimony to the power of the gospel as people witness us joining arms in something that no one is forcing us to do. This voluntary commitment to one another across racial boundaries sends a loud message to the rest of the world that we can accomplish more together than we ever did apart.
REFLECTION: Read John 15:12–17; 17:20–26. How can we come together across racial lines with other believers? Is your church connected with another church with a different financial level? Can you be? Father, we have so many opportunities to serve together across racial lines in our land simply because there is so much need. Show us how we can do this more effectively in Your name.
No Comments