OUR LIMITED PERSPECTIVES
Acts 10:34
Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality.”
Although it is imperative that individuals not be so selfish as to be of little or no benefit to the legitimate aspirations of their racial group, it is equally true that the demands of the group must not impede, destroy, or dismantle individual responsibility, initiative, and goals. Each of us is held hostage to the perspectives of our racial group, thus limiting our personal development. Far too many African-Americans are hindered from reaching their individual potential because of the black group’s demand that they remain in solidarity to the group’s definitions and strategies for freedom, even though each individual may not agree with those same definitions or the strategies.
Conversely, many Anglos claim individual superiority and/or entitlement because of a historical doctrine of group superiority. Therefore, whites sometimes show a great hesitance to sit at the feet of blacks with the expectation of learning (as opposed to simply being entertained), because they have already defined the relationship as that of a superior to an inferior. Unless biblical Christians significantly enter the fray and take over the leadership for unifying the racial divide, we will be hopelessly deadlocked in a sea of relativity regarding this issue, restating more questions rather than providing permanent answers. The only proper perspective is the divine perspective; the only proper agenda is the kingdom agenda. If the Bible is allowed to be the standard by which blacks and whites determine truth, then freedom from this moral malaise will be the outcome; for as Jesus taught, the truth has a unique capacity of making people free.
REFLECTION: Jesus went out of His way to interact with others for the sake of the gospel—see John 4. How can we follow His example? Christ gave Peter a vision sending him outside the limits of his Jewish culture—read Acts 10. What would Jesus have you do? God, You show no partiality based on race. We are one in Your name. I pray that I will reflect Your Spirit in how I treat others and in how I view others. Bring racial healing to our land.
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