{"id":31628,"date":"2022-09-10T15:37:56","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/3-ways-to-promote-racial-unity-in-our-churches\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:37:56","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:37:56","slug":"3-ways-to-promote-racial-unity-in-our-churches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/3-ways-to-promote-racial-unity-in-our-churches\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways to Promote Racial Unity in Our Churches"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Daniel Darling<\/em><\/p>\n

Near the back of the Bible we find a different picture from what we normally see in most of our churches each Sunday.<\/p>\n

We find a glorious, diverse picture of God\u2019s kingdom, a mosaic of the Imago Dei, with every nation, tribe and tongue (Revelation 5 and 7) gathered around Christ\u2019s throne.<\/p>\n

John\u2019s vision in Revelation makes it plain that the New Jerusalem\u2014the new creation, the world\u2014will feature racial unity. The gospel breaks down sinful walls of racism and prejudice and injustice and unites God\u2019s people into \u201cone new man\u201d (Ephesians 2).<\/p>\n

But sadly when we look around our world, our country\u2014and in our churches\u2014we don\u2019t see anything resembling what we see in Revelation. Why is that?<\/p>\n

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More importantly: What can church leaders do?<\/p>\n

Most of the time when racial issues arise in the culture, we have a tendency to withdraw in fear or get defensive. Sometimes we allow our political tribes shape our views. Other times we\u2019re unwilling to listen and learn from others.<\/p>\n

But the Bible isn\u2019t silent on race. So rather than take our cues from the culture, we should lead from the Scriptures.<\/p>\n

We need to help people catch a vision of the beautiful diversity of God\u2019s glorious kingdom so we can work toward that in our churches, showing the world a glimpse of what is coming when Jesus returns.<\/p>\n

How do we do that? One article can\u2019t solve every leadership struggle, nor can it provide a full blueprint for the complex racial tensions in every church context. But three key ingredients to church leadership are necessary:<\/p>\n

Learn <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Leaders first must take time to learn what the Scriptures say about racial reconciliation. This isn\u2019t an issue you have to press into the Bible. It\u2019s already there across its pages.<\/p>\n

In fact, if you\u2019re preaching or teaching systematically through Scripture you can\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\n

The thrust of God\u2019s promise to Abraham and the promises to Israel are His desire to be made known among all nations. And almost every New Testament book embeds its presentation of the gospel with its unifying, reconciling power.<\/p>\n