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GO DEEPER
Read| Thinking Theologically About Racial Tensions by Kevin DeYoung
gathering question:
What is one takeaway from Tony Evans’ sermon on racial reconciliation?
TRUTH
Take 5 minutes to read Galatians 2:11-16 twice; once to yourself and once aloud together.
In Scripture
When Peter first arrived in Antioch, he was in the habit of eating his meals with Gentile Christians (i.e. non-Jewish ethnicity). Table-fellowship was a sign of belonging. Then one day a group of professing Jewish Christians came from Jerusalem to Antioch. They taught that in addition to Jesus, one must be circumcised (i.e. become Jewish) in order to be saved (Acts 15:1). They even went so far as to teach Christians not to have table-fellowship with uncircumcised Gentile believers, even if they believe in Jesus and have been baptized. Out of fear, Peter, Barnabas, and the rest of the Jewish Christians at Antioch withdrew from their Gentile brothers and sisters, excluding the ethnic ‘other’ because they did not conform to Jewish cultural customs. Until Paul arrived...
1. Paul opposed Peter because he stood condemned (v.11), drew back out of fear (v.12), acted in hypocrisy, and led others astray (v.13). There were personal and social implications of Peter’s sin. At the core, ‘their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel’ (v.14). They betrayed their beliefs by their behavior. In your own words, what was at stake in Peter’s ethnic exclusion of the Gentile Christians?
2. Timothy Keller wrote on Galatians 2:14-15, “Paul’s basic argument to Peter is this. A: ‘God did not have fellowship with you on the basis of your race and culture (v.15). Though you were good and devout, your race and customs had nothing to do with it — your relationship with God is based on grace.’ Therefore, B: ‘How then can you have fellowship with others on the basis of race and culture (v.14)?’ The sin beneath the sin of racism is self-righteousness based on race or culture. How does the gospel of grace alone (v.16) free us from the sin of racism?
In Summary
The sickness of cultural superiority lies in all of our hearts and is only remedied by the humbling reality of salvation by grace alone. Only the gospel of free grace in Jesus Christ has the power to cut the root of racism, which is based in self-righteousness. One of the biggest dangers of our culture’s approach to racism is that it is a new self-salvation project motivated by guilt, shame, and pride. Responding out of fear, people either give in or dig in their heels. But the church is a new humanity reconciled across race, class, and gender lines (Gal. 3:28) on a foundation of unearned welcome in Jesus.
EQUIPPING
These equipping questions are meant to help you work the truth out of the text and into your lives. Take 25 minutes to discuss these questions.
1. In his book ‘Exclusion & Embrace,’ theologian Miroslav Volf wrote, “In the final analysis, the only available options are either to reject the cross and with it the core of the Christian faith or to take up one's cross, follow the Crucified, and be scandalized ever anew by the challenge.” In light of Galatians 2:11-16, how is exclusion based on race or ethnicity a rejection of the cross? Why does cross-cultural reconciliation require us to take up our cross?
2. In his 1957 speech ‘Give Us the Ballot,’ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We must not seek to use our emerging freedom and our growing power to do the same thing to the white minority that has been done to us for so many centuries. Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man. We must not become victimized with a philosophy of black supremacy. God is not interested merely in freeing black men and brown men and yellow men, but God is interested in freeing the whole human race. We must work with determination to create a society, not where black men are superior and other men are inferior and vice versa, but a society in which all men will live together as brothers and respect the dignity and worth of human personality.” What is MLK’s concern here? What is his vision?
ACCOUNTABILITY
These questions can be helpful for you to examine your life and ministry in light of the truths you explored this week. Take 15 minutes to discuss these questions:
1. The 17th century pastor-theologian John Owen wrote, “The seed of every sin is in every heart.” Assuming that self-superiority is a temptation for all of us, how have you seen it show up in your heart with regards to racial, ethnic, or cultural superiority?
Jesus knows our hearts better than we do (John 2:24). He moves towards us to humble and heal us. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Therefore, come to him in humility for grace. Confess your temptations to see others as less significant than yourself (Phil. 2:3). Trust the availability of Jesus’ grace for the humble.
MISSION
The goal of the Mission section is so that Truth, Equipping, Accountability, and Supplication are transformed into a missional life, that is, following Jesus moment-by-moment in all of life. Take 5 minutes to plan for this:
Here are a few next steps given by Rev. Robert Cunningham in Part 3 of Racism in America:
Head: Read one book to get more informed about racial justice (e.g. Heal Us, Emmanuel).
Heart: Pursue one experience this year that will move you regarding racial justice.
Hands: Build one new humble and honest friendship with someone ethnically unlike you.
SUPPLICATION
Remember the Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26). Close by spending 10 minutes praying God’s words back to Him from Revelation.
1. Read Revelation 7:9–10
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
2. Pray for this future certainty to become a present reality in our church, city, and world.