God's Heart for Unity

Why is there racial dissonance?
Where does racial harmony begin?
What is our role in making progress?

Why is there racial dissonance?

Romans 3:9

9What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

Romans 3:10

10as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

Romans 3:11

11no one understands;
no one seeks for God.

Romans 3:12

12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”

Romans 3:13

13“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”

Romans 3:14

14“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

Romans 3:15

15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Romans 3:16

16in their paths are ruin and misery,

Romans 3:17

17and the way of peace they have not known.”

Romans 3:18

18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Where does racial harmony begin?

Ephesians 2:13

13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:14

14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Ephesians 2:15

15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

Ephesians 2:16

16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Galatians 2:11

11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

Galatians 2:12

12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

Galatians 2:13

13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Galatians 2:14

14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

What is our role in making progress?

2 Corinthians 5:16

16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:18

18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

2 Corinthians 5:19

19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:20

20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Building Bridges
Learn the heart of lament

Grow in active listening:

Find someone you disagree with greatly on racial issues
Have coffee or lunch with them

Grow in active listening:

Listen to their perspective

Grow in active listening:

Talk to them until they are satisfied you understand their perspective

Grow in active listening:

If they are willing to listen to you, explain. Otherwise, let it go.

Grow in active listening:

Finally, do not feel obligated to agree with them.