Taking Risks
Redemption Race and Reconciliation Article for March 2000
Pastor Joseph G.Krygier
Risk taking in establishing cross cultural relationships was where we ended our challenge last month.
Any relationship worth building is worth taking risks for its growth and health.
In our politically correct and doctrinally weak contemporary Christian culture, we have denied our Sovereign Christ that which is His in our relationships. We very rarely possess an “into all the world” mindset because we do not live with a God entranced world view.
A God entranced worldview is one where the Word of God is accepted as inerrant, all sufficient for me to gain instruction in godliness for living in a pagan world (2 Peter :3-4) and the final authority for my life.
The result of this is that I interpret all the events and circumstances of my life and the world around me from a biblical view point.
This is achieved by realizing “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Rom.11:36.
This means that Christ alone, faith alone, grace alone and scripture alone are the means by which we develop a God entranced view and this leads us to the ability to obey what Paul wrote in Rom.12:1,2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Renewing the mind with the Word of God and then obeying is what reconciliation, biblically and cross culturally is all about.
On the basis of a God entranced world view, I should be continually laying aside stereotypes and unbiblical ideas about others. I must not grow weary in well doing, Gal.6:7-9. Prejudice of every sort must be dealt with. This is risky, because it may be misunderstood by some.
I have a dear brother and close friend in the Lord, whom God created to be black in hue. He is a pastor who has a heart for biblical reconciliation and shepherds a multi-ethnic church. He has been severely criticized by some of his “brothers” for establishing a church that does not reflect only one dark hue. They do not possess a God entranced world view and are disobedient to both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. I have too many white “brothers” who make the same mistake.
Prejudice must also be attacked on a broader scale than ethnicity or “race”.
Do you associate with people from different class and social strata? Yes we do have class and social structure in our society and in our churches. Does your church reach out to the disadvantaged or the mentally or physically handicapped, intentionally? Maybe not because poor people and retarded people don’t bring money or ministries into the church, they need to be served.
So, now that we have begun to develop a relationship (see previous article) and established a time and place to meet and have agreed to be in prayer about our relationship and have established that there are many groups of people with whom we can build these relationships, we are ready to engage in risk taking for the glory of God.
It is risky to expose something about yourself to others because self-disclosure makes you vulnerable. but this is one of the risks that is necessary in developing relationships.
Trust and understanding will be based and continue to grow as you come out of your comfort zone. The scripture commands us (present imperative tense) “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2. It also says “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18.
Perkins and Rice say this in More Than Equals, “Reconciliation is white Christians and black Christians recognizing their need for each other. It is seeking from each other ways to demonstrate this love to each other, to our children and to the unbelieving world.” I would add yellow red, brown, handicapped or any other true Christian to this statement.
As you engage in the process of building cross-cultural relationships you will feel very hard pressed from all sides at times. People will question your motives, things will not always work out the way and when you hoped they would. You will be in a constant good guy-bad guy tension depending who you normally associate with.
However, just as the church that takes risks grows, so will you and those with whom you develop cross cultural relationships grow as you take risks to develop your relationship.
As you whittle down your cultural beliefs to embrace the Christ culture above your ethnicity and then appreciate the diversity that you have in Christ, you will be blessed beyond what you could imagine, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20,21.
Friday, February 9, 2007
