Those who know me, know that I’m a fairly steady person. I rarely get emotional about anything. This story, though, absolutely ticks me off. I can’t believe as we sit here in 2011…in the United States…in the Church that stuff like this still happens.
A friend of a friend contacted me this weekend. Here’s an excerpt of what he shared:
“I spent the last four months as lead pastor of [a church in the Southeast] and was let go last week for baptizing six black teens into an all-white church. Even though the church leadership assured me that racial integration wouldn’t be a problem during the interview process, a handful of the high-dollar folks revolted and had me removed without the church’s knowledge…”
I rarely get angry, but these actions are so outside God’s design for the church that I’m left repulsed.
Just as a reminder, this is God’s design for people who call themselves Christ-followers:
- “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
- “So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.’” (Acts 10:34-35)
- “But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” (James 2:9)
- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
- “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.” (1 John 2:9)
I could go on and on, but it’s not worth it. I’m sure the folks who made this decision are not reading my writing. I pray there’s eventually personal conviction and that God’s justice prevails. By the way, it’s in instances like this that I’m glad I worship and serve a just God. My God gets angry too.
In the mean time, we have a very qualified man who is without a job. I’ve never done this, and likely won’t do it again in the future, but I want to help him find a position. He has some strong credentials including a Master of Divinity and a Master of Business Administration. He’s been a senior pastor and a church planter. He also has experience working for one of the top business consulting firms. He’s a leader, a teacher and a strategist. Most important, he’s a man of conviction.
