WHO STANDS TO LOSE MOST FROM THE FULL INTEGRATION OF THE CHURCH?

Date: Sat Jan 13 22:37:56 2007

Anyone who has heard me preach knows that I don't believe there are several "Upper Rooms". I don't believe there is one upper room for Black people, a second for White people, a third for Hispanics, a fourth for Asians, etc. People seem to think that the Holy Spirit will fall on their segregated Upper Rooms. How silly! Pentecost happened when Jews from ALL OVER THE WORLD were gathered TOGETHER! Why do you think they first spoke in tongues???

God wants his people to move out from their own little world and their own tongue and their own culture. The means to do so has been around for almost 2,000 years! We have the ability to speak in tongues and communicate with God AND each other regardless of language. If you don't believe me, and you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, get in a room with people who don't know English and speak in other tongues and see what spiritual fellowship develops.

My friends, many believe that their brand of Christianity will suffer when they integrate! Why else would most White Christians worship with other White Christians? Why else would most Black Christians worship with other Black Christians? The Same for Asian Christians, Hispanic Christians and every other group.

The Bible is clear. If you don't commit adultery, but are a partial person, you are guilty of the whole law! How many self-righteous people have YOU met who pride themselves on being moral people but who are partial to the CORE of their being? They are not justified before God! Paul taught us that the Body of Christ needs EVERY part. The simple truth is that the gospel is not COMPLETE in any all-white, all-black, or all-rich or all-poor, or all-anything church! And it never will be!

So, let's be real. Do White Christians believe that the culture they value almost as much as Christ (or in some cases more than Christ) will be diluted when they become integrated? Do Black Christians believe that the culture they value almost as much as Christ (or in some cases more than Christ) will be diluted when they become integrated? Does either believe they will become dominated by leaders of a different hue and thereby lose some self-actualization they see the church as a catalyst to produce?

I maintain that richness, balance, and witness to the world will ONLY come when the Body of Christ as it exists in heaven is also that way on earth. Jesus Christ taught us to pray that his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Is heaven segregated? Does Jesus have separate audiences for the dead in Christ depending on their hue? If not, and I cannot imagine ANYONE maintaining that would be the case, then it is not his will here EITHER.

I say, break down the walls, ditch culturally confining liturgies and worship and open up to everything anointed by God. THE ONE TO LOSE THE MOST FROM THE INTEGRATION OF THE CHURCH IS SATAN. He wants to keep people apart, and knows that as long as the church is divided, there is no cogent and persuasive witness of the RECONCILING power of the Blood of Jesus Christ.

I am prepared to have Satan lose this battle. Are you?