One of my best friends was born in Brazil, grew up there, and has been to more countries than I can identify on a map. His wife is Brazilian as well, and has several different races mixed in her blood. They help lead an awesome ministry to Brazilian families in Kansas City, and use our church facilities as a missions/ministry base.
Last Sunday, someone walked up to my friend before church and said, "You and 'your people' can't use the church next week because we're using it for something else." My friend has more grace than I do because he found their comments more humorous than offensive. I wasn't at church on Sunday and I just found out about this last night. Had I heard them say it, I swear I would have physically removed them from the premises, in the process reminding them that their Saviour isn't white, didn't grow up in the suburbs, and died on a cross so that people who are stupid and ignorant like them, can be healed.
I guess I don't understand how or why the church became so homogenized and Sunday became the most segregated day of the week. It doesn't feel right, sure doesn't look right, and I hope isn't a fair representation of the Kingdom of God.
So what's the cause? Is it simply a difference in worship style, musical expression, and cultural surroundings? On some level, but I'm afraid there is a little more at work here. Let's be honest... if your church members are all one color, run and led by a group of men, and governed by old people, you aren't a church as much as you are a special interest group.
An honest pursuit of God should compose of an eclectic community of races, ages, sexes, and ideas. Anything else is a collection of people with preconceived ideologies, worshipping under the guise of passion for God, while rejecting His great plan for humanity.
So today I'm glad to follow God alongside my friends from Brazil who consider English their second language and America their second home, but me their best friend even though my skin is different, my accent is not the same, and my background and ideas are quite a bit different. I consider them 'my people'.
I bless you to no longer be stigmatized by your race, religion, and age, but by your ability to listen, learn, and love those who aren't just like you.
