Stories: Brother Louie"

Racism is evil. I'm certain almost every one agrees. So a group called Stories did their part in 1973 to oppose racism in a song. Check it out here.

We know that the Bible isn't racist, even if some atheists say so. They claim their opinion is true because some racists wrenched Bible verses way out of their context to prove their point.

Certainly we genuine Christians ought not to be racist. As Paul wrote of our salvation in Galatians 3:28 (Bible in Basic English), "There is no Jew or Greek, servant or free, male or female: because you are all one in Jesus Christ."

Revelation 7:9 and 10 (BBE) also shows that heaven is filled with people from all over the planet. "After these things I saw a great army of people more than might be numbered, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and languages, taking their places before the high seat and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, and with branches in their hands, Saying with a loud voice, 'Salvation to our God who is seated on the high seat, and to the Lamb.'"

While Paul was waiting in Athens, he told the Greek philosophers about their "unknown god" and how he assigned places for all races. Acts 17:26 and 27 (BBE) says, "And he has made of one blood all the nations of men living on all the face of the earth, ordering their times and the limits of their lands, So that they might make search for God, in order, if possible, to get knowledge of him and make discovery of him, though he is not far from every one of us:"

Though Israelites were told not to mingle with gentiles, it was to protect them from being paganized. But this doesn't apply to us Christians. 

Peter certainly learned that lesson about gentiles in Acts 10:46 and 47 (BBE). "And they were talking in tongues, and giving glory to God. Then Peter said, 'Will any man say that these may not have baptism who have been given the Holy Spirit as we have?'"

If Christ hasn't drawn all races of Christians to himself in the air by Saturday, I hope to post about a beautiful song and how we need to step out in faith.

Focus: "Black Beauty)

 What a shame that most folks don't know about this Dutch jazz-rock band's music. It's partly why I'd like to feature this song. The other reason is that it speaks of love forbidden by cultural taboos. While not being as lyrically potent today, we still live with racism and the barriers erected by cultures.

Listen to the song here:

I'm glad that Christianity isn't a "white man's" religion. Paul showed how it transcends all racial and cultural boundaries in Galatians 3:28 (Bible in Basic English). "There is no Jew or Greek, servant or free, male or female: because you are all one in Jesus Christ."

Jesus also wanted his good news to spread to all the world. Matthew 28:19 and 20 (BBE) says plainly, "Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to keep all the rules which I have given you: and see, I am ever with you, even to the end of the world."

Even so, the Jewish Christians wanted to remain in Jerusalem. But God used persecution to scatter them, as we read in Acts 8:4 (BBE). "But those who had gone in flight went everywhere preaching the word."

We also read in that chapter how the gospel entered the African continent. Acts 8:34-36 (BBE) reads, "And the Ethiopian said to Philip, 'About whom are these words said by the prophet? about himself, or some other?' So Philip, starting from this writing, gave him the good news about Jesus. And while they were going on their way, they came to some water, and the Ethiopian said, 'See, here is water; why may I not have baptism?'"

But many Jewish Christians, including Peter, couldn't grasp the universality of the gospel. We read in Acts 10:44-46 BBE) how God gave the Holy Spirit to non Jews as well. "While Peter was saying these words, the Holy Spirit came on all those who were hearing the word. And the Jews of the faith, who had come with Peter, were full of wonder, because the Holy Spirit was given to the Gentiles, And they were talking in tongues, and giving glory to God."

We also read how salvation is for any person from any tribe and nation who desires it. As 1 John 2:2 (BBE) declares about Christ's saving work, "He is the offering for our sins; and not for ours only, but for all the world."

A day will come when we believers will be in heaven, praising the Lord as one people. Revelation 5:9 and 10 (BBE) tells what it will be like. "And their voices are sounding in a new song, saying, 'It is right for you to take the book and to make it open: for you were put to death and have made an offering to God of your blood for men of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation, And have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are ruling on the earth.'"

If Christ hasn't returned by Thursday, I hope to post about how the world views us who follow Christ.

Saturday Song: Albert Hammond, The Free Electric Band

This song was a hit in the spring of 1973. It's about how people expect us to do what they planned but we desire to do what we feel passionate about. Though I enjoyed the song, one line made me feel uncomfortable.

Because I had heard about how atheistic universities had become, even back then, the line about analysing a woman's mind for "deep-rooted attitudes and morals," gave me an uneasy feeling. I never liked being scrutinized by fully-sighted folks and I disliked the thought of others suffering the same fate.

Here Albert Hammond's song here.

This is one unfortunate aspect of being human. Anybody who is different in some way becomes an unwelcome problem to groups sharing similarities. Skin colour is one division in human society. So are languages, religions, genders, and disabilities.

I'm glad that Christianity includes anybody of any ethnic background or other superficial differences. It isn't a "white man's religion" as some people think and neither is it only for westerners.

Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 3:28 (KJV) regarding artificial divisions. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

This is why I love Christians no matter where they live. We're all adoptees in the family of Christ. What a privilege!

If you'd like to comment on this song and what I wrote, please feel free to do so. And if not, have a wonderful weekend anyway.

Saturday Song: Bolland & Bolland, The Wall Came Tumblin' Down

The construction and demolition of the Berlin Wall demonstrated communism's true nature. While promising everybody a "workers' paradise," it delivered only oppression to the masses.

When East Germany gave up communism on November 9th, 1989, the joyous throngs smashed down that hateful symbol of the Cold War.

Bolland & Bolland recorded a song to commemorate both the erection and destruction of the wall. Their official video used footage of both events.

See and Hear the song's video here.

Another wall came tumbling down in the first century. But instead of cement, it was made of cultural bias and custom. Peter had been a devout Jew all of his life. When Christ called him to follow, he still had plenty of cultural baggage. Even after the Lord's resurrection, Peter still clung to his Old Testament ideas of separation from gentiles.

But God gave Peter a vision in Acts chapter ten which showed him that the gentiles also were part of what Paul called "the Israel of God."

As Luke recorded in Acts 10:28 (KJV), "And he (Peter) said unto them, 'Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.'"

We see how Christ united Jew and gentile in Ephesians 2:14 (KJV). "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;"

And as Paul also wrote in Galatians 3:28 (KJV), "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

So, what do you think of this song and what I've written here? Please feel free to let me know. But if you don't have time to do that, have a beautiful weekend and remember our military folks.