RACIAL HARMONY PART 2

WHAT RACE ARE YOU

1 COR. 9:19-22

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 (HCSB)
¹⁹ For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people.
²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law.
²¹ To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law—not being outside God’s law, but under the law of Christ—to win those outside the law.
²² To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.

INTRO:  This is the second part in our 3 part series, “Racial Harmony.”  Last week, we looked at, “His peace brings us together.”  Next week we are going to look at, “A new song for a new race.”  This week we are asking the question, “What race are you?”

Listen to this true story. Rabbi Michael Weisser lived inLincoln, Nebraska. And for more than 3 years, Larry Trapp, a self-proclaimed Nazi & Ku Klux Klansman, directed a torrent of hate-filled mailings & phone calls toward him.

Trapp promoted white supremacy, anti-Semitism, & other messages of prejudice, declaring his apartment the KKK state headquarters & himself the grand dragon. His whole purpose in life seemed to be to spew out hate-ridden racial slurs & obscene remarks against Weisser & all those like him.

At first, the Weissers were so afraid they locked their doors & worried themselves almost sick over the safety of their family. But one day Rabbi Weisser found out that Trapp was a 42-year-old clinically blind, double amputee. And he became convinced that Trapp’s own physical helplessness was a source of the bitterness he expressed.

So Rabbi Weisser decided to do the unexpected. He left a message on Trapp’s answering machine, telling him of another side of life…a life free of hatred & racism.
Rabbi Weisser said, "I probably called 10 times & left messages before he finally picked up the phone & asked me why I was harassing him. I said that I’d like to help him. I offered him a ride to the grocery store or to the mall."

Trapp was stunned. Disarmed by the kindness & courtesy, he started thinking. He later admitted, through tears, that he heard in the rabbi’s voice, "something I hadn’t experienced in years. It was love."

Slowly the bitter man began to soften. One night he called the Weissers & said he wanted out, but didn’t know how. They grabbed a bucket of fried chicken & took him dinner. Before long they made a trade: in return for their love he gave them his swastika rings, hate tracts, & Klan robes.

That same day Trapp gave up his Ku Klux Klan recruiting job & dumped the rest of his propaganda in the trash. "They showed me so much love that I couldn’t help but love them back," he finally confessed.

Folks, if that could happen in Lincoln, Nebraska , what could happen here in our community, in our neighborhoods, if we truly began to live lives that showed the love of Jesus to those around us?

The following story I told was of a man, who went above and beyond his race, Jewish and reached out with a heart of love to a man who hated Jews.  He didn’t let his race stop him from loving the unlovable.

Now I have a question for you today:  What race are you?  At first glance, this question is rather obvious.  Let me tell you of the two races I am.  You see, I may look white, but in reality I’m a mixed race person.  I’m half German, part Irish with a little Cherokee Indian mixed in.  But more importantly, I’m part of the human race.  Not only that, but I’m also a member of a chosen race, a member of a holy nation, a person of God’s own possession. 1 Peter 2:9 (HCSB)
⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Let’s look further into our Scripture text this morning:

1.  Who we are isn’t based on our skin color, but our position in Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:20-22 (HCSB)
²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law.
²¹ To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law—not being outside God’s law, but under the law of Christ—to win those outside the law.
²² To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.

A.     Paul list 3 types of people here:

1.      The Jews (v. 20).  These were those born under the Law, tried to be justified by the Law, had the prophesy’s and the Law taught to them from a very early age.

2.      The Gentiles (v. 21).  These are those who are not Jews.  These are those born outside the Law of God, and do not have the Law to guide them.

3.      The weak (vv. 20b & 22).  I believe that that these are those born outside of the Law, but are trying to keep the Law.  In other words, Gentiles trying to convert to Judaism.  On down the line in 1 Corinthians Paul declares that these Gentiles trying to keep the ceremonial aspects of the Law (eating and drinking) were weak (Chapter 10).

2.  Paul said that He’d become like them.  How would he do this:

     A.  In front of the Jews, Paul would do things according to the Law.

Acts 16:3 (HCSB)
³ Paul wanted Timothy to go with him, so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Acts 21:26 (HCSB)
²⁶ Then the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering for each of them would be made.

B.     To the Gentile, he would become like a Gentile.

1.      He would eat and drink whatever was offered before him, and not mention Sabbaths, Circumcision, etc…

1 Corinthians 10:27 (HCSB)
²⁷ If one of the unbelievers invites you over and you want to go, eat everything that is set before you, without raising questions of conscience.

Galatians 5:11 (HCSB)
¹¹ Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

Galatians 4:9-12 (NASB)
⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years.
¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
¹² I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;

C.     To the weak, he wouldn’t eat meat in front of them if it had been known to have been sacrificed to idols.

1 Corinthians 10:28 (HCSB)
²⁸ But if someone says to you, “This is food offered to an idol,” do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake.

3.  Racial harmony begins when we follow Jesus’ example.

1 Corinthians 9:19 (HCSB)
¹⁹ For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people.

John 13:4-5 (HCSB)
⁴ So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself.
⁵ Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.

A.     We must be willing to become everyone’s servant, no matter the race.

B.     Ministry is not based on race, but on need.

4.  Racial harmony begins when we endeavor to show each other the highest honor.

Romans 12:10 (HCSB)
¹⁰ Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.

A.     You will notice in this translation is says to show family affection.

1.      The reason is because we may be of different races, nationalities, and colors, but if Christ Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we are of the same family.

2.      So we should treat each other as family.

B.     We are also supposed to outdo one another in showing honor.

1.      Our goal and plan should not be to have our name up in lights for everyone to see, but to lift up other believers and encourage them in the faith, showing each other the highest honor we possibly can.

CONCL:  No matter what our background, family history, and skin color; if we are born again Christians, we are the same race: a new creation in Christ.  Instead of discussing our differences, let’s bring Christ into the great racial divide.  He truly is the answer.