By Victor Clay, M.Div.

Part 1

This will be a multi-part devotional offered for individuals, the local church and the universal church to consider as we face the racial tension that continues to plague our conscious, churches, communities, and the culture worldwide.

Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In the North American church today, we have fascinated ourselves with spiritual promises and become preoccupied with “the blessed hope” of Christ’s coming. In the midst of programs, buildings, and prosperity we have forgotten one simple fact – we are sinners. We have failed to repent of our national sin of racism. It is time for a “baptism of repentance” in which we recognize the true spirituality of Christianity.1

This quote targets the problem of the American church, when it comes to multi-ethnic reflection in churches. As I examine the culture, context, and community of our own church, I questioned whether we were really reflecting the ethnic makeup of our community. While examining our community I’ve found that there is a large Hispanic contingency in our community that is rapidly growing. As I reflected on my church planting education at MBTS, I was reminded of the fact, of the importance of finding what is known as a “Person of Peace.” The purpose behind this is to find someone who has a burden for the community, knows the community, and is willing to act as your introducer to the community.

I began to seek God’s leading through prayer. I was soon introduced to Michael Dominguez. Mr. Dominguez is the owner of Dominguez Truck, Trailer and Auto Repair Services. He is also a member of the Wyandotte Countians Against Crime Committee, where he serves as a Spanish translator, board member, and Vice President.

I called Mr. Dominguez, and asked him if he would be willing to meet for an interview for a school and church project I was working on. He excitedly agreed to meet for lunch. We met at his automotive shop. His wife prepared a Mexican style lunch for us.

Mr. Dominguez shared with me his Christian testimony and his experience as a minister in various churches in Mexico and the U.S. As we began to dialogue it became clear that Mr. Dominguez was making the mistake of what the authors called “Cultural Constantionism which seeks to control societies over which we have no authority.”2

1 James & Lillian Breckenridge, What Color is Your God? (Bridge Point Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1997) pp.11.

2 Page 26

While we as Christians would probably not intentionally try to oppress others who are different in color, culture, and class, or even gender, we do have the habit of forcing our private views, values, and verbiage on those who are the minority group. “A Christian view of multiculturalism, would include the influence of the living Christ, as perceived through the text of Holy Scripture, upon the language, art, music, and social mandates of the culture which receives Him.”3

I shared with Mr. Dominguez our church’s desire to reach 2nd and 3rd generation Hispanics within our community. His first suggestion for accomplishing that task was to learn their language. He used Acts 21:37-39 to verify this particular stance. In view of Paul’s desire to speak to the people, he needed to speak in their language. In his contextualization of this text, those who desire to reach minority groups different than their own must be willing to learn their language in order to speak and to reach them. Based on the concept of “What Color is Your God?”, the common ground we must start with is the fact that all men are created in the image of God, and as a result of the fall we are all sinners. As sinners we are all in need of the redemption that can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, anyone who has been redeemed is equal. We must find our commonality in Christ who is the hope of all mankind.

The question for today based on this discussion is “What Color Is Your God?” and “What Color Are The People He Offers Salvation To?”