Racial Reconciliation
Racial reconciliation is a noble notion, but a farce without reconciliation to God (Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18–20; Eph 2:16). Thus, the Christian message, as it pertains to race relations, is, “Be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.”
We all got off the same ship, as a family, in Genesis 8:13–19; but the sons of Adam often forget it was God who confused our languages and scattered us in Genesis 11.
Our division is the result of His judgment upon our sins…and especially, our ambitious unity without Him. In other words, in every generation, people look for someone to unite us, so we can be as one. Secretly, our devil-designed desire is to be like gods, in this exalted endeavor for human-unity (see Gen 3 and Gen 11). Someone is coming, in the spirit and power of Satan, who will prove to be the pinnacle of human unity without God. Every person in history, who carries this unifying power, is typical of this man to come (2 Thess 2). Uniters beware!
Godless people construct social and political means to bring everyone together under the banner of some unifying philosophy. Man’s wisdom is ever-ecstatic in its quest to build a unified utopia…ironically, in a sin-laden, fallen world (guaranteed failure). We construct bronze statues for them, to give them honor and glory for their ideas, efforts, and sacrifices. The futility of this man-centered debacle is repeated over and over again by princes, popes, potentates, and political activists. The fact that God will not allow this agenda to manifest, apart from Himself, is utterly missed by these altruistic alchemists (see Gen 11).
Enter Jesus Christ.
There is only one man, under heaven, among men, whereby, unity becomes reality. The unique conception, birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement of the Lord Jesus Christ, positions Him as the sole unifier of humanity (Acts 10:36; Rom 11:36).
Christ Jesus sits on the throne of God (Ps 110:1), ruling and reigning over all, and He is bringing many sons to glory (family), being Himself, the ark of salvation (think Noah). There is salvation, hence, unity, in no one else (Acts 4:12). No one.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ calls God’s people to come into the ark of His salvation (Mt 11:28; Jn 6:44). The chosen and effectually called enter and rejoice in the place reserved for them (1 Pet 1:4), regardless of skin color, gender, performance, nationality, language, etc. (Rev 5:9; 7:9). In this ark, they will be delivered from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10).
People may rally with rainbows all day long, but that covenant sign only removes the fear of another deluge of wrath by water. Oblivious, in their antinomian revelry, they refuse to heed the warning of our God, who is a consuming fire (2 Pet 3:7), and who has appointed a day of judgment to come…with burning fire, forever fire (Mt 18:8; 25:41; Jude 7).
Racial strife is the product of sin. Sin is not going away until the death of this world (2 Pet 3:10–13). Thus, racial discord will continue until the end of the age. There is no new thing under the sun in a sinful world.
To call a man, “brother,” in Adam, is to acknowledge the failure of human ideology and endeavor for racial unity. Adam’s kids tend to kill their brothers, not unify them (Gen 4).
To call a man, “brother,” in Christ, is to acknowledge the glorious victory of reconciliation, of every kind, at the Cross of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 7:14). Here God says, “Behold, I do a new thing,” and so there is, indeed, a new thing under the Son. By His doing, His people are transferred to be in Him (1 Cor 1:30; Col 1:13).
As the Godhead (Trinity) lives in perfect unity and in community, so they extend the Holy Spirit to begin our incorporation into their family of love (Mt 3:11; Jn 3:1–8; Acts 11:18; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13; 1 Pet 1:3).
Christians, those who have entered into Christ by His doing (1 Cor 1:30), are learning to be sons of God in the model of our older, perfect, brother, Jesus Christ. In Him, the Spirit baptizes (to bring something into contact with something else, where it is transformed) us and sanctifies (fits) us into our proper place in the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13; Eph 2:20–22).
Today, and forever, there is only one place for racial reconciliation. It is not found on the streets of your disobedient city (Gal 4:25). It is found in the city of God (Rev 21–22). It is not found in the philosophy of men (Eph 4:17). It is found in Christ, the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24). It is not found in your human figurehead (2 Thess 2). It is found in King Jesus, alone (Gal 3:28). Today and everyday, already reconciled people proclaim Him (Col 1:28), our only hope and reality…to be family, again, forever.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
February 18, 2022
