Sermon for 01/20/08

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Sermon for 01/20/08
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GRACISM: Everyone Has A Dot,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN

Bottom Line: When people deal with color, class, or culture in a negative way, that’s racism. But the answer is not to ignore differences as if they don’t matter. This sermon is the first in a series on how to we can focus on diversity in a positive way, as an opportunity to show God’s favor to others! That’s GRACISM! Today we talk about racism which is not only a skin problem, but a sin problem. The theological response to racism is Gracism: the positive extension of favor on other humans based on color, class, and culture. As God hears and sees those who are marginalized and misused, so must we. A Gracist reaches across ethnic lines and racial borders to pour out assistance and “extra grace” to those who are different, on the fringe, or marginalized. God is a Gracist, so should we be! (Primary source: “Gracism – The Art of Inclusion” by David A. Anderson) Praise God AMEN

1) HEAVEN! If you promise not to go to sleep, I would ask that you close your eyes. I want you to imagine you are in heaven. Naturally it is a perfect and beautiful day, and you are talking a leisurely walk through the streets of heaven to go and listen to the angels sing in the park. It’s promises to be a concert that thrills and inspires! But you’ve got time, and the smell of heavenly food from the surrounding cafes fills the air. You walk towards the pastry shop, and you greet the baker chefs with a hug! You laugh and talk with some of the other customers as they come and go. You help yourself to the pastries – they’re free, delicious, and have no calories! You walk back out into the square and greet many of the others who are also leisurely strolling toward the direction of the park. As you enter the gate of the park, you see people picnicking, playing baseball but not keeping score, and children running and playing. People are rowing boats out on the lake, or flying kites, or taking a nap with the lions (no cages of course). Those heading for the angel concert are increasing in numbers now. But you stop and just take it all in. Look at the faces of the people as they go by. There is joy on every face, love permeates the air, hugs and laughter are everywhere! It’s heaven! (Pause) Now before I ask you to open your eyes, I want you to take one more good look at the children of God – remember what you see. Now open your eyes.

2) ALL NATIONS/ALL PEOPLE? Now I want to ask you some questions: remember those faces in the park? How many of them were Japanese? How many from India? Were there Chinese, Ukrainians, Hispanics, and Eskimo’s? How many Africans or Arabs were in the crowd? Native Americans? Were there people from Hawaii or the Philippines? I ask these questions, because ...in Heaven, in God’s Kingdom, there will be people from all nations gathered in one place! If the Bible has taught us anything – it is that God loves diversity and is 100% inclusive! As the children of God, as His representatives here on earth, it is good to ask ourselves – do we also love diversity and are we just as inclusive? In the light of our changing world and local multicultural neighborhoods, do we extend favor to all people? Does our congregational makeup reflect the rich multicultural diversity found in heaven? And if not, should it? Is it even possible for a church to be inclusive of ALL PEOPLE? ...and ALL NATIONS?

3) INCLUSIVE! Now some of you may be thinking, “Well, pastor, Federal Way is NOT Heaven! And we are not pure and perfectly Christ-like! If you have taught us anything, we have learned that we are broken people in a broken world! And there is a big difference between theory and reality – even in our own hearts!” True. But if God’s salvation is meant for all people, (and it is), and if WE are to be His hands, feet, and voice to this multicultural world, (and we are), then shouldn’t this divine purpose compel us to want to be more inclusive? More Christ-like? And does not God send His Word (and the Holy Spirit through that Word) to empower us to DO just that? I do not pretend that becoming more inclusive is an easy task, but I do know that with God – nothing is impossible! I am not naïve about the hurdles facing any person or church now living in multicultural America – but if this church family is to reflect the heart of God to all people, we need to be open to the Spirit’s direction! So would it not be a good thing to explore the scriptures for direction and wisdom and the power to become more inclusive? Absolutely!

4) RED DOT! Where to begin? Well, I want to start with a social experiment in which 10 people were to interview at a company. But before they went to the office for the interview a red dot was painted on one cheek. After the interview was over, each person was debriefed. Each of the 10 people stated that the interviewer kept staring at the red dot on his or her cheek. Do you know why this is so interesting? Half of those interviewed were actually given a clear dot that was not visible on the skin at all. From this experiment we learn that people feel self-conscious about whatever makes them insecure. That insecurity might relate to one’s weight, gender, race, or any other distinctive characteristic that is viewed as a negative in society. (Pause) What is YOUR major insecurity? And do you ever feel like people are focusing on YOUR red dot?

5) DOTS! Face it: America used to be notorious around the world for acts of slavery, racial discrimination, and segregation. There were times when racial prejudice was a proud badge of honor. There were times when only white was right, and everything else from Native American, to African, to Chinese, to Jewish was wrong. Obviously this overt racism is for the most part gone, but there are still too many people who live in this country, who feel they have “visible dots” on their faces. Too many have been made to feel that their dots are ugly, unwanted, and are limiting their success. Some with dots feel as if they must over-achieve in order to succeed in society, while others feel that hope is lost and there is no reason to strive. How can people with perceived dots NOT come to the conclusion that their dottedness is a liability? Our own neighborhood is full of people who perceive themselves as the victims of prejudice based on their visible dot. Has the church nothing to say to these children of God?

6) DOTISM: WHITE MALES! I must point out, that dotism is no longer limited to minorities today. The pendulum has swung so far, that white males are now affected by and frustrated by the whole issue of exclusion and inclusion. Imagine being the interviewer who was told afterwards “You were staring at my dot the whole time!” Because the dot was invisible, how do you think the interviewer feels at such accusations? Suddenly BOTH people feel hurt and misunderstood! Dotism does not affect just minority groups. And... let’s face the facts – the white male is becoming a minority figure. By the year 2050, Caucasians will be a minority in America for the first time in our history. But we do not have to wait that long to see that white men have a dot of their own today. Some already feel they are targeted as “racists” and are often left out of social justice discussions today. Some feel their skin color automatically labels them as “oppressor” because of their resemblance to previous prejudiced generations. I’ve talked to many white men in the church who are nervous about discussing diversity and multiculturalism and feel threatened by it – wondering if they can be a part of the inclusion! But Jesus wants all of us to know, that if diversity is done right, according to His plan, then everyone – including white males – should feel welcomed in the fight against dotism, and the call to reflect God’s loving heart of inclusion!

7) MULTICULTURAL MISSION! In Genesis we were told that God made everything, including all people, and that “It was good!” Just as our creative God designed countless varieties of flowers and animals, He sprinkled multicultural diversity among His people – loving all of them! And after His children turned their back on Him, He relentlessly and compassionately chased after them, starting with the Hebrews and equipping them to be what? “I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations...” (Isaiah 42:6-7) Beginning back with Abraham His multicultural mission was made very clear:

The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." This multicultural mission is our inheritance!

8) HIS CHURCH? Our God is a multicultural God! His mission is a multicultural mission. Should not His church reflect that in everything we say and do? In Abraham God creates a rainbow people so that the world might know that in spite of our sinfulness, God has not abandoned us. Abraham listened and obeyed God. Can His church sit in a multicultural society and still remain in homogenous and ethnocentric congregations, and then claim we have listened and obeyed God? From our segregated churches, do we really expect the world to take Christ’s promises seriously if we yell from our stained-glass windows “Do as I say, not as I do!”? If God loves everybody, then can unbelievers trust us when our pews seem to hold only a select few with a single cultural perspective? If dotism exists in the family of God – no wonder His church appears to be losing it’s voice and influence in a multicultural global community!

9) RACISM = SIN! Let’s face it; You have to do a whole lot of scripture twisting if you want to defend racism! Racism is not simply a skin problem – it’s a sin problem! And the impact of sin is always negative! And yet, all people sin! And that means we all struggle with sins of superiority, inferiority, greed, and fear of those who are different from ourselves. Our little walk through the park in heaven may have surprised some of us initially to discover how little diversity was pictured in our minds. Do you think heaven is segregated? Hardly, but even in our minds, there were people left out. Certain dots were missing - excluded! And we all need to confess that various amounts of prejudice exist within us all. I once heard one WWII vet that belonged to my church rant and rave about those “Japs” and how he still wanted nothing to do with them. One pastor recently told me of a member who came into complain about a Latino Mission Church using their building, and called them “Damn Mexicans!” Now those are extreme and obvious cases of racism and yes, sin! But who of us can stand and say that there are not certain dots that we still struggle with? God may accept us right where we are – broken sinners; but He has no intension of leaving us there! Dotism, which includes racism, is a sin. And while God hates sin, He loves sinners. All sinners. So should we!

10) AN ANSWER! We are now living in a country that is awkwardly trying to pull itself of the muddy waters of “racism”. And it is so important for us to remember; whether you are white, black, Hispanic, male, female, gay, straight, disabled or overweight – EVERYONE has a dot of distinction! And everyone has the capability of putting someone else down based on that person’s color, culture, or class. No matter what form it takes, dotism still exists because sin exists! There must be an answer to dotism that doesn’t leave people feeling left out, judged, or discriminated against! There must be an answer for those in the power position to declare their innocence and swear to the world that they saw no dot on the interviewee’s face! There must be an answer - a theological response - to racism in our culture and racial segregation in the church. Right? There is an answer – it’s Gracism!

11) GRACISM! First, let’s define racism as speaking, acting, or thinking negatively about someone else solely based on their color, class, or culture. A common definition for grace is the unmerited favor of God on humankind. Extending such favor and kindness towards others is how we Christians demonstrate this grace from day to day. When we crash racism, which is negative, into grace, which is positive, we get Gracism! God’s power always triumphs. And Gracism is the positive extension of favor on other human beings based on color, class, and culture. It’s what Paul was referring to when he said, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:10) Let us do good to all people! The extension of favor to others is biblical! Gracism is biblical! Racism is not!

12) FAVORITISM? Now “extending favor” to others based on color, class, and culture is not “favoritism”, which James warns us against. “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” (James 2:8-9) To discriminate against, exclude, and not love everyone is a sin. James is saying we are not to discriminate against ANYONE! But does that mean that extending favor in an environment where everyone is loved and treated with equal respect is wrong? Is “extending favor” favoritism? A sin? Hardly!

13) EXTENDING FAVOR! Even God is shown time and time again in scripture extending favor, that is, giving extra attention to the poor, the needy, the orphans, and widows. God hears and sees those who are marginalized and misused. He has a special place in His heart for those who society casts out, or ignores. Even when no one else sees us, God sees us! When no one else notices, He does! When it seems like no one else is listening to you, God hears you and is paying close attention. This is the heart of a gracist! The one who intentionally pursues, listens to, sees, and pays attention to those on the margins, showing them favor, is a gracist! Favor is showering extra grace on a few while having love for all. Favoritism is purposefully neglecting the needs of the many to accommodate the greeds and comforts of a few. While extending favor is the art of inclusion, favoritism is the exercise of exclusion. As Christ showed, it is possible to extend favor without engaging in favoritism. There is a big difference between the two. One is from God, the other is a human sin!

14) GOD IN FRONT! When one puts “G”, which stands for God, in front of the negative concept of racism, then we have begun to identify the solutions and resources to address the problems of exclusion, both in our own hearts and in the world. However, implementing the solution does not come easy. Why? Because exclusion and racism brings with it anger, bitterness, prejudice and pride. It’s not until we repent of our sins personally, and put God in front of the problem of exclusion and racism that there is any hope of diminishing the problem. I know one thing, unless we put God in front, unless we open our hearts to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot receive the patience, kindness, and forgiveness of grace. Unless we put God in front, we cannot extend that grace to others, reflecting the heart of Christ! Unless we put God in front, we cannot extend favor to others who feel like that everyone is looking negatively at their dot.

15) ARE YOU? In the weeks to come we‘ll explore 1st Corinthian 12 which defines the 7 characteristics of a Gracist! But for now, it is enough to ask today: Are you a Gracist? Are you someone who intentionally reaches across ethnic, racial, and cultural lines to lend assistance and “extra grace” to those who are different, on the fringe, or marginalized? Are you someone who builds “bridges of inclusion”? If you are like me, you want to say “Yes”, but there are still remnants of “dotism” due to sin. Thankfully Jesus never asks us to clean up our act on our own. And through His blessed Word, He provides the wisdom, guidance, and power to be transformed so that our heart begins to resemble more and more the heart of God! He and He alone can provide the ability to be become a Gracist.

16) GOD IS A GRACIST! Friends, Christ is here this morning to remind you that when you really do get to heaven, you’ll discover your God is a multicultural God! You will see people of every shape, color, and nation. His plan of salvation includes them all. His arms desire to embrace them all! ...because His heart truly loves them all! God is a Gracist! He created diversity and sees us all as gifts to one another! His love breaks in today to say that the world’s dots are invisible to Him! As He hears and sees you, so He hears and sees EVERYONE! As He builds a bridge of inclusion to you, so He builds a bridge of inclusion to those of every color, class, and culture. That bridge is Jesus Christ! As the Son of God, He too is a gracist! And as Jesus comes to live inside you, He will work at molding you, a child of God, into a gracist too! Praise God, AMEN

Confessional Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we confess that too often we see the distinctive dots on others in a negative way. We have not always looked at diversity as a good thing. We have not always gone out of our way to reflect your love and extend extra grace on those who have been marginalized, mistreated, or ignored. Forgive us for not reflecting your heavenly kingdom and extending favor to all people regardless of their color, class, or culture.

Lord, we confess that we have spent little time thinking about your multicultural heart and mission! We have been content to care for our own and leave others to fend for themselves. Our hearts are not pure or empty of prejudice, and we struggle to love all people as you do. Forgive us, and do not leave us in this sinful condition, but fill us now with your Holy Spirit that we too may follow in your footsteps and become Gracists!

And now, although you know us better than we know ourselves, listen as we share in a moment of silence, those other parts of our lives that need to be forgiven, washed clean, and made anew.

(Silence)

Lord, you are a multicultural God, with a multicultural mission. As your church, reshape our thinking, transform our hearts, reshape our daily ministry to become a multicultural people. Empower us more and more each day to obey your desire to bring salvation, love, hope, and faith to all people! AMEN

Assurance of Forgiveness:

Friends, listen to the good news: the Lord who has been, is, and will always be a Gracist, …that Lord has heard your confession and lovingly forgives you all your sins. Go, and let Him empower you to become a Gracist too! Intentionally extend His favor to all people in everything you say and do! AMEN

Opening Prayer:

Dear Lord, today we call this special place “Holy”, because You are here among us, and we are blessed to be Your family. We are a family with a divine mission; to share Your love with all people. As important as this mission is, it is a daunting task, and we need some help. We need Your help! So, as we come here today to find hope, faith, and love – so too teach us to extend it to others, even those who appear so very different from ourselves. As we come to have our sin forgiven and washed away, so too help us deliver this freedom to the variety of people who now live close to us. As we come to lay our burdens at your feet, seeking wisdom and truth, so too help us break down the barriers that keep us from sharing these life-giving gifts with every person You place in our path. As our hearts are lifted up while praising You, talking with You, and receiving You in the sacraments – so too, enable us to open the door for others to have their hearts lifted and filled with all Your abundant and life-giving blessings. Help us to share the joy, the inner peace, the love, and the grace You bring us, with those we will meet this week! It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN

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