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Are You a Racist? Missions can help answer the question.

In order for the gospel of Christ to advance it must bust through barriers. These barriers are all the fruit of depravity, a reality of living in a post-Genesis 3 world.

Racism is one of these barriers that must be kicked over.

Think about how the story ends. In the book of Revelation, chapter 5, we read of the heavenly chorus proclaiming:

And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
(Revelation 5:9-10 ESV)

Do you see how the Lamb means to get praise for his purchase of people from all nations and people groups? The Lord Jesus Christ will be eternally enveloped in praise for the power of his omni-ethnic gospel.

How does this happen? The risen Jesus commands his followers to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28.19-21). This is a mandate for Christians to carry the gospel banner into all nations and to all people groups. This is how King Jesus means to secure his praise.

It is pretty clear thus far that Jesus has purchased people from all nations and that the announcement of such a purchase is to be announced by his followers.

But, how successful would this be if Jesus’ followers were racist? What would it look like if Christians refused to love, serve and preach to people who did not look, sound, or live just like them?

We have a toddler in my home. He eats crackers like a tree-trimmer mulches trees. Suffice it to say, he leaves a bit of a trail. Yesterday he was letting me know that he wanted another cracker. Because I love him and hate to hear crying, I gave him a cracker. Not long after he was in full tree-trimmer mode. What I did not know at the time was that my wife was sweeping the floor. She was cleaning up the other shavings from his previous crackers. In satisfying the desires of my son I was completely undermining what my wife was doing. Too often Christians are as oblivious to what Christ is doing as I was to what my wife was doing. It is one thing to have to grab a broom and apologize to my wife for my ignorance but how ridiculous is it to think that we might be actively opposing Christ’s work in reaching the nations?

There are obviously ways to actively get behind international missions. This can be done financially or by personally serving as a missionary overseas. Because of circumstances and calling, many people are not able to do this. You should not feel guilty over this. But all of us should be burdened for and praying for the advancement of the gospel among the nations. This is something that we all can do.

Furthermore, we are tremendously blessed here in the West with the increased diversity of our cities. The global community has increasingly become local. How does this impact you as a missionary? What are you doing to reach the nations in your city? Do you want to reach them?

The gospel crashes through barriers of comfort. It intends to tear down and replace the worldview hangovers that we have from the fall. The gospel works to eradicate racism through adoption into the family of God. The Holy Spirit is working to apply the gospel to people from all nations. He will use people like you and me to bring that word to them.

How does this sit with your view of the world, of people? Many people won’t even realize that they have racial issues until they are forced to grapple with the implications of the great commission. Whether you think Jonah was racist or not, the fact remains he did not want to obey God and go to Nineveh. He did not love God enough to obey and he did not love the people enough to sacrifice. Instead he loved himself and his comfort enough to disobey. The gospel unfastens us from ourselves by crushing racism and ushering in adoption.

The cross tells us what to say, the Great Commission tells us who to say it to, and the heavenly telescope in Revelation 5 reminds us that it is worth it. So wrestle with your own heart in light of the Christ’s plan for your life. Let mission uncover racism and then smash that idol with heavenly zeal.

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