On Pentecost Sunday, the church celebrates its birth and also its newfound
diversity. Jesus of course was Jewish and he said his first mission was to the lost
sheep of Israel. But on Pentecost the Holy Spirit spills out on everyone: both
Hebrews and Greeks, on Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of
Mesopotamia. The Holy Spirit goes worldwide. The message of Jesus is for all
people.
This new Christian church, these Christ followers were opening up to the world,
and to the people of the world. Jesus predicted this when he said, “my house shall
be a house of prayer for all people.” Indeed, the message of Christ has spread
across the globe. Christians can be found in every country, every tribe and every
nation of the earth.
In Europe in the 1940’s we witnessed the horrible “final solution” to the ideology
of race and Arian racial superiority, the dehumanization and murder of six million
Jews, and the displacement and suffering of millions more. Unfortunately in this
country, we also are still far short of being a color blind society. When our
founding leaders some 400 years ago decided that European or white skin would
rule and African or black skin would labor, a great sin was born in our land. This
sin is so deep, it led to slavery and a legal system that favored whites over and
above blacks. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the Constitution were
meant to change and correct our legal system, but it failed to protect people of
color from lynching and mass incarceration. Reforms of the civil rights
legislation of the 1960s helped, but here we are in 2020, where a black man in
Georgia jogging is seen as a threat. Ahmaud Arbery was killed while jogging
because someone who saw him as he passed by on his run and decided that
surely he must be a criminal. Just this week, George Floyd in Minneapolis, cries
for help while he suffocates under a policeman’s knee on his neck.
As Christians we must cry out for justice. Too many people have been sent to
their deaths because they were profiled of as Jews, Muslims or Africans. We
are called to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves. We are to
actively work to protect our neighbors. We cannot be silent when a person is
denied their personhood. God is the creator of all life. The church at Pentecost
welcomed people of all skin colors, all languages and all nationalities. We still
have much work to do to overcome our past sins. Redemption starts with you
and me. It starts when God convicts us of our sin. It is lived in genuine care and
concern for all of God’s people, as brothers and sisters. Together let us work
together to build an inclusive community of faith at St. Luke.
Grace and Peace to all,
Pastor Cliff
diversity. Jesus of course was Jewish and he said his first mission was to the lost
sheep of Israel. But on Pentecost the Holy Spirit spills out on everyone: both
Hebrews and Greeks, on Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of
Mesopotamia. The Holy Spirit goes worldwide. The message of Jesus is for all
people.
This new Christian church, these Christ followers were opening up to the world,
and to the people of the world. Jesus predicted this when he said, “my house shall
be a house of prayer for all people.” Indeed, the message of Christ has spread
across the globe. Christians can be found in every country, every tribe and every
nation of the earth.
In Europe in the 1940’s we witnessed the horrible “final solution” to the ideology
of race and Arian racial superiority, the dehumanization and murder of six million
Jews, and the displacement and suffering of millions more. Unfortunately in this
country, we also are still far short of being a color blind society. When our
founding leaders some 400 years ago decided that European or white skin would
rule and African or black skin would labor, a great sin was born in our land. This
sin is so deep, it led to slavery and a legal system that favored whites over and
above blacks. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the Constitution were
meant to change and correct our legal system, but it failed to protect people of
color from lynching and mass incarceration. Reforms of the civil rights
legislation of the 1960s helped, but here we are in 2020, where a black man in
Georgia jogging is seen as a threat. Ahmaud Arbery was killed while jogging
because someone who saw him as he passed by on his run and decided that
surely he must be a criminal. Just this week, George Floyd in Minneapolis, cries
for help while he suffocates under a policeman’s knee on his neck.
As Christians we must cry out for justice. Too many people have been sent to
their deaths because they were profiled of as Jews, Muslims or Africans. We
are called to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves. We are to
actively work to protect our neighbors. We cannot be silent when a person is
denied their personhood. God is the creator of all life. The church at Pentecost
welcomed people of all skin colors, all languages and all nationalities. We still
have much work to do to overcome our past sins. Redemption starts with you
and me. It starts when God convicts us of our sin. It is lived in genuine care and
concern for all of God’s people, as brothers and sisters. Together let us work
together to build an inclusive community of faith at St. Luke.
Grace and Peace to all,
Pastor Cliff
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