“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” Acts 17:26
By God’s grace, I am not a racist. Let me tell you why.
In the first place, God in his grace had me born as a white female in the United States of America in 1929. I do not apologize for being white or for being female because to do so would be to tell God that he made a mistake. God doesn’t make mistakes. The Bible tells me that God in his sovereignty made every person and decided when and where they should live. (Acts 17:26)
Secondly, God in his grace gave me the privilege of living (not just visiting) in different continents. I lived with black Africans in Tanzania for nine years. I lived with brown Asians in Okinawa for two years. And I lived with brown Hispanics in Texas for 30 years.
Third, God in his grace gave my husband and me some foster children that were not white like me. One of them we found in Okinawa (Asian) and she came to faith in Christ during the years she lived with us. She works for Rafiki now! In Texas we found a beautiful Hispanic teenager who now loves the Lord because God brought her to our home. She is the only one of her family who finished high school.
I am telling you this because it’s living with people that makes you know them and love them, and it doesn’t matter where they are from or what color they are. If you have never lived outside your bubble and learned to really know people different from you, you might consider:
- Adopting a child of a different color
- Taking in a foster child
- Helping a refugee family
- Taking other than your own family to church
- Or actually going to live with black Africans by becoming a missionary with Rafiki! (call or email Rafikifoundation.org) I can assure you that you will never regret it. And you are not too old unless you are over 80!
I thank God that he decided where those we come to know and love were born and what color they are. I also thank God that in his grace he saved some (including me) from every race to be his and to live with him forever. How wonderful to know that we will all be living together forever.
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” Revelation 7:9-10
Thank you so much for your wise words. To say that what you wrote today is refreshing is an understatement! As always, I appreciate your perspective as a godly woman who loves the Lord and all His creation.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosemary for this! I share your views and some of your experiences. I have lived in 31 different places in my adult life so far. God gave me friends and experiences where I could observe and interact with people of all races. I loved the kaleidoscope of color and culture that God let me see. Each person is so beautiful, unique and precious, and I am blessed to have known them. To say one is more beautiful than another is to distort the pattern He made. All are part of of the artist's work. All are created in His image. Without this mix, the world would be bland indeed, and would not fully display the glory of the Creator.
ReplyDeleteYes....live outside your bubble! God created us just as He intended. We are not perfect and can always improve but yet the way many are thinking “racism” attitude is helping, it definitely is not! Thank you again for sharing! Beth
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me of how God has favored me with many opportunities to live with or near people of other nations and backgrounds. It has made such a difference in the way I look at the world.
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