Racism James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. A. Much has been done in the 20th century to address this issue. "The Dream" is not yet! B. Much more needs to be done now in the 21st century. C. How would you like it if the words: prejudice, discrimination, and bigotry were somehow applied to you to devalue you? I. The Devaluing Standards of This World. A. Slavery: Dealing with people as merchandise . B. Women: Since the man is head are women devalued? (1 Cor. 11:3). C. Minorities: be they… 1. Racial 2. Ethnic – cultural 3. Nationality - language 4. Gender 5. Religious D. Comfort of this world’s "Good Ol Boy System" 1. Boost me and mine up 2. While pushing others down. 3. World is shallow/superficial "man looks on the outward appearance’ (1 Sam. 16:7) E. PROBLEM: Is this world influencing the church? 1. Are we secretly longing to still be of this world? 2. I understand that it is supposed to be the church which is influencing the world. 3. Remember the beguiler, the liar Satan still wants to influence and overpower us. II. Our Valuing and Exalting God. A. Created in God’s image male and female (Gen. 1:26-27) B. Valuing people is to look at them spiritually as souls. 1. Help us to see things from God’s perspective and look at the hearts of people (1 Sam. 16:7) 2. Galatians 3:28 a. No distinctions: Jews & Greeks b. No distinctions: slave & free c. No distinctions: male & female d. Important issue: ALL one IN Christ! C. God shows no partiality (Ac. 10:34) (Gal. 2:11) III. The NEED to process this issue and move on. A. Stonewalling and pretending will not help. 1. Comfort in one another’s homes? 2. Bennettsville meeting. 3. White brothers sisters in Christ a. Open your eyes see the hurt, scars, pain. b. Some in this assembly remember… 1) Blacks not welcomed 2) Seated separately B. Repentance is needed. 1. My 12 years of schooling were segregated. 2. In college things were integrated. 3. Issue of the confederate flag. a. Choose to care about others. b. Choose not to be offended. 4. Repentance means CHANGE. a. Often not comfortable b. Still results in overall good C. Forgiveness is needed. 1. The offended have power. a. Harbor a grudge – Become racist. b. React with "separate/equal racism. c. Boldly teach all of their positive contributions to the well being of all. d. Teach to appreciate uniqueness of all. 2. Hopefully the offended will make it easy where the offenders will want to repent. No – "In your face" stuff! D. Racism can be made a "non-issue" 1. We are not there yet. 2. Oh Salt of the earth let us affect things for good. CONCLUSION: A. The ultimate test: Interracial marriage. B. God made from ONE BLOOD every nation (Acts. 17:26)