Race, Relationships, and Marriage – Common Threads
A few months ago I alluded to the fact that my interest has been piqued regarding the history of our country, the tension in racial relationships, and the health of the family,
I am perplexed by the lack of godly influence in our nation when so many churches were planted and remain scattered all around our country. Of course, the concentration of church buildings is higher in some areas than others, but God’s people are all over the place – His Church. My point is this: why aren’t there more stable marriages and homes that are producing godly influencers in media, information, racial relationships, academia, and entertainment?
The current struggles among the races are real but could and should be overcome by the love of God as He brings salvation and freedom to men and women of differing races. He breaks down the walls of separation now as He has in the past, but why doesn’t His free gift of salvation and eternal life lead to tidal waves of racial harmony? I know some of the troubles have become political footballs and the differences in our cultures are at times fanned into hatred. That is not what Jesus wants or taught. (Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.)
Another area of struggle and, too often, failure is in homes across the country where average or awful relationships are the norm versus the abundance and amazing love relationships Jesus has empowered us to live. Even before marriage, too many of the relationships of singles who experiment with sex are attempting to make a home without the commitment to one another marriage provides. Many are experiencing the loneliness of life without real love. Experimenting outside the boundaries God sets always leads eventually to deeper loneliness and unfulfilled hopes. God really knows a better way.
To me there seem to be common threads. One of the common threads is an anemic, view of God’s love for us individually and out inability to believe His love is real, Many are unwilling to search and find His love and believe He is powerful enough to create healthy relationships: racial, premarital, marriage, and family. Those who embrace His awesome love and power are developing lasting relationships though the differences are obvious and deep. No relationship is perfect but I am seeing a growing number of growing love relationships all around me.
Sure men and women are different. Sure differences in culture exist, but none is deep enough to resist being spanned by the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We may need help finding it, recognizing His love, securing it for our own relationships, but He is not far from any one of us. His power and plan are clearly to produce love in our relationships. See 1 Timothy 1:5.
I know He is powerful enough to provide growing love, and He is willing! I know we must discover what hinders the healing and growth of loving relationships and begin to implement day-to-day plans to turn the ship back toward Jesus and away from being tossed by the storm. By God’s grace we will sail into the teeth of the storm and overcome it.
I am currently experiencing growing love in my relationships with friends of different races and ethnic backgrounds, seeing harmony growing among singles, enjoying my marriage to Carol more all the time, and witnessing God’s power restoring marriages and families to the place where “His kingdom comes and His will is being done” on earth as it is in heaven.” God is at work!!!
Over the next few weeks, I hope to address some of those common threads causing problems in familles and counter those with examples of the hopeful turn we are observing. We pray for increase in those hopeful examples, and that the Lord of the harvest would raise up and send forth laborers into His harvest fields which are ripe for harvest now!!!!