Brothers and sisters in Christ,
I write this with tears and heartache as I see the division that characterizes our country continue to grow not only throughout the nation, but in the Church as well. As the diversity director for Chi Alpha, the driving force behind what I do is to make our Father proud and our Lord famous. As a parent, I hate when my children fight. It is echoed throughout Scripture that our Father in heaven also longs for His children to live in unity, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” (Psalm 133:1, ESV).
Chi Alpha works to build multi-ethnic Christian communities because this is what our Father’s kingdom looks like. We know His desire is for the believers on campus is to be one united body—proclaiming to the campus the gospel is much more powerful than any earthly division—living out Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (NIV). We make Jesus famous by choosing to love sacrificially and moving beyond passive affection by embracing death to self, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35, NIV).
This past year, our love has been put to the test and racial issues continue to rise to the surface. My diversity team and I seek the Lord in brokenness and humility asking God the Holy Spirit for wisdom to help students, staff, friends, and partners navigate these times. I’ve learned that in the diversity space whatever you do is too much for some and too little for others. Instead of pleasing people, we choose to please the Lord.
God cares about every student. As missionaries, we must give an answer to the questions the campus is asking; if we don’t, we miss an opportunity to demonstrate how the gospel speaks to every situation. The answers are not easy. The gospel exposes all our sinful hearts, calls us all to forgiveness and reconciliation, and to live out the Kingdom ethic in the world. “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV).
Father, help us this year to embrace your kingdom like never before and “bear with each other and forgive one another” as Your Word calls us to. Let us forgive one another as the Lord forgave us, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:13-14, NIV).
All views expressed on this blog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the view of Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, U.S.A., U.S. Missions, and The General Council of the Assemblies of God.