Racial Reconciliation

Finally a domestic missions trip comes the way.  All the way to…… Choctaw, Mississippi.
Wait…what? I don’t even…. that’s like an hour and a half away from me.
Seriously, I was really excited about this trip because it’s in the backyard of Alabama.
The trip is set up as a mission focused towards Choctaw Indians in the nearby reservations, and while there we were able to attend a Choctaw Christian church and be a part of ceremonial song and dance celebrations at the Bogue Chitto reservation.  Those experiences were great, but I was also pleasantly surprised to see how much else unfolded during the week of ministry.
We stayed with Larry and Maxine Miller – an awesome, awesome couple.  They are retired elementary teachers who love living in the rural east-central Mississippi community called Mashulaville.  Basic to their appreciation for quality life is an active Christian faith, practicing racial reconciliation, engaging in sustainable gardening, strengthening educational efforts, empowering youth and sharing hospitality with fellow humans.  We stayed in their dormitory which serves as a hostel to world travelers and backpackers (find it here online).
So, let me bottom-line the goal while serving here: racial reconciliation – and not primarily between blacks, whites, and Choctaws, but instead, the greater work of reconciling the human race unto God.  Once our relationship is reconciled back unto the Lord, we naturally renew humanity with our fellow man.  Have we forgotten that in the fall of man our relationship to God was broken and then our own human relationships?  So, now, what order should we think would be best to amend all relationships.  God first, then man!
We then say, thanks be to God for giving us Christ, our Savior and Lord.  The greatest commonality; the greatest communion; the greatest bond we could ever share is in Christ – making up His body, the church.  Nothing can unify better.
Ephesians 2:14-16 says, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
Our community involvement was a great effort and success for many reasons – one of which was the fact that our mission group consisted a school of students and teachers from a predominantly black school in Washington, D.C.  Their presence alone broke the mold of previous team’s impressions, but in the end, this group also made a significant impact with their testimony of the gospel. Our group put together a program for a local church service on Wednesday night.  We made a G.O.S.P.E.L. presentation, performed a song and dance drama, and delivered a spoken word.  The message was right on target leading into our celebration of Resurrection Sunday and the church’s response was greatly encouraging!
You know, before the trip, I had on my mind how the most segregated time in America is Sunday morning in church, and I thought… discouraging.  And, all throughout the week we spoke with elderly people and community members about the struggles of overcoming barriers and differences between one another.  Do you know what we discovered the most unifying thing is between all peoples there….. Christ.
I’ll leave us with a poem I wrote a couple of years ago while working in a hostel in Costa Rica.  It serves to encourage us to keep the unity of the Spirit, not create it or manufacture it.  Because we are already one in Christ, brothers and sisters in the family of God.
Brothers and sisters let’s make a rendition
To explain to the world our desperate condition.
Of our need of a savior for our sins to forgive
To die to ourselves and abundantly live;
A life too uncommon and contrary to man
How our God died for us according to plan.
So put your faith in His grace that’s sufficient for all
to save the worst of us sinners who answer the call
No matter your background just join in the chorus,
and praise our Messiah who chose to die for us
 Chorus: Save us, Hosanna!
 Brothers and sisters we still need a reminder
to show our great gospel the reward of a finder.
We’re fishers of men, but the Devil has a lure,
oh that you’d know how money makes you poor.
For a rich man’s wealth may ransom his life,
but a poor man’s ways carry not the same strife.
So a cross of gold may be yours to carry
but to throw on His back for a walk less weary
On the road less traveled to follow His way
let’s lighten our load of things that decay
Save us, Hosanna!
 Brothers and sisters let’s fall fast at His feet
and live out the gospel until it’s complete
To worship Our Father and make his name known
we must give up this life we don’t even own
Meeting the needs of all people from last to least
let’s be in God’s service in fast or feast
When hungry for meaning eat food for the soul
and look to the Scriptures to make ourselves whole
At last I beseech you to retell the story
to proclaim to the world to God be the glory!
Save us, Hosanna!