June 19th
I was reflecting on an article by J. Lee Grady regarding a dark spot in our American history called slavery.
June 19th is a day called Juneteenth. It is a date commemorating the emancipation of African American slaves by President Abraham Lincoln. It was only 150 years ago that America had millions of slaves all throughout the south. Dotti and I were in Mobile, Alabama a year ago. Mobile was one of the last places where slaves were sold. In 1860, historians estimate that there were nearly 4 million slaves in America. In Mobile, there is a museum that offers a sobering look back at American slavery. There is a re-creation of the interior of a slave ship, showing how these men, women and children were stacked like cord wood and chained to eachother in a frighteningly narrow hold. Its hard to fathom that we treated our fellow human beings like that. But we did. In 1969, while riding a 10 speed bicycle from Miami to Seattle with a group called Wandering Wheels, I remember using segregated rest rooms throughout the south. I still have pictures of them.
Well, thank God we have moved passed that. But as the church of Jesus Christ we can never let our guard down in standing for justice, compassion and the dignity of human life. As a church, we will continue to link arms across racial lines and work to bring dignity and justice for all. Remember the words of Paul in Galatians when he said, ‘Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law.’
Pastor Bill
I am totally enjoying the one church sermons. I really glad that you like to pull from all different venues to teach us.
Robin
Slavery has always existed in some type or form in just about every culture. It seems that humanity is not content to live side by side without trying to attain some type of authority over another. Slavery means that someone has chosen to judge themselves superior over another, whether by means of knowledge, or finances and possessions. I am so glad that God does not grant authorty on this basis. Jesus made his example clear when he washed the disciples feet. He did this to display how God wants us to serve one another. No matter how different a person can appear to us, they are just another aspect of God that we don’t understand. Each culture was created by God, and has some inherently good qualities. Until we embrace all of God’s infinite facets of Himself through man and its many different cultures, we are missing the fullness of God who “fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23).
Very well articulated, Delores. Today’s society has come a long way in understanding Jesus’ unconditional love…yet we have a long way to go. Too many minorities continue to be judged by so-called “Christians” who don’t fully understand that Jesus loves ALL – and we are ALL sinners saved by God’s grace. This judgement in itself is a form of slavery that has no place in God’s house.
Thanks be to Jesus for his example of unconditional love! May we learn to be more like Him!