The above title is my message title for this Sunday's service. My life experience as a pastor has been one of an eye opener toward people of other nationalities. I grew up in a predominantly white community with the only minority being North American native people. Even though some kids from the nearby Reserve attended our school, I can't remember any in my particular class.
To say that there was a lot of discrimination in my community during my formative years would be an understatement. But for us kids at least it was merely a perceived discrimination. We really had no one to discriminate against, but yet we ignorantly and blindly adopted the views of those adults who were responsible over us (as they adopted the views of their generation of adults; and so on).
The full meaning of discrimination didn't become clear to me until at the age of thirty-three I attended Acadia University in Nova Scotia. Suddenly my secure, racist-mindset little world became threatened by people who were different from me. They were everywhere: in my classes; living next door; driving on the streets; in the malls; and even in my church.
I remember in my first year of classes sitting next to a very black man from Kenya. I actually was afraid of him for some time. I was especially feared that he would talk to me and I would have to say something back to him. I don't know what I was afraid of. I think it was born out of my perceived discrimination (and not knowing). The old adage is true: you fear what you do not know.
Racism is so easy when our world is kept so small. I have lived in Atlantic Canada all of my life (escaping once-in-a-while for a vacation in Bermuda). I know people whose world has not expanded beyond a 200 mile radius of where they were born (although this is becoming less the case for most people). A number of years ago when my wife and I lived about 60 miles outside of Halifax, we decided to go into the city for the day. We invited an elderly couple to come with us. We were quite amused that they had packed a huge picnic basket for lunch and filled a gallon jug with water for the trip. They explained to us that they had very seldom traveled as far away as the city.
Ruralism as I have known it is changing as well. I now live in a rural area in the suburbs of Halifax. Yet it doesn't have a rural feel to it. My experience of ruralism is the closeness of the people, knowing your neighbors so well that you know the birthdays and anniversaries of their children. Most of my neighbors today keep to themselves. I know my neighbors on one side of where I live very well, but on the other I can't even remember their names. I sense that they really do not want any contact with the people in their community. They live in one community but easily commute to other areas for work and friendships.
Living down the street from me are people from one of the African countries (not sure which one). They have very different customs (and I suspect beliefs) then mine. I see them out walking together as a family and they are very courteous. I would love to get to know them more. We are neighbors. To me this is now wonderful! What I once feared I now embrace.
The church of Atlantic Canada is predominately "rural Canada" mindset. I am not sure if we have yet come to the place in our thinking and understanding that we now live in the age of global community. We no longer have to go to far away countries to see people from foreign lands. They live here with us and we can go there and live with them as well.
Jesus said that we must take the Gospel to the outer most regions of the world. I don't believe He was necessarily talking about conquering lands and regions for the cause of Christ. Past generations have tried that and made a mess of things. Instead, He was talking about people. Wherever there are people, share the Gospel.
Today it is not only the missionary going to foreign lands who needs to be trained about the culture and customs of the people they are to minister to. We also need to come to an awareness of the people around us - our neighbors and co-workers, and people who attend Mosques and Temples - if we are going to share the love of Christ with them. We now live in a Global Village. Down with discrimination and up with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Blessings,
-Leo
Friday, February 3, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Power of Forgiveness
When I was about twelve years old a few friends and I were playing around an old rundown deserted farm. We were playing a game of chance out in the dry field next to the falling-over farmhouse and barn. I would light a match off the zipper of my coat and throw it in the grass and then we would pounce on the fire to try and put it out.
This game went on for about an hour until one time we were not quick enough to put the fire out. A gust of wind came up and the fire took off across the field. Within minutes the whole field was ablaze, encrouching upon the buildings. By the time the fire trucks arrived both buildings were fully engulfed and the fire was spreading into the woods.
I very sheepishly stood with the other boys beside the firetruck. When the chief asked who was responsible I very reluctantly said that I was. I could literally feel my knees shaking together, expecting to be told to wait until the police arrived, and then severe reprimand. Instead the chief simply said, "Go home and tell your parents son." Breathing a huge sigh of relief I didn't wait for another word and took off running toward home. And then fear struck me again. "I have to tell my mother and father."
I arrived home with my mother waiting for me. I had forgotten that I was suppose to go to the church for a special choir practice. She began to scold me for being late. She stopped as she saw tears welling up in my eyes. I explained to her what had happened, and to my relief she simply said, "Well, go to choir practice for now and we will talk about it later."
This experience has left a great impression upon me about the power of God's forgiveness. Even as a young boy at the age of 12 I knew better than to play with matches and light fires. I went home to tell my parents what I had done expecting to be punished. But for some reason (don't ask me why) they didn't punish me. I can't even remember if it was brought up again.
The power of God's forgiveness is so like that and more. If we confess our sins and fully trust in His forgiveness then our disobediences will never be brought up again. So often we confess to God but then hang onto the sin through guilt and shame. But trusting God's forgiveness empowers us to let go of guilt and shame and be completely free of it.
The Psalmist knew about the power of God's forgiveness. He said,
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He remeoved our transgressions from us." Psalm 102:11-12
Once in a while I catch myself feeling guilty for something that I did in my past. It is at those times that I need to remind myself to stop picking it up and owning that sin again. It no longer belongs to me. Let it go to where God has thrown it and be free.
Blessings,
-Leo
This game went on for about an hour until one time we were not quick enough to put the fire out. A gust of wind came up and the fire took off across the field. Within minutes the whole field was ablaze, encrouching upon the buildings. By the time the fire trucks arrived both buildings were fully engulfed and the fire was spreading into the woods.
I very sheepishly stood with the other boys beside the firetruck. When the chief asked who was responsible I very reluctantly said that I was. I could literally feel my knees shaking together, expecting to be told to wait until the police arrived, and then severe reprimand. Instead the chief simply said, "Go home and tell your parents son." Breathing a huge sigh of relief I didn't wait for another word and took off running toward home. And then fear struck me again. "I have to tell my mother and father."
I arrived home with my mother waiting for me. I had forgotten that I was suppose to go to the church for a special choir practice. She began to scold me for being late. She stopped as she saw tears welling up in my eyes. I explained to her what had happened, and to my relief she simply said, "Well, go to choir practice for now and we will talk about it later."
This experience has left a great impression upon me about the power of God's forgiveness. Even as a young boy at the age of 12 I knew better than to play with matches and light fires. I went home to tell my parents what I had done expecting to be punished. But for some reason (don't ask me why) they didn't punish me. I can't even remember if it was brought up again.
The power of God's forgiveness is so like that and more. If we confess our sins and fully trust in His forgiveness then our disobediences will never be brought up again. So often we confess to God but then hang onto the sin through guilt and shame. But trusting God's forgiveness empowers us to let go of guilt and shame and be completely free of it.
The Psalmist knew about the power of God's forgiveness. He said,
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He remeoved our transgressions from us." Psalm 102:11-12
Once in a while I catch myself feeling guilty for something that I did in my past. It is at those times that I need to remind myself to stop picking it up and owning that sin again. It no longer belongs to me. Let it go to where God has thrown it and be free.
Blessings,
-Leo
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