Courageous Conversations - Racial Reconciliation
July 10, 2022 • Tracy Perrlliat • Acts 16:16–40
We are continuing our sermon series, “Courageous Conversations.” We are discussing topics that are sometimes uncomfortable to talk about, but they are topics that the Church must be able to address and respond to. The Word of God is the standard by which we respond. The way we act and the way we treat people must represent Christ whom we serve. Have you ever had an experience that shifted the trajectory of your life? It could be the birth of a baby, a marriage, a new job, or something more difficult like loss of a loved one, a divorce, or the loss of a job. In 2020, our nation had one of those defining moments. The deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd forced America to pull back the cover on the stain deeply embedded in the fabric of our nation for a long time. That stain is racism and racial inequality. The events of 2020 continue today with undeniable evidence of police brutality, abuse of power by those in authority, and unjust racially motivated murders, legal systems, and court decisions. Evidence points to a racial divide within the Church. Christians today need the spiritual practice of seeking a loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with God and with one another. In this message, we look at a biblical response to racial inequality and need for reconciliation. We strive to heal and transform injustice and brokenness in ourselves, our communities, our institutions, and our society. We seek to understand how important reconciliation is to our Savior because reconciliation with God and reconciliation with one another are inseparable in God’s saving work. God’s program of reconciliation includes horizontal reconciling of Jew and Gentile, circumcised and uncircumcised, Caucasian people and people of color...
