Whosoever Will

I just mailed a card this morning to Che Buffington, one of our young African-American members who is now serving in the United States Navy. Our “Thinking-Of-You” and “Thank You” card was a part of our Memorial Day Sunday highlights on which many of our members signed their names and wrote notes of appreciation. Che is the son of Roy and Autumn Buffington who are active members of our church. They love Sunday School and rarely miss a single Sunday in the Adult II class taught by Doug and Bertha Hutson. Che was an active member of our College and Career Sunday School class.
 
As I slid Che’s card in the mail-drop slot at the Post Office this morning, I did so with a heavy heart. The most prominent news item taking place this Memorial Weekend was the totally racist and ugly tweet from the ABC celebrity which leveled inappropriate slurs against an African-American aide to President Barack Obama. She used words like “…Muslim brotherhood and planet of the apes had a baby” in her comments about this woman who served with honor under the previous president’s administration.
 
The response to the verbal attack was swift and direct. The remake of the show on which she stars boasted 25 million viewers in its first showing. The show was rated the number 1 attraction for nighttime TV since its beginning. However, ABC’s Entertainment President, wrote, “…the twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values and we have decided to cancel her show.” I believe the cancellation was obviously necessary and completely appropriate.
 
Why am I bringing this up on a Sunday morning when we gather to study God’s word and worship the Lord Jesus? What in the world does this outlandish tweet have to do with what God is doing here at Grace. Well, let me point out to you what God is doing here at Grace. Che Buffington is just one African-American young man God has led to become a part of the Grace Church family. Roy and Autumn are just one African-American couple God is brought to this fellowship. Let me share just a few of the names that come to mind:
 
     Elaston (Nassau) Hamilton      (African-American)
     Dorothy (Ms. Dot) Jones          (African-American)
     Richard and Rosa McLawhorn (Ethnically Blended)
     Juan and Consuelo Taborda    (Hispanic)
     Johan and Erika Zuleta           (Hispanic)
     Chris and Amy Rodrigues       (Ethnically Blended)
     Angel and Carol Rodriguez     (Ethnically Blended)
     Lionel and Melinda Lopez       (Ethnically Blended)
 
Then we can add our children to the diversity of our church:
     Gracie Lovell
     Summer Beech
     Amaya and Niomi Lopez
     Isaiah Rodriguez
     Alexandro and Brooklyn Rivera
     Levi Laughridge (New Born Baby)
     Isaiah and Elijah McIntosh
 
Grace Baptist Church is a “WHOSOEVER WILL” church. Race and Ethnicity do not apply in a “WHOSOEVER WILL” church.

The blood of Jesus applies to all.

 
Let me remind all of us that the Cross is multi-racial and multi-ethnic. The Church in which Jesus Christ is Lord,
 
“…is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
 
There is no racial or ethnic distinctions in heaven,
 
“…and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9)
 
Everybody from everywhere will be wearing white robes when we get to glory. I’m sure I missed some names in my listing of precious souls whom God has added to our church family. Forgive me. We give thanks to God for everyone God brings to us no matter the color of their skin or the origin of their birth. Pray for people who do not appreciate God’s color blindness. Racial slurs and hateful name calling do not belong in a color-blind congregation. Like the song says,

“Red and Yellow,
Black and White,
they are precious in His sight;
Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

 
Praise God today that you are worshiping in a church that is color blind like God is.