By REV. DR. JOHN HATCHER
Religion Columnist

February is Black History Month. It's a way that African-Americans keep alive their distinctive story in the America saga. It's a good strategy for a culture. The monolithic American culture rolls over little villages and hamlets all over the world erecting McDonalds signs and plastering the countryside with Coca-Cola signs. Before long, a culture on the other side of the globe speaks more the American economic system than of its own traditions. The distinctive culture also forgets the signs and symbols of its history. Do you know how many young Black Americans are unfamiliar with “I Have A Dream?”

Christian missions knows all about that sort of thing. Those who have read or seen “Hawaii' know about the dedicated Americans missionaries who went to Hawaii not only to present the Gospel but also to make Hawaii look and act like Christianity in the United States. It was not a pretty picture.

My wife and I recently enjoyed the island of Jamaica for our 25th Wedding Anniversary. On the Sunday we were there, we attended a United Methodist Church. Get this: in Jamaica, there was not a drum in our hearing, not a single island sound in the place, and if you had just a little imagination, you would have seen and heard John Wesley and his church of his day. Sad but true.

Then, go out into the streets and hear and see the sounds and sights of the real Jamaica. What's wrong with the church that we just can't set up the Gospel in the context of the indigenous culture? Why do we have to change the context in order the present the text? Jesus didn't. Jesus embraced the culture of Judaism although he came from heaven. He set up shop as a Jew even though his family had no distinct nationality. He talked the language of the people and used stories to which they could relate. He honored their history and culture. Yes, Jesus was a Jew, but before he was a Jew, he was the Word un-owned by any culture.

So, to my brothers and sisters of the African-American, congratulations on Black History Month. We all need to have an appreciation of our history. There's nothing wrong with my growing appreciation of my southern White history—although it intersected often with Black History in the south.

But the word from the Word of God is that there is one who is above history, time, and culture. He is Jesus Christ. In Him and Him alone do all things cohere—even our different backgrounds, nationalities, and languages. He is the Word for all languages. And He understands all people groups. He is king of all tribal kings and lord of all lands. It is in Him that our diversity becomes beautiful—red, yellow, black, brown, and white!

Let's celebrate February as Black History Month. But, let's celebrate every month as God History Month.

The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in Fayetteville.

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