Wednesday, April 18, 2001
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Wednesday, April 18, 2001 |
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Let's break down the walls By REV JOHN HATCHER Strongholds have us so separated that we cannot even begin to understand, much less appreciate one another. I use the word, strongholds, for its Biblical nature. In a more contemporary sense we may refer to them as walls that divide us. A small, but dedicated group of diverse churches have decided to come together to host "Pulling Down Strongholds Conference 2001," May 4-7, nightly at 7 p.m. Because our church has a heart for unity, we will be serving as host for the conference, but in no way will the conference be a "River's Edge" thing. In prayer and preparation, we have identified four walls or strongholds that seem to have a demonic grip on our community: racism, denominationalism, worship style differences, and gender. Our goal is to plant seeds of reconciliation and unconditional love in our community and to facilitate commitments to bring down strongholds in individual lives. The theme for the conference has been lifted from 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the pulling down of strongholds. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." The Apostle Paul, in giving God's mind on the matter of strongholds, immediately contends that most Christians tend to look at things outwardly. So true. We see the color of skin rather than the content of character (as MLK put it). I've discovered that Black people can be wonderful friends whom you want to come home for dinner and befriend your children. They can add a lot of personality and talent to our white churches. But, the stronghold of racism has got us all by the throat. I mean, what would my friends think and what would my dead grandfather think! We see the labels of denominations as strongholds with their obvious contentions that we have "it" right and they don't. A friend recently told me that many folks think I am too ecumenical. Well, it's a bold face lie and it's the bold truth. Just because I ask the Catholic priest to bless me (because he can't serve me the Eucharist), doesn't mean I believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary or that I believe I can ask Mary to intercede for me. Just because I truly enjoy the exuberance of the Pentecostals doesn't mean that I prophesy in tongues. Just because I am white doesn't mean I can't say "amen" to a Black preacher. Just because I am male doesn't mean that God cannot use and does use women even to preach and evangelize. What so many folks have not got a hold of yet is that we bring our differences captive to Christ and hear him say to our diverse selves, "Love one another and prove to be my disciples." So, if you don't want to forsake your differences, but you want to build bridges and pull down walls of distrust, why not put it on your calendar to join us May 4-7, 7 p.m. You might discover some new friends and forsake some old foes. (Other participating churches, in addition to River's Edge (a Southern Baptist church), are Edgefield Baptist Church, Abundant Life Church of God, Glory to God Bible Church, and New Covenant Metropolitan Church. If your church would like to participate, call 770 719-0303 and ask for conference information).
The Rev. Dr. John Hatcher is pastor of River's Edge Community Church in Fayetteville. |
