Addressing The Issue Of Racial Reconciliation According To The Principles Of Eph 2:11-22 -- By: Bruce W. Fong

Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 38:4 (Dec 1995)
Article: Addressing The Issue Of Racial Reconciliation According To The Principles Of Eph 2:11-22
Author: Bruce W. Fong


Addressing The Issue Of Racial Reconciliation
According To The Principles Of Eph 2:11-22

Bruce W. Fong*

Noted international evangelist Billy Graham stated: “Racial and ethnic hostility is the foremost social problem facing our world today.” 1 This startling observation suggests that racism is more than just one of many problems in the world. Rather, it is a major issue and one of global proportions. Such a recognition calls for deliberate and responsible attention by all people.

Racism is having a devastating effect on the whole world. But the problem is not exclusive to the secular realm. The Church has also contributed to this tragic scene with an “indifference and resistance by Christians who are intolerant toward those of other backgrounds, ignoring their spiritual and physical needs.” 2

Yet this ugly stripe of guilt in the Church is inconsistent with her very identity as bearers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Love is to be the badge of Christian discipleship, not bigotry, preference or racial bias. At the very heart of Christianity is God’s acceptance of anyone through Christ regardless of race, language or class. Thus while in many cases the Church is a contributor to the problem, Christians with the gospel of the redemptive work of Christ have the answer to the world’s quest toward racial reconciliation.

A basic provision that results from the redemptive work of Christ is the union of both Jewish (Hebraic) and Gentile 3 (Hellenistic) ideas and people into a single Christian Church. 4 This international blend of two formerly distinct groups 5 that once thrived on mutual animosity toward each other demonstrates the divine intent to formulate a Church comprised of a single

* Bruce Fong is assistant professor of homiletics and Bible at Multnomah Biblical Seminary, 8435 N.E. Glisan Street, Portland, OR 97220.

people. Such a singleness of identity is not accomplished by ignoring or depleting cultural, ethnic or other social distinctives. Those features continue to exist and remain as an important part of a person’s individual identity. These two groups, however, now share something in common with each other that surpasses their differences. Their commonness is something new, brought about and made possible by the grace of God.

This new identity common among all Christians and initiated at conversion has not continued to be a priority ...

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