Confronting and Conquering Racism in the Church Sfg. Bishop C. Shawn Tyson, Pastor Evening Bible Class July 31, 2012
Latent Present and capable of emerging or developing but not NOW visible, obvious, active, or symptomatic.
Acts 2:5-12 King James Version (KJV) 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
what meaneth this? 1. It meant that the Holy Ghost comes to unite people not divide them. 2. It means that contained within the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit is the ability to acknowledge diversity but still achieve unity. 3. It means that if the Holy Spirit thinks that every nation and every ethnicity is important enough to speak in their language, that every Christian ought to think every other Christian important enough to learn to speak THEIR language.
Ephesians 3:17-19 King James Version (KJV) 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Racism is not a sin of the mind, it is a sin of the HEART
Never assume that because people are hearing you that GOD is hearing you
1 Corinthians 9:27 King James Version (KJV) 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Galatians 2:1-5 King James Version (KJV) 2 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Galatians 2:6 King James Version (KJV) 6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
Galatians 2:7-10 King James Version (KJV) 7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
Galatians 2:11-12 King James Version (KJV) 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
People of godly influence have a moral obligation to do what s right even when the masses are wrong
Galatians 2:13 King James Version (KJV) 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
8 tips on, How to conquer racism not just in the church but anywhere. 1. Study and learn more about other cultures. 1. Music 2. Food 3. Social and recreational preferences 4. Holidays and Holy Days
8 tips on, How to conquer racism not just in the church but anywhere, 2. Don t buy into stereotypes. Deal with each person as an individual. cont.
3. Don t say anything about a person to someone else that you wouldn t be comfortable saying TO that person s face. 8 tips on, How to conquer racism not just in the church but anywhere, cont.
8 tips on, How to conquer racism not just in the church but anywhere, cont. 4. Do not laugh at, agree with, overlook, or condone racist remarks or behavior in your presence. Make people respect your atmosphere.
8 tips on, How to conquer racism not just in the church but anywhere, cont. 5. Invite a friend or couple of a different ethnicity out to dinner or better yet to your home for dinner and fellowship.
8 tips on, How to conquer racism not just in the church but 6. Acknowledge the reality of racism past and racism present. anywhere, cont.
Latent Racism is most commonly manifest through the conduit of Intentional Exclusion
8 tips on, How to conquer racism not just in the church but anywhere, cont. 7. As opportunity presents itself engage others outside of your ethnicity or gender in dialogue concerning how race relations, and discrimination can be improved.
8 tips on, How to conquer racism not just in the church but anywhere, cont. 8. Never allow the disrespect of someone of another ethnicity to take you out of character and provoke you to disrespect them or yourself.