Houston, We Have a Problem

Yesterday was the Global Day of Prayer, and, naturally, Culpeper hosted an event to celebrate this occassion. Christians from several different churches in our community (and surrounding counties) gathered together at Yowell Meadow Park from 3:30pm until dusk. We worshiped, we prayed and we preached. It was a great event that Pastor Jeff Light (Novum Baptist Church) organized. I appreciate the wonderful work Pastor Jeff did in gathering so many Christian brothers and sisters.

A worship band from Primera Iglesia Bautista Maranatha led us in worship as did members from the choirs at White Oak Run Baptist Church and New Life Annointed Ministries West (two churches that are primarily comprised of African-Americans).

Almost immediately, I noticed a problem. As we got started, the audience segregated itself. In front of the stage, the audience was predominately white. To stage right, the audience was predominately black. Sitting behind the gazebo, completely isolated from everyone else were the representatives from Primera Iglesia Pautista Maranatha.

Folks, there's a major problem with this. If the Body of Christ in Culpeper is to be a light to the world, we've got some serious work to do in the department of racial reconciliation. Pastors, choirs and worship bands from different ethnic churches leading us at the Global Day of Prayer is incredible! I love it!! But if we rejoice in their leading and then turn our backs or segregate ourselves when it comes to authentic friendship, fellowship and demonstrating Biblical love towards one another, we're nothing more than an obvious, superficial show. We've become like the white-washed tombs that Jesus criticized. It looks great on the outside, but inside is rot and filth.

I'm not calling for Christians in Culpeper to throw away their cultures and diversity in worshiping God. I'm not asking for churches to turn their back on their denominational support. I'm not expecting Christians across our community to gather together every Sunday in one ecuminical service.

But it would be nice to see Christians setting the example and leading the way in racial reconciliation. It would be great to see Hispanic, African-American and Caucasian churches ministering together, shoulder-to-shoulder and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ unified. I don't claim to have all the answers, but pastors and ministry leaders need to begin having some open and diliberate conversations about how the Body of Christ can model racial reconciliation for our community. It's time!