Great Commission Churches

November 2003

Dear Sisters,

Where I live the current buzz is about the new movie Radio. You see, the film was made in our area based on events that happened here in the 1970’s. I joined the crowd at the local cinema, and still haven’t stopped thinking about this tale of compassion and redemption. As the story unfolds, the high school football coach, a white southern male, befriends a pathetic mentally handicapped black man. Disregarding the obvious differences in race, intelligence, and status, the coach consistently offers friendship and compassion. He restores dignity to Radio’s life and ushers him into the good graces of the townspeople.

Likewise, Laura Brandts and her husband, Dave, are committed to spanning the differences between themselves and the inner city families of Cincinnati, Ohio. Through their love and friendship, they are restoring hope and dignity to those who have been neglected by society. This month she encourages all of us to build bridges of love to those who are different from us.

Love in Christ,

Carol

Reaching Out to People who are Different from Us

by Laura Brandts, New City Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

Who are the people who are different from us? Really, everyone! There are no two people exactly alike. People may be similar in personality, income, looks, background, or culture, but no one is exactly alike. What we do have in common is that we are all made in God’s image. Whether we are white, black, Hispanic, Asian, or Indian, we all have a soul, we all have feelings, and we all deal with the same struggles in life. People who are different from us are people whom we do not feel comfortable being around or anyone that we would not gravitate toward hanging out with. Maybe it’s the homeless person who smells or maybe it’s the prostitute downtown who seems cold, hard and mean. Or maybe it’s a junior high kid who lives down the street. Or maybe it’s the black family who just moved into our neighborhood. Whoever they are, remember that they were created in the image of God and in God’s eyes they are just as important as we are – or even as important as the President.

Jesus demonstrated that He cared for those whom others might avoid. Jesus came not to care for the healthy but to care for the sick. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” In Isaiah 58, we are told the purpose for fasting. “Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

So how do we do it? First, we have to spend time in prayer and fasting. Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to reach out. We have to study the word diligently to begin to understand God’s great and awesome love for us. 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” The key to reaching out to people that we do not feel comfortable with is love. We cannot love unless we begin to grasp how much God’s love cost Him. It is a sacrifice to love. I have learned that relationships are not about me.

I must enter into a relationship with others, not for what I want out of it, or to meet my needs, but to give to the other person. No matter how terribly Jesus was treated, He still died for the people that mistreated Him. He still gave to them. He forgave them. He forgave His closest friends when they deserted Him in the time of His deepest need. They were not there for Him, but He was there for them. He ministered to them while He hung on the cross in extreme pain.

When you begin to reach out to people who are different from you, you will be judged. You will be hurt. You will be ignored. You have to be willing for this to happen. You have to be willing to serve them and love them even though they have just slandered your name to others. You have to be willing to make the sacrifice to visit them or pray with them, even pray for them when they are hurting you! Hurting people hurt people, and many times they don’t even realize it. Your love must be sincere (Rom. 12:9).

Another thing God has taught me is that if you are reaching out to people who come from a different culture, you have to be willing to learn about their culture, accept it and adopt it into your life. (By the way, African Americans come from a different culture.) Do not expect others to assimilate into your culture. Paul said, “I have become all things to all men.” You eat their food, you live on their time schedule, you shop where they shop, and you go where they go. This is what it means to lay down your life for your brothers.

Jesus did not always wait for people to come to Him; He went to them. The prostitutes and the drug dealers will probably not come to your church. The single, pregnant teenagers will probably not come to your church. You will have to go and get them. A suburban, African American family may come and visit your church. Are you willing to incorporate black gospel music into your worship? Are you willing to let your kids hang out with their kids and wear baggy pants and doo-rags? If you are not, that’s okay, but I would encourage you to get on your knees and ask God to transform you into a woman who loves those that you may not understand.

Remember, the prayer Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Christians of all backgrounds will live together in harmony in heaven. Jesus’ passion is that we do it here, too.