Bible Text: Acts 17:24-36, Acts 2:1, Acts 2:9-11 | Clergy: Dr. Edith Winters Kimbrough | Listen to Luke as he speaks to us in Acts 17:24-26. He tells us: “God… has made of one blood all nations… for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” And yet, my Sisters and Brothers, one of the most disturbing and perhaps the most baffling problems confronting humankind is the problem of racism. It is probably easier to be a Christian in any other area of life than it is in the area of race. Here, the practice of Christian religion seems to break down most completely.

Listen to a teen-age Christian share his story about race relations. He says, “I was born and raised in the city of Brotherly Love —- Philadelphia, and was taught by my family, by my school and by my church to be prejudiced against other races. I was not allowed to play with Pat, because he was Italian. The First World War brought forth hatred of the Germans and I remember burning a picture of Hitler. I don’t know why I was warned about the Irish, but I was. Sisnce we were Scots, I was taught to hate the English; this cry of Free Scotia goes on today. I have heard a Scot say: ‘Bury me with my feet up so, I can kick the English when they go by.’ The Jews were beyond the pale, because we were Christians. We rarely saw a Black person, but I was taught to dislike them, too.'” Some of us can identify with this young man.

Our race relations have become crucial. And yet, the church is of God and God is no respecter of persons. God has made of one blood all nations. We are all children of one Parent; and have become the foundation for the building of a true, and lasting community among all people — one that rises above race and clan, one that extends beyond tongue and nation, one that embraces the whole human family.

Do you remember how the church was born? Jews and proselytes gathered together, and representatives of fifteen different nations were assembled. Read Acts 2:1, 9-11. The point is made plain that there was no segregation. Church historians and New Testament scholars agree that from its inception, the Christian Church had in its membership people of different nations, races and colors. Nowhere in the early church do we find distinctions drawn on the basis of race. The basis of membership was faith not race, Christ not color, creedal acceptance not nationality.

Our twenty-first century churches are called as agents of reconciliation, rejecting racist theories of group and class superiority. The church exists to build bridges between pockets of racial hostility; to break down these walls that too long have separated us. We, the church, should see the Christ in every person and be the Christ for every person.

What a privilege for us, as Christians, to echo the refrain with power and deep conviction that “God has made of one blood all nations. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek; neither male nor female; neither black or white. We are all one in Christ Jesus.”