The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-11-02
THE CHRISTIAN AND THE RACE
PROBLEM

that God IS no respecter Of persons: but in
every nation he that feareth Him. and work.
eth righteousness, is acceptable to Him.
Acts 1924, 80.
Now is the time to really face the
race problem. 1t must be met, or
America viii see more Of the re-
grettabIe hatred and violence which
has already showed itself.
The only satisfactory ansWer-the
only right ansWer-can be found in
the Word Of God. On its principles
we must build in solving any prob
lem, and that is especially true with
regard to the vital matter of human
relationships.
How to Solve the Race Problem
!. Pray (IO:9).
So often we struggle and plan and
work and last of all we pray. That
should be the first thing, not the
last, 1t was as Peter prayed that he
saw clearly the need of q changed
attitude toward the Gentiles.
Doubtless some Gentiles would
also have changed attitude
toward the Jews, if they really
prayed about it. In fact all of our
prejudIccS based on race, creed, f.
nancial or social position would look
cheap and untenable if we prayed.
Conferences, efforts toward mu-
tual understanding, education of
children (and groWn-ups), tolerance,
all these are good; but let Us not
forget to pray, and to do it first.
II. LiSf an to Gods Word Q010-16)
Peter lad a special vision, an un-
usual revelation from God. We no
longer need such a direct connmuni-
cation of Gods plan and purpose, for
we have the written Word of Cod
and the Living Word has come in
the person of Christ
What we need now is to read and
TO hear the truth of that Woodland
then to heed it. Everywhere in the
Bible we find the declaration of
mans equal rights. We learn that
God hates discrimination or preiu-
dice, that no nationality is unclean
". 15) or unworthy of His grace and
of our fellowship
We know these things are in the
Book; why do so many of us fail
to listen to its message? We are
bound by it whether we listen or not,
so had we not better listen and
obey?
III. Be Governed by Gods Princi-
pies (0:34, $50. :
God is no respecter of persons"
Why are We? The expression liter
ally means ''receiving a mans
face" that is, Judging or evaluating
him not by what he has proved him
self to be, but by his outward APP
pearance, the look on his face.
God is interested in mans heart
and what is in it Il Sam. 16:O. We
should do we'll to follow His lead
ing and not be controlled by the
dress, the race, or the position of
man.
Note the basis of acceptance with
God ". 35), namely, a right atti-
tude toward Him. No matter what
mans color or race may be, the
grace of God in Christ Jesus can
reach him, and bring him into ac-
ceptance with God
". Recognize Gods Authority
Q7:24-26)
God made the world. He rules the
world and all that is in it. He is
above man, and it is He who gives
man the very breath of life.
That being the case, we all stand
on the same leVel--We are equal be-
fore Him.
Everything God made was (and
isl very good Gen. IBID. That
means that He knows nothing in His
nature of one group being despised
and prosecuted by another group
sclf-designated as a master race.
All men are of one family ". 26).
1t is Gods Word Let us believe it,
and be thoughtful and kind toward
the members of our own family"
We all know how disgraceful family
fights are, and how they hurt. Could
it possibly be any different in the
family of God? Let's quit the bicker-
ing, and together work for Gods
glory! We can do it-for we may
V. Count on Gods Nearness III:
o. 28).
Sometimes children fight and
quarrel because they know father
and mother are away and will not
near or punish. Well, God is not
far away. He is nearer to us than
breathing, nearer than hands and
feet" In Him we (and that means
all of us) Give and move and have
our being"
He is here; let us not act as
though He were far away. But above
all, let us recognize His nearness
as our life and strength, the One
who enables us to live as we should
with one another. We need His grace
for that purpose. Let us count on it..
1--WE are all His offspring" that is,
by creation. Then by our sin and re-
bellion we made ourselves the
children of disobedience" (Eph.
Sc; Titus 3:3). But we may (and
many of us have) become the true
children of God by faith in Jesus
Christ our Lord John 1:l2). AS
such, we are all brethren be-
loved, eager for our fellows good
and for Gods glory.