The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-12-12
Ore Human Race. Acts lo:s-it
7S.7s; a, 5. a., IS
Bv RALPH ROGERS

2S-3s; "a. IS, -, IS
BY RALPH ROGERS
When Paul stood IN the midst OF
Mars Hill and made his speech q
the men OF Athens. among other
things he said, God hath made
the world and all things therein.
and he hath made Of ore hood
all nations. facts liza, 81 Paul
a PhaTisee. was beginning to rea
llize that he could not preach the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ. without &C
knowledgIng ali men as brothers
/ Peter was q Jew Of the strietesi
sort and while he subscribed to the
Gospel Of Jesus as he understood
/ il during the three years he travel
ed with the Master, he Just eouldn
comprehend that some folk could
be included in the plan Of the King
dom OF heaven. II took a dream
for this impetuouS disciple to TN.
Ederstand that there is under God,
but one human race.
II can be seen that in the days
of the early church racial and re,
ligious animoSities were at fever
heat. The disciples had this pro.
biem to face and solve. II was
hard for them TO accept all men
into their fellowhip and some even
iloathed the Gentiles. The Gentiles
lof course. reciproeated and des'
pissed the Jews. However, in a re
markedly sho time the Christian
church wiped out all this animOSi.
ty and stood together in the new
Fellowship with Christ. Peter was
the stubborn one and the voice OIL
God leading him to the CONVEX.
sion Of Cornelius forced him TO &C,
cept the Christian point of view
Paul expresses it also in his lettes
to the Galatians when he said
there could never be again jew
nor Greek neither bond or free
F.. for We are all one man in Christ
Jesus" (gal. S:2S).
The Christian church leaders
then were forcd TO accept this new
principle and struck the first blow
at all the ancient prejudice and
discrimination OF race against race,
creed against creed and blood a.
gainst blood. This is the beginning
of our modern brotherhood and
freedom which we value so highly
today. Credit must be given TO the
Christian church.
People of middle age today re-
member clearly that good old days
when various denominations had
few good words to say about their
neighbor denominations. In fact
come were of the opinion that I'M
less people belonged TO the church
of their choice, they were damn
ed. In the same spirit denomina-
tons split and divided over non
essentials. Some fifteen years ago
three of the largest denominations
saw the folly of their actions and
united making the Methodist
Church, the largest Protestant bo-
dy in the United States. Prior to
that members of the opposing bod
les spoke harshly about members
of the other body. Those same I'M
Christian remarks are being made
today when other denominations
are trying to unite. Despite the de-
nominational label, Christians rea-
lie that church membership is no
assurance of their souls salvation.
1t takes more than church men,
bership 10 make a Christian.
The lesson today tells the story
of Peter, the Jew, =" Hebrew 0f
the Hebrews" After being reared
and trained as Jew for some for.
ty years, it is little wonder that
Peter found it hard to cast off the
clothes of nationality and back
ground and racial tradition in a
short period of time. Some never
do. 1t was an unusual incident
when Peter happened to be in the
house of Simon. the tanner. Tan.
ners were required to build their
houses so cubits beyond the city
limits. They wee the lowest and
most despised of men. The fact
that Peter was a guest in a tam
ner's house is evidence that the
Gospel of Christ had helped to
break down the prejudice against
other classes and races.