THE DAILY RACE
Race and the New Testament
Lessons on Leadership
“Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your … Continue reading
A freedom that does not enslave us
“Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” ~ John 8.36 Issued on January 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, today marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. But, despite what was written on these sheets of paper and proclaimed from the mouth of one of this nation’s political leaders and … Continue reading
Color of the Cross
“For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and … Continue reading
Unseeing Eyes: How Race Blinds Us
In Mark 8.11-21, we read of Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees and later His disciples. The Pharisees were arguing with Him, demanding a sign from heaven to test Him. Jesus seems tired, disgusted perhaps, having suffered rejection in Nazareth while teaching in the synagogue (Mark 6.1-6) and having grieved the loss of his cousin, John, beheaded by King Herod (v. 14-29) after He … Continue reading
Race Has Divided Us
The words found in I Corinthians 1.10-18 record an account of division among the Christians at Corinth. Much like the quarrels among them where each of them says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ,” today many Christians say or their lives speak … Continue reading
Race Is A Crowd
Matthew 21:1-11 depicts what has been referred to by many as the triumphal entry or royal reception of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. According to the Gospel of John, the people laid palms in the street, a symbol of prosperity and beauty. They cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who … Continue reading
We Cannot Serve God And Race
In Matthew 6.24-34, Jesus and His disciples are atop a mountain surrounded by a multitude from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and beyond the Jordan. Jesus has uttered the now well- known Beatitudes, redefined the meaning of adultery and that of love, taught those gathered how to pray, and spoken against the practice of piety that … Continue reading
Race Is An Unjust Judge
In Luke 18.1-8, Jesus shares a parable with those gathered to demonstrate the necessity of prayer and faith. He tells them of an unjust judge who neither fears God nor respects anyone. Consequently, one may wonder by what authority does this judge render his verdicts and to what purpose does this vocation fulfill, having no … Continue reading
Does Race Give Credit?
Today, I attended a briefing at the White House with sixty other Baptists from around the nation; afterwards, I attended a debriefing over a very late lunch; and after that, I attended a ministers meeting at the church where I currently serve. To say the least, it has been a long day but it’s been … Continue reading
Race Does Not Have The Last Word
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” ~Matthew 24.35; Mark 13.31 These are the closing words of Jesus’ parable of the fig tree and it reassures me to know this, that the words of Jesus Christ will not perish, that His words will never die. Though expressed as a … Continue reading
