Dr. Sherry Jones —

Recent conversations with several groups, about racial reconciliation and the current racial division in the body of Christ have been most insightful. We agreed that the pass two years, almost three, have been more then stressful on everyone. The aftermath of political uncertainty, pandemic deaths, sheltering in place, fractured nation from cultural unrest, and increased violence has left us somewhat numb and more self-centered. The church has not been spared the latter. I have heard from a few pastors that their membership is down 10 to 12% and some people have not returned. We understood that the pandemic cost us much in our spiritual, emotional, and physical lives.
I no longer use the words racial reconciliation but racial healing. We need to be healed and restored in our identity in Christ, obedience to the word of God, and the relentless interdependence and mutual love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in Life Together wrote: “I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me.” Amen!