Multiculturalism, Racism, and Prejudice in the Churches

As women and others of particular races have been called by God, they have faced much opposition from a predominantly white patriarchal society. Like many of us, Acts 9: 26 tells us of when Paul was first called and the disciples did not believe that he was, in fact, a disciple with them. He faced considerable opposition until he received aid from a trusted man of God. Likewise when Jesus sent the women from the tomb to tell His disciples that He was alive, the disciples thought they were out of their minds. I Corinthians 9:5 questions, Do not I have the right to bring along sisters, wives, and other apostles as the brothers of the Lord and Peter do? Does not this presuppose that sisters and wives are also apostles? In I Corinthians 11:5 it tells that women praying and proclaiming God’s word in public worship should do so with long hair and their head covered. I Corinthians 11:16 goes on to say that if any one wants to argue about these cultural practices, we have no such customs. Does this not presuppose that women will proclaim God’s word in public worship?

Until our Christian brothers come to know and believe that we are, in fact, disciples with them, we will like Paul, continue to face opposition. We must pray for a godly person to show them the truth that we are God’s anointed ones just as they themselves are also. Peter’s vision of the unclean animals in Acts 10: 22-35 plainly shows that God is no respecter of persons when it comes to believers, as also attested to in Acts 15:9. I Corinthians 4:1-7 tells us that we should Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts…and that we should not be puffed up one against another. James 2:9 says if we fulfill the law according to Scripture, that is, to love our neighbor as ourselves, we do well. But if we have respect of persons we commit sin. . . II Corinthians 7:2-3 says my final plea against prejudices of every kind well, especially of that in the church, Receive us, we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, and we have defrauded no one. I speak this not to condemn you, for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die and live with you.