innocents

Tuesday January 14^th, Acts 10: 34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.  We deplore the brutality of tribalism in the Sudan and Kenya and Syria and other far off parts of the world.  Over the history of humanity tribalism, whether ethnic, religious or ideological, has brought about the suffering and death of so many innocents.  The thought of tribalism for many seems so distant, so primitive.  We consider ourselves far beyond such uncivilized behavior.  Yet, in churches throughout the land we hear of right belief or damnation.  These messages all too often attached to the word of God are inclusion for some and damnation for many others.  The message is loud and clear that if only others would be “saved” and learn to believe as I do then God would love them also.  I even heard one local TV preacher lament the fact that his father was not saved and even though he was a good man who went to church all the time, he was burning in hell because he never said the believer’s prayer as his son, pastor Prevo believed it to be worded.  It is tribalism, but instead of hacking each other to death with machetes, it is the word of God that is used to bloody those in other ideological tribes.  Into Peters world and ours, comes the realization that God shows no favoritism but accepts all from every nation. The hard part for me is to accept Pastor Prevo and others like him as my brothers and sisters in Christ in spite of the fact they would rather see me burn in hell.  Thank you Lord Jesus.  Now please give me the strength to do it.