Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
My pocket calendar says today (Oct. 12) is a Mexican holiday called, “Day of the Race.” Having no clue what it was, I looked it up on the internet and found it’s called by various names in various countries, including “Columbus Day.” In Mexico and other Spanish countries and communities, it’s celebrated as the fusion of the Spanish and indigenous American cultures.”
The website states that, although there’s some controversy over the events surrounding the European colonization of the Western Hemisphere, the holiday is festively celebrated. In the U.S., Columbus Day is a Monday holiday celebrated this year on Oct. 10, and because of the controversy, many Americans want to rename it “Indigenous Peoples Day” in recognition of the first Western Hemisphere settlers who migrated across the Bering Strait from Asia. Although not yet a national holiday, Indigenous Peoples Day already is celebrated in many states, including New Mexico. Many countries celebrate their indigenous peoples and, since 1994, there’s been an international celebration.
Racial differences have existed at all levels of our global society since the Tower of Babel because of a selfish lack of understanding (Genesis 11:1-9; James 4:1-5). The focus of this article is about how racism can and will be overcome by the proper blending of cultures, which could be the basis for Mexico’s Day of the Race holiday.
While I don’t agree with how far they’ve taken the concept of accepting diversity, the college I attended in central Kentucky celebrated cultural diversity using the first part of Acts 17:26 as its Scriptural mission that “God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth” “to promote the cause of Christ.” This is consistent with the facts of creation and Jesus Christ’s ultimate purpose in coming to earth (Genesis chapters 1 and 2; Luke 2:1-14; Ephesians 2:11-18; Galatians 3:26-29; 4:4-7)
Unlike worldly peace, Jesus brings real peace that actually overcomes the turmoil of the world through reconciliation with God that also brings peace among peoples (John 14:27; 16:33). Jesus came to separate a people to his calling, preventing complete harmony among people on earth but still prohibiting racism (1 Peter 2:4-12; Matthew 10:32-40; James 4:1-5; 2 Peter 3:14; Hebrews 12:14).
However, the sword Jesus brought is the word of God that actually brings peace through unity by the one blood of Christ that forms Christians into the one body called the church (Ephesians 6:17; 4:1-6; 1:15-23).
God enables Christians to meet their responsibility of promoting peace with him and among people (Hebrews 13:20-21; 1 Peter 3:8-16). In fact, the rest of Acts 17:26 and verse 27 state God’s purpose in creating people of one blood; that is, so they might reach out and find him to have the peace in unity he so greatly desires that also will eventually lead to the most festive celebration of all (John 17:20-23; Revelation 7:9-10).
Will you be there?
Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].