NCCG.ORG Lev's Daily Devotionals 24 March 2012 - Strangers & Foreigners: Understanding the Foolishness of Racism

Month 1:2, Week 1:1 (Rishon/Pesach), Year:Day 5936:002 AM
Gregorian Calendar: Saturday 24 March 2012 Strangers & Foreigners Understanding the Foolishness of Racism

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the set-apart ones (saints) and members of the household of Elohim (God), having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in Yahweh, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of Elohim (God) in the Ruach (Spirit)" (Eph.2:19-22, NKJV).

Over the years I have been mistaken both as a Norwegian and a Swede. On most occasionas it has been quite funny but every now and then I have been the recipient of some insulting remark and then it has not been so nice. However, on no occasion that I can recall have I ever tried to deflect the criticism or meanness by protesting my Britishness but have actually felt very defensive of my adopted homelands and their peoples. When one fellow Englishman made fun of Swedes by likening them to the moronic chef in The Muppets I actually reacted quite angrily. We have no business treating others as inferior or stupid simply because they come from a different country - nationality is not something our Heavenly Father even notices: all He sees is whether your lev (heart) is right or wrong.

Sorry, there are no Britons, Swedes, Norwegians, Americans, French, Chinese or any such distinction in heaven. We're simply people - human beings.

Though it's not so easy to be mistaken as a Malay, Chinese or Indian because of my skin colour, I feel much the same when these people are manligned for their nationality or 'foreignness'. Malaysia was also one my homeland and still is. And the more countries I live in, the more absurd and outrageous racism seems to me to be. I have absolutely no time for it because I am mostly a 'foreigner' everywhere I go myself.

The Bible pretty much uses the words 'foreigner' and 'stranger' interchangeably and is quick to point out that as far as Elohim (God) is concerned, we are all "foreigners" or "strangers" until we make things right with Him by surrendering to His Son. Petty nationalism and racism were a problem anciently too and unfortunately much of the Talmudic snobbbery and arrogance that maintained Jews were superior to so-called Goyim or 'Gentiles' because of claimed ancestry still continues today in both Judaism and Messianism. Back in apostolic days, Gentiles were beginning to retaliate against the 'Jewish Master Race Syndrome' and had to be brought in line too:

"Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called 'Uncircumcision' by what is called the 'Circumcision' made in the flesh by hands -- that at that time you were without Messiah (Christ), being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without Elohim (God) in the world. But now in Messiah Yah'shua (Christ Jesus) you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah (Christ)" (Eph.2:11-13, NKJV).

Anyone who speaks of others not of his country or race as 'foreigners' or regards them as somehow inferior because they're 'different' must seriously question whether their lev (heart) is right before Yahweh or not, because no such distinctions exist in the true Messianic Community (Church). Such are after the flesh and not the Ruach (Spirir). We are all one Mishpachah or Family in Messiah who has removed all artificial walls of partition which men have errected in the folly of their pride.

You're either IN Messiah or not - that's the only distinction that exists between people, but even the saved have nothing to boast of because salvation is by emunah (faith) and not of works. Once you gain this biblical perspective all racism has an end. Moreover, you don't have to enforce it with politically-correct laws because it stems automatically from the core of the redeemed lev (heart), for those forced against their wills are still racists in their levim (hearts). Governments cannot solve this problem, only Yahweh can.