Prayer To Honour All Others Even As We Speak The Truth In Love

 Missions - Honouring and Sharing

A few days ago I was reading about Francis Xavier.  He lived 500 years ago but his life encourages me to think about what I’m doing each day.  Francis was a missionary to India and other parts of Asia so we share that in common with my being a missionary in Taiwan for 15 years.  Francis didn’t just take the gospel and try to shove it down people’s throats.  He went with respect for them as people – people created by the Living God, people that God wanted to be part of His human family. 

I’ve seen both kinds of missionaries – those who think they are better in every way and their culture superior to the people they’ve come to minister to and those who know they are one with them in every way – strengths and weaknesses – joys and sorrows. 

Over these past months in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve seen gatherings and demonstrations worldwide under the ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER” banner and what I think needs highlighting for all of us is what that little Sunday School song taught us, “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.  Jesus loves the little children of the world.”  There’s such beauty and wisdom in the great diversity of people and cultures across the globe.  We all have things to learn.  We all have things to share.  There has been a great injustice inflicted on people of colour for centuries and we need to ask forgiveness for that and come to a new place of mutual respect.

We are all in need of seeing the greatness of God’s creation across cultures and of all of us coming to know and put our faith in the Living God.  It’s not respectful and loving to let people who are holding on to error suffer when we know the truth and could share it with them in kindness and grace. 

In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.  1 Peter 3:15

Another translation of this verse in the Bible puts it this way:

You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.  1 Peter 3:15

We are longing for the good work of drug companies in quickly developing a vaccine against COVID-19 to be shared around the world as quickly as possible.  I don’t know and it doesn’t matter what colour the skin of the researchers was.  What’s true and verifiable in their reports needs to be underlined and safe vaccines need to be produced and distributed as quickly as possible.

We all know that one of the final instructions Jesus gave to His disciples before ascending into heaven was:

Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

Lord Jesus, we want to do become more and more like You.  You loved the whole world.  You have created unique persons with their own fingerprint, their own personality, and their own cultural ways.  Our lives are enriched by this diversity.  We thank You for it.

You came to earth to die for people who are red, yellow, brown, black, and white because we all need You.  We pray today to find respectful and gentle ways to be with people who are very different from us and be people of truth. 

You have wonderful ways to interpret truth to each cultural understanding and You are able to show us how to communicate effectively in ways that honour everyone.  That’s what we are asking for today.  Make us sensitive.  Make us wise.  Give us discernment and grace as we converse with others. 

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10

Forgive us for putting the familiar higher than what is unknown to us.  Forgive us for not standing up for those who have been unfairly viewed and treated.  Help us to find the ways that are ours today to honour You, honour others, and lift up the wonderful truth of the Gospel.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17

Help us to live honourably among other cultures today and to speak the truth in love.  Amen