People Are People, Everywhere
Posted by: ba <ba@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Field Notes
People Are People, Everywhere
By Michael E. Brooks
"…There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor
free, but Christ is all and in all" (Colossians
3:11).
People in Bangladesh honor the memories of
deceased loved ones by taking out advertisements
in newspapers on "death anniversaries". They may
do this for several years, or even throughout the
lifetime of a particular survivor. I first thought
this practice unusual, though touching. After
returning to the U.S. recently, however, I was at
the worship assembly of my home congregation when
a beautiful arrangement of flowers was placed in
memory of one of our departed members, a few years
after his death. I realized that we all have the
same needs regarding the death of loved ones --
the same desire to remember and honor them, and
the same regret at the necessity of "letting them
go". The way we express and satisfy those needs
varies by culture, and to some degree by
individual, but the needs are universal.
People are in all fundamental respects the same.
There is much individualism, expressed in physical
differences and personality. Many of these are
environmentally produced, while others are
genetic. But beyond all these are the essential
characteristics which define us as human, and as
made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Students
of human behavior identify certain universal
needs, shared by all people everywhere. The Bible
certainly supports the view that we are all one,
made by the same creator, saved by the same gospel
(see Romans 1:16; 10:13; John 3:16, etc.). Once we
realize that fact, whole worlds of relationships,
opportunities and responsibilities open up to us.
It is obvious that our Christian responsibilities
to "do good unto all men" (Galatians 6:10) and to
"go…preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark
16:15) are universal in scope and not to be
limited to any race, social class, or nationality.
Opportunities vary, but many are open to those who
will go or send (Romans 10:14,15), even in remote
parts of the world. I wonder, however, whether the
possibility of relationships with those of other
nationalities, cultures, languages and races ever
occurs to many of us.
Lately I have been putting on my visa applications
under "purpose for traveling" the explanation,
"visiting friends". Only after I had considered
this response for a time did I realize just how
true and appropriate it is. And then I realized
how blessed and privileged I am to have so many
close friends in so many parts of the world. Not
just for the number (though I certainly cannot
have too many friends!), but for the richness of
the variety of relationships I enjoy. I benefit
from exposure to those cultural and personality
differences previously mentioned. But the
relationships are possible because of the human
characteristics we share. Indian, Bangla, Nepali,
Bhutanese, Guyanese, Surinamese, or other –- it
makes no difference in our ability to relate, to
share, and to love one another.
Do you have "foreign friends"? Perhaps you think,
"I cannot have foreign friends because I have
never traveled." But there are many "foreigners"
visiting among us (this is true in virtually any
country, wherever you may live). Do you seek them
out, try to get to know them? Doing so will
broaden your experiences as well as helping them.
In addition to those experiences there are
opportunities to correspond with people in other
countries through email, correspondence courses,
and in many other ways. Open your eyes to other
people in other places. God seeks and accepts
people of every classification (Acts 10:34,35). So
should we.
----
Read this article online, tell us what you
think, see who's commenting, click here:
forthright.antville.org/stories/762522/
----
You can help us get the word out. Here's how:
forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/