Do Differences Have to Divide?

So an older, white, conservative Christian, with a heart to share the Gospel, sits down for a heart to heart talk with a young, reflective, African-American man who is honestly searching for identity and community as part of a generation that has learned to question and criticize all the institutions of our predominantly white American culture.

What do these two talk about? Do they have anything in common?

The conversation shouldn’t avoid race, the elephant in the room, but does that have to be the focus?

What about religion? Morality? Meaning and purpose in life? We are at least a generation and a cultural experience apart, but did our differences have to hijack the conversation?

Actually for me, the older white guy, the conversation was very enlightening and enjoyable, mainly because of all we found in common but also because of the respect we had for our differences.
Of course, for me the highlight was the chance to be able to share some Gospel truths that are near and dear to me. But that privilege didn’t come until near the end of my conversation with Brandon, after some other hurdles had been crossed. To get there, we talked about other issues such as the difference between racism and prejudice; the struggles of being black in white churches and society; the exclusivity of Christianity; and the concept of relating to God as our heavenly Father as opposed to some impersonal, cosmic force.

I didn’t plan on discussing any of these topics, and Brandon and I didn’t necessarily reach any solid conclusions about them either. It was just nice to have the freedom to share our thoughts with mutual respect.

As a follower of Jesus, I am called to “preach the Gospel” by Jesus and “preach the Word...” by Paul. But does that mean I have to be preachy? Can a preacher take time to listen and actually engage in conversation, or does it always have to be a sermon? I am thankful for our gifted preachers and teachers, but what about the rest of us who are not necessarily wired that way?

Paul went on to write “...be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:2) Sounds like a two-way conversation to me! He also wrote in Col.4:6 - “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Thanks for a wonderful conversation Brandon. And thanks for allowing me to record it so I can show others that our differences need not divide us!