reality check

there’s an interesting article in the new york times today entitled, “a racial rift that isn’t black and white” (free-registration required). it’s about two ministers – one latino and one african american – in the south who have a strong friendship in the midst significant tensions between their respective ethnic communities.

The Revs. Atanacio Gaona, left, and Harvey Williams Jr. in Willacoochee, Ga., where the two men each have a church. They have forged a friendship that transcends the divide between Hispanics and blacks.

it’s a hopeful article (which in the news nowadays is difficult to find), but i found one comment that rev. gaona, the latino pastor, makes very disturbing. what he said was said with the best of intentions and i have heard many christians say exactly this kind of thing over the years. in the article, while describing the close nature of his relationship with pastor williams, rev. gaona is quoted as saying,

In the eyes of the Lord, there are no colors.

nothing could be further from the truth rev. gaona! scripture clearly supports the very opposite notion: ethnicity, culture and language are eternal.

in the book of revelations, the apostle john describes his vision of heaven and the end times. in chapter 7, he paints a picture of god’s heavenly throne room and there, he says in verse 9,

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

so, here’s the scene: john is bearing witness to the last act in the drama of human redemptive history. there’s an immense assemblage before god’s heavenly throne and although all are clothed in white, john “sees” people from every nation (ethnos) and tribe. he also “hears” a multitude of languages being used to worship the lord god almighty.

there’s a lot about life in heaven that scripture is silent on and until we get there, we are left to ponder, speculate and imagine about the rest. one of the preciously few things that god has made absolutely clear to us about the kingdom of heaven is that it is thoroughly multi-ethnic and multi-lingual. ethnicity, culture and language are apparently so precious to god that he has deemed them to be eternal aspects of our personal and communal identities. in essence, they are a fundamental part of our souls.

the “eyes of the lord” are not color-blind! furthermore, those who perpetuate the idea that unity depends on our ability to either tolerate or ignore difference do greater harm than they realize. it is a crime against both heaven and earth.