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Brian Wood wrote:
All I
was thinking about the recent exchange about the US re-uniting with the
UK and the ramblings of our Aussie contingent of how they can do everything
better than everyone else anyhow. The truth of the matter is that we come
from common stock and have a common heritage. If you are Australian, Ade,
then you are black and wander round the bush with a spear. Your heritage
is Scottish, you claim (if so I wonder how you coped with Australia beating
Scotland at football). If you are American Noel then you are coloured and
live on a reservation. You are both displaced Europeans. When we visited
America Cdr. Jen commented on how American children still learn English
nursery rhymes when they are American. The simple fact is that, because
America chose English as its official language that is your heritage.
*This is a contencious issue in the US where many comunities are
bi-lingal or non-english speaking. As a child I was introduced to
native americans who spoke english from being taught at boarding
schools run by the gov. They had a status as a Apache Tribe that
distinctly seperated them as a special class of citizen, and much of
their relationship with "English heritage" was the distruction of their
culture.
What troubled me somewhat, was our role in this as Assembly
of God home missionaries. My Dad was clear that he was called to
preach the Gospel of Christ and did not promote or protect traditional
Apache culture. There may be a way to be a Christian and an Apache
and still partake in the culture, in measure... but that was
not our focus.
Recently, in the US news was a story of a Jewish boy who attended
as a guest a Baptist youth group. The Youth minister gave a sermon
and asked if anyone needed to get right with God.. *The Jewish boy
responded... He went forward to accept Jesus as his savior!
His Family had high hopes that he would beleve as they did and
come to his faith's "right of passage" as his Father and Grand
father
had and as generations before them. The boy told them of his
"salvation" and the family was stunned! *They are sueing the
Baptist church for "cultural bias!" In their opinion, the
son
had broken the faith of his fathers, and the Baptist church was
liable for damages!
*Strange huh!
-=A=-
I wondered why we bring so much
division into our societies. I then expanded my thinking and realized that
I am no different to any other human being. All the physical differences
are superficial. The English are neither superior nor inferior to other
races. All mankind is important to God. Throughout history He has used
nations to spread His word. I was thinking particularly about two empires,
Roman and British. America is the current superpower but I wonder how long
this will last if she does not use her influence to spread the Gospel.
I wonder if God has already allowed for this in that the most effective
form of modern evangelism is native to native. Just
a few wandering from an English eccentric <g>. BoW.
--
ÐÏࡱá
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