Medical studies have proven that loving, caring relationships are extremely important for our survival as human beings from the moment of our birth and all through life. Furthermore, the Scriptures testify that for the family of God, relationships of love and forgiveness are vital to maintaining Christian community as counter-cultural in the world. Jesus said that this will be the essential evidence of God’s Kingdom in the world. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35).
And yet, we Christians have just as much difficulty accepting and getting along with one another as does the world. Families and congregations suffer much hurt and sadness because of broken relationships and human separations. We choose to disassociate from each other either because we disagree or because we have been hurt by what was said or done to us, rather than loving and forgiving one another.
We may also choose to disassociate from others because we feel superior to the other or are misinformed and fear their difference in skin color and cultural heritage. Both choices are rooted in racist attitudes and destroys both civil and church communities.
In Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, Huck runs away from his abusive father and sets out on an adventure on the Mississippi River. Joined by the runaway slave, Jim, the pair travel at night to reduce the risk of being caught.
Huck was brought up to believe that aiding a runaway slave is wrong, so he wrestles with his role in helping Jim to escape. Ultimately, as he gets to know Jim, he discovers a warm, loyal, and kind friend, which dramatically transforms Huck’s previous racist perspective and behavior.
As the story’s end, Jim is freed by Miss Watson’s will, and the friendship between the two runaway adventurers has grown broader than the Mississippi river. Huck’s relationship with Jim has been changed. No longer does he see and know Jim as a runaway slave but instead as a brother.
Written in another era when slavery was accepted, the apostle Paul writes a very frank, but loving, letter to Philemon, the owner of Onesimus, his runaway slave. Throughout his letter the power of Christ’s redeeming love in transforming and restoring persons, relationships and circumstances are on display.
In this letter, we hear a heartfelt plea from Paul, challenging Philemon to step out of the status quo and do something radically different from what the world would do. He pleads with Philemon to forgive Onesimus for running away, and to welcome him back into his household, not as a slave, not even as a friend, but as a brother in Christ.
In this appeal, Paul is establishing a Christian principle that, if followed, would put the institution of slavery out of business. Maxie D. Dunnam, writer of commentary on Philemon, claims that “If this is not the outward and complete destruction of an oppressive order, the dynamite is planted, the fuse ignited, and the coming demolition sure. When slaves become brothers, the system has lost its control.”
The biblical view of church is that of being family. The Scriptures repeatedly remind us that as followers of Jesus, we are members together in the “body of Christ” and that this community of caring love and forgiveness includes whosoever “from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9) who believe, obey, and worship his Lordship.
However, we are often inclined to compare ourselves with those we encounter and tend to rank ourselves better because of their position in society, or by how they dress or talk or act.
These noticeable differences then become barriers that keep us from mirroring the ever-loving, forgiving character of Jesus, who amazingly lowered himself to become like us, so he could feel and empathize with us, and then be able to strengthen and encourage us on our journey through life experiences.
In doing so, I believe Jesus modeled for us his intention and directive for our living as Christian community. For such community in church and neighborhood, I hunger and pray. AMEN!
Hymns
In Christ there is no East or West
In Christ there is no East or West, in Him no South or North,
but one great fellowship of love through-out the whole wide earth.
In him shall true hearts ev’ry-where their high communion find.
His service is the golden cord close binding humankind.
Join hands, then, people of faith, what-e’er your race may be.
All children of the living God are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both East and West, in him meet South and North.
All Christly souls are one in him through-out the whole wide earth.
Bless’d Be the Tie that Binds
Bless’d be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.
We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear,
and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain,
but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – July 8, 2020
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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