Three more letters respond to the Christian Chronicle's editorial call to "discuss the Negro issue."

I sincerely hope that your editorial on the "White-Negro Issue" will stimulate many brethren to get off the "fence" and stand steadfastly for love among brethren against ignorance and bias.

The idea that brethren in Christ are to be segregated because of different racial backgrounds has no higher authority than the prejudiced, hateful minds of men. In fact, the New Testament stresses the very opposite.

The baptism of Cornelius and household in the Holy Spirit was a powerful demonstration proving that those of every nation who fear God and work righteousness are acceptable to Him. If God accepts every man who obeys Him, who are we to refuse association to our brethren because of racial, social, or economic differences?

That God has established a "great gulf" between the races is a fallacious assumption with no proof whatsoever.

In fact, Isaiah states the principle, "Neither let the foreigner, that hath joined himself to Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah will surely separate me from his people." Isa. 56:3

The term stranger (as used in the LXX) is from allogenes, meaning, "sprung from another race, foreigner, alien." In other words, when one joins himself to the Lord he should not fear separation from the Lord's people because of his race.

Many of our southern brethren exhibit gross hypocrisy. They travel across the country to attend college lectureships and in the course of so doing will associate freely with the Negro brethren to the extent of eating with them, sitting with them in lectures, and if necessary even sleep in the same room with them.

Upon returning home, however, they refuse similar association with their southern Negro brethren.

This is a situation comparable to Galatians 2, which Paul severely condemns. Some of our southern colleges refuse enrollment to Negroes fearing either social pressures or the withdrawal of funds or perhaps both.

The "Onesimus-Philemon" argument for segregation falls flat. White brethren are not maters[sic] and Negroes are not slaves! Lincoln freed the slaves, or haven't we heard? Besides, in Christ there is neither slave nor free.--Wayne Jackson, Stockton, Calif.

I am a Christian; I am a Southerner--in that order.

If that order of allegiance were reversed, I would no longer be a Christian. Oh, I might be a "member" (in good standing) of the "Church of Christ," but I would not be a Christian.

For to be a Christian, I must love, or at least be learning to love, everyone. Now that is the kind of love my Lord taught (Matt. 5:38-48; Eph. 2:11-22).

If I don't want to love people, regardless of their dispositions, skin color, moral codes, etc., then I don't have to.

But, never let me say that I am of Christ.--Cornelius C. Laird, Ft. Sill, Okla.

Having read and reread your editorial of Sept. 27, '63, I am prompted to submit to you the following considerations on the Negro issue.

I have read many articles, heard speeches and followed the press in their reports on this issue. But I have never seen or heard any one yet draw the line where God has drawn it.

Peter was prejudiced as any Jew could be against Gentile integration, but he learned his lesson on the house top and later declared before Cornelius and his house what God had taught him, namely:

"That he should not call any man common or unclean, that God is no respecter of persons; but in ever nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to Him."

Now we have Negroes and white people on both sides of that line. Jesus commissioned his white disciples to preach his gospel to all nations, to every creature.

Could this be done then or now, with out[sic] integration?

The gospel of Christ will lead men both black and white to "Fear God and work righteousness," and having become such, are acceptable to God.

And if in Christ Jesus they "have put on the new man, that is, being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him; where there cannot be Greek, Jew, Circumcision, and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all, (Cor. 3:10,11)[sic] Would not this also include the Negro?

We are further taught in 2 Cor 6:14-7:1 where we should segregate, if we would have God as out Father. But nothing is said here about color or nationality.

When the teaching of Christ has caused the Negro to fear God and work righteousness, and God accepts him, how can we refuse his presence because he was born with a different color?

Why not rather refuse integration with both whites and blacks who have no fear of God and work unrighteousness?--J. C. Bunn, Seattle, Wash.

May God have mercy.

dhaymes, his mark +