I had to help my mom overcome a cultural shock when we moved our commitment to a predominantly white congregation. She was so used to Black brethren only that she was sure we were not welcomed. Thank you for this wonderful message. 🙏🏽

I'm white and I walked into a congregation that is black, I was accepted with open arms, I heard the Gospel there and was Baptized into the Lord's Church there, I now serve in worship there, and I'm so grateful to God for stepping thru those doors

I am a black man and have attended a predominantly white congregation for the past 17 years. My decision was based solely on upon proximity not race. I had to make the decision to either drive 35-45 mins to my black congregation or worship with Christians that were closer. The closest congregation was a white congregation. They welcomed my family with opened arms. My previously attended congregation was a predominantly black congregation (with Southwestern Christian College ties). As stated before my current congregation, is predominantly white and I am now a deacon. All my life, up to that point, I worshipped within a black congregation. I have no aversions to worshipping with black people or our culture. I only care that the word of GOD is taught and practiced in a sound way. The transition was, however, difficult for me at first because I was very comfortable with what I was used to. I have learned why there is such a division with the brethren (white/black). The topic of “institutional” or “liberal”brethren is primarily the reason for the divide. I’m sure there are others, but that is what it boils down to from my vantage point. Where I worship now, we don’t have fellowship halls, kitchens, etc. We don’t have church sponsored social events/meals. We don’t support orphanages, “Christian” colleges, or other non-spiritual entities. And we have very scriptural reasons for such. Brethren who do such are believed to be unscriptural, thus impacting fellowship. I have studied these topics and believe that where I worship is according to the scriptures. BUT I REALLY DESIRE TO HAVE ALL BRETHREN BE ON THE SAME PAGE. Christ wants it that way. There are brethren who believe that this sinful to have a “located preacher”, to part-take of the LORD’s supper from multiple containers, to have Bible classes,….I know each group will “go to bat” for whatever they do at their particular congregation, but somebody is wrong. I really think that it would be good to have open dialogue into these issues which separate us as brethren, so unity may occur. Thank you for having this discussion. May our LORD help us grow in unity of the Spirit. Brotherly

Wonderful lesson, a lot of us are doing a lot of self reflection on this.

Good word Brother! This has been a struggle in the Church since the beginning (race/culture), but with God all things are possible- we CAN overcome this!

So glad to know that I worship with a multicultural and racial congregation.

Brother Williams i have been listening to you for about 3 years. I would like for you to teach a lesson on being married to someone who has broken your heart and you are no longer happy.

My aunt, a woman of color, went to an all Caucasian church of Christ and was told by a female member, "We don't want you here." I don't know what happened after that, BUT I thought that was a horrible thing to say to another Christian. If they haven't repented, I pray that they will.

Wouldn’t it be boring and bland if we all did it the same or were the same? It is beautiful and a blessing to have the differences. As long as we worship in an orderly manner and in spirit & truth. It is all accepted to God.

@chichou7

3 ай бұрын

it wouldn’t be bland because that’s not the main point of coming together in the first place, i don’t think it should be paid attention to other than to unite

My 86 yr old friend that I sit next to during worship service is Caucasian. She said back in her day, a lot of Caucasians would go to "black" congregations because they like the singing.

Beautiful…….. needed! 🌷🌻🌹🪻🦋🌺

@NorthColonyCoC

3 ай бұрын

Selah

Revelation 7:9 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ...... ALL nations, tribes, people and tongues (languages). I guess people missed that verse.

I honestly have one question. I saw you gave the definition of race. But whose definition is that. There is only one race and that is the human race. The fact that we continue to live as though we are a different race is the reason we have this divide. Like I previously stated we are one race! We are still operating in a western mindset and that is why this discussion is still on the table. As I read scripture I never see where God speaks of race, He always speaks of nations! We need to understand that race became a thing from humanity not God.

I get so much from your lessons. Thank God for your insight of God’s word. 🙏🏽

AMAZING lesson...been a member of COC since my teens and this is the FIRST TIME I heard this broken down in this manner🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽. Kudos to you Bro. Williams for this bringing this to the public! Definitely sharing!

Great thought/idea on serving together. Powerful stuff. Unity is strength indeed.

Good teaching and understanding the purpose should be about God and worshipping ❤

I am a member of the Church of Christ in Wickes, Arkansas. we have visited the North, Colony, Church, Christ and we absolutely adored being with all of you wonderful people there. I would love for Willie to come and do a gospel meeting at our congregation. I listen to Willie about race and culture and I’m always shocked at the way people that claim to be Christians behave towards other Christians. Matthew 12:34 says How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So we can tell what is in their hearts by what comes out of their mouth. The North Colony church probably does not know that my husband David Jacobs, passed away March 7. He was the minister at the Wickes congregation for 20 years. I’m so glad he was able to visit your congregation with me. God bless your ministry and thank you for speaking truth in love.

Thank you, Brother Williams 🙏🏼I didn't know anything about this. Thank you, Jesus, for this message

Thank you for this message, when I was in my early teens, this particular topic used to make me so angry. Because i’m a military brat I literally grew up all over the world and was fully immersed in so many different cultures only to come back to the US and see that we had white churches, black churches, Hispanic churches. At first, it was explained to me that it was because of the surrounding area and so I kind of accepted that as being the case, but as I got older, it just seems more like division than anything.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Thanks brother for your spiritual guidance

Amen 🙏🏿 🙏🏿 🙏🏿 Bro Williams powerful lesson outstanding...

This one touches me very closely. Being a member of the body both in the states AND in the Netherlands. God allowed me to commission into the military and allow me to experience different cultures of the Church in different states and different countries. A very beneficial experience that I would welcome you all to take part in if God gives the opportunity.

@arthurwashington5881

3 ай бұрын

To give some more context, attended both black and white congregations back and forth in the states. The congregation here in the Netherlands goes through a number of languages throughout service (Dutch, English, French, German, and Ukrainian).

God I love you Brother Williams. I’m INSPIRED. My name is Travis Swift (Suitland Rd. C.O.C. In Washington D.C.) Please pray for me family that I can be apart of the solution

Beautiful message.

Really informative. Worth sharing🙏

Great message my brother!👍🏾👍🏾

Excellent lesson

@NorthColonyCoC

3 ай бұрын

Thank you! 😃

There is ONE race, the HUMAN RACE. "People" put in the separation by hues. If I've read the scriptures correctly, people were identified by their region, clan, tribe.... As long as we worship God in spirit and truth, what else matters?

❤❤❤

Greetings from Medina Ohio

Thank you for this lesson . I live in Adelanto and this is the case where I live . But the blacks that attend this white congregation change they culture to be a part of this church even the minister.

I don’t have a problem with different culture teaching and singing as long as it is biblical. BUT if it becomes a show then it is nothing more than denominational worship. I have seen both but most of the “white” congregations are the one with a new liberal tradition or the old I consider racist or separatists from others not only by race but by a specific community or wealth. ( these are the minority) I would love to hear you be a guest speaker with Aaron Gallagher at gospel broadcast network and have this same discussion. I think we all could learn a lot from that and might build some bridges. Thanks for your lessons. I have grown from them. Ps my minister would love for us to put more energy into our singing and I don’t mean a show but emotion or even news ways or new songs to connect with everyone. One song might be for older generation the next song might connect more with the young the next might connect with everyone for our personnel preference but if they are biblical they should connect with all of us spiritually. Thanks

More importantly than anything as we bicker and fight over race which should not have happen at all there is a desperate need for the gospel most of humanity is dying and going to hell. Racism seriously hinders the great commission this is very sad. God will hold us to account for this. Racism pushes us further away from the main goal of going to heaven and reaching out to a lost and dying world. The world is desperately in need of the truth yet we are trashing it with racism when we clearly know better. That is very sad.

How can I contact you brother??

@NorthColonyCoC

3 ай бұрын

My Brother! Send your contact info to: contact@northcolonycoc.com

Polishing The Pulpit…in Seiverville TN -99% Caucasian held annually.

I agree, It’s not supposed to be any imagery. The Bible says do not make any graven image . When ppl look at those pictures and accept it as Jesus that is idol worship. It’s idolatry, no different from worshiping a golden calf or any other false image. That fake picture of Jesus is a false demonic image. Jesus is the savior of the world. He is the Word. It doesn’t matter how he looks it matters who he is.

Church was before everything bro. Revelation 13 vs 8 Ephesians 3 vs 1-11 Church was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world

Not what does the Bible say but rather what does the Holy Spirit say

It is not enough to say you are not racist you must actively seek the friendship company of another race necessarily. That is the gospel in action not remain exclusively among your own kind and pretending not to be racist. You must reach out to others 😂 just like christ did.

How can we condemn denominations for promoting division when we are doing it in a different way with racism. Division is sin racism promotes division denominationalism promotes division. We become two sides of the same coin when the one true church tolerates division. This is very disturbing very disheartening extremely disappointing. We can't effectively reach out to the world like that.

I’m white and love the African culture. Also think African culture sing better. Just saying hehe

Christianity was "taught" bypassing Exodus 21:16. I wish your categories were race, culture, ethnicity, tradition and preference.

Why practice racism.on earth of it will be irrelevant in heaven???