Segregation

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8: 38-39

Aesthetics of Crisis     by Blu

Paul’s conviction that nothing can separate us from the love of God is a lovely conviction. But is it true? What of us? As human beings, do we separate ourselves from those who disagree with us or look different from us?  Do we cut off those who are not up to our standards?

In God’s economy, we are all children of God, made in the image of God. Jesus did not say, “Come unto me some of you who are heavy laden.” Jesus did not shut out strangers or ignore the disabled, or treat women and children as the society did. God’s way is one of love, unity and tolerance. Segregation is a human construct with troubling outcomes.   

• Building walls has been tried. (Think East Germany/West Germany.)
• Segregating schools has been tried. (Think Birmingham.)
• Concentration camps have been tried. (Think Auschwitz.)
• Segregated water fountains and bathrooms. (Think American South.)

All human attempts at separation must be called into question. It is not God’s way; it is not Christ’s way. “There can be no Jew nor Greek, no slave nor free, no male nor female;  for we are all one.” Galatians 3:28)

From whom, and from what situations, do we segregate ourselves?