A Mosaic of Grace

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:27–29 ESV)

This past Sunday we had the joy of hearing God’s Word preached by one of our church plant partners, Charles Shannon, from Mission Church. As Charles reminded us of the riches of God’s grace to us in and through Christ, he pointed out that one of the amazing realities of the gospel is that it gives people a new identity. And that is true of every single person, male and female of every ethnicity, who has repented and believed the gospel.

People have different backgrounds, ethnicities, and experiences, but when we put on Christ, those identifying characteristics are no longer primary, but secondary. Paul says that now, because of grace, we can be one in Christ, united together regardless of our differences. This new reality does not erase our differences but shows the beautiful mosaic that the body of Christ is, image bearers from every tribe, language, and nation.

Why am I sharing this? February is Black History Month in our country. A time in the year when we are encouraged to remember and reflect on the many black men and women who have made a positive impact in our nation in various capacities throughout our history. Because of our nation’s history with the African slave trade, it is helpful to take time to specifically remember and reflect on the history of Black men and women, and in particular, their contributions to the American church.

Not every black man or woman who is celebrated during this month is or was a follower of Jesus. However, there are many who were or are our brothers and sisters in Christ. And when we miss that, we miss the heart of what Paul wants us to celebrate about the grace of the gospel in this text.

This February, there are a lot of ways you can learn about black history, which is very much a part of American history. If you’ve never been before, I encourage you to go to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC. It is a sobering and wonderful experience.

I also want to encourage you to learn about and consider the lives and ministries of two of our brothers from the past that you may not have heard about.

Francis Grimke

Francis Grimke was born in 1850 to a white plantation owner and his slave, Nancy Weston, outside Charleston, SC. During the Civil War, Grimke escaped slavery when Union soldiers arrived in Charleston. He then went on to pursue education. He eventually went to live with a family in the North and attended Lincoln University outside of Philadelphia. The school was started by Presbyterian abolitionists to train a new generation of African American leaders. It was here that Grimke became a follower of Jesus. He eventually felt called to be a pastor and went to Princeton Theological Seminary. He later became the pastor of 15th Street Presbyterian Church in Northwest DC, where he faithfully pastored for 50 years. He was a faithful expositor of God’s word, minister of the gospel, and did much good for the District and the black community.

Charles Octavius Boothe

Charles Octavius Boothe was born into slavery in 1845 in Alabama. During his adolescence, he came to understand his need for Christ and God’s saving grace. He was baptized after the Emancipation Proclamation. He was involved in the church and also became an educator for freed slaves. He was tireless in helping black men and women read so that they could understand the Scriptures and see how they, too, are made in the image of God. Eventually, he became a Baptist pastor, and as a way to help his congregation grow in their theology, wrote a short systematic theology called A Plain Theology for Plain People. It recently came back into print, and I highly recommend it for your own edification and growth. These are just two examples of the many black men and women who are a part of the family of God with all of us because Christ is all and in all. Black History Month can help us remember Galatians 3:28. Together, let’s celebrate the gospel that empowers every believer to welcome all who have put on Christ, no matter how similar or different they may appear.

– Justin Pearson