The Church must lead the charge in tearing down walls of racial, national and cultural divisions and keeping them down. In fact, the crux of our message is they have already been torn down by the sacrificial, atoning work of Christ our Lord on Calvary. He emphatically said to Peter “. . . What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (Acts 10:15). The implications of the message of this revelation given to the Apostle Peter and by extension to the whole church, are unequivocally revolutionary and compelling. We tend to see others as inferior, different, common, unclean, unworthy, foreign and excluded but the undeniable truth is God has already cleansed them and placed them on equal footing as the rest of us. The middle wall of partition has been torn down and there is no superior race, nationality or culture in the Church of God (Ephesians 2:14; Galatians 3:28).
Peter finally had to get up and declare this at Cornelius’ house and in the presence of a house filled with Gentiles – “ . . . Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34, 35). What a revelation! The perception of a truly cosmic God who created the “Kosmos” and keeps on declaring. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that, whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is a world-church, a big church – an intentionally cosmopolitan church. It has never been the divine intent for this to be a small mono-cultural, uni lingual, provincial church.
It is our staunch belief and conviction that we have no immigrants or natural aliens in the Church of God, and no one should be treated as such. We resolutely affirm again – this is our Father’s world, our Father’s house, and our Father’s church. The apostle Paul states it this way “Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). We are not just fellow citizens belonging to the same commonwealth and inheritors of the same hope and covenants of promise, but we are indeed family, bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh. We are family, the family of God, made so and pronounced so by the effectual working of Christ on Calvary (Ephesians 2:14,18; Ephesians 3:15). You are indeed my brother! You are my sister belonging to the same family and brotherhood, all one in Christ where “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
The Church of God of Prophecy wages war against all senseless divisions, artificialities, superficialities and mindless classifications which have been concocted by the enemy to keep us separated, defeated, divided and apart. We tear down every satanic wall in Jesus’ Name. We love the brethren in Jesus’ name. All are welcome here! No longer strangers – we truly belong here. You are fully accepted through the blood of Jesus. Thank God for this amazing fellowship of saints. You belong and are accepted here! The walls have already been torn down!
Leroy V. Greenaway
Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region
July 11, 2020
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PLEASE NOTE
In collaboration with our District Overseers, the Church of God of Prophecy submits to the wisdom of continuing to ‘Shelter in Place’ for the safety and protection of the flock. This is to be observed until further notice and the present virus is better contained. Should the need arise to meet, we are advised to meet in groups of no more than 10, while we strictly observe the protocols of social distancing, wearing of masks and aggressive sanitizing of our hands and surfaces frequently touched.
Please let us patiently observe these practices to keep each other safe and alive. We are reminded that we are indeed our brother’s keeper. Stay home! Stay Healthy! Stay Hopeful! We shall soon get through this! Premature re-openings of our churches seem not to be the wisest way to go at this point. Let us continue to pray, caring for each other and staying connected.
Leroy V. Greenaway
Regional, Presiding Bishop — Northeast Region
