One in Christ: Citizens of Heaven
The past week has seen massive anti-racist demonstrations raising awareness of police brutality and systemic racism in the US. Similar demonstrations across Europe have stood in solidarity and sought to raise awareness of the lived reality of people of colour. While criticisms rage on all sides, we asked a number of black Christians in Ireland to share their heart with the body of Christ here. Our series begins with Pastor Gerard Chimbganda, from AFM Praise Tabernacle, an international church in north inner-city Dublin.
CITIZENS OF HEAVEN
By Pastor Gerard Chimbganga
My wife and I came to Ireland in 2001. We have three children who all consider themselves 100% Irish although born to Zimbabwean parents. That knowledge has changed the way we relate to Ireland.
I remember returning to Zimbabwe for a visit when my daughter was four years old. We went on a boat cruise and there were some Irish people on the boat. My daughter told them, “We are from Ireland too but I had to be brown because my mum and dad are brown!”
My own parents brought me onto this earth in Zimbabwe. Ireland is now my home and I’m naturalised Irish. I’m privileged to carry two passports.
But as we talk spiritually, Philippians 3:20 says we are “citizens of heaven.” That doesn’t mean we become of no earthly use. It means that we start representing the values of the kingdom of heaven. Our kingdom passport becomes more important.
We are born of the flesh and our flesh is what sees difference between races and people groups - that is the worldly system. There is a nationalistic human survival instinct. But Kingdom living says, “This world is not our home. How can we use our lives to represent where we are going?”
Ambassadors of Christ
How do we represent the kingdom of heaven on earth? In the kingdom of God there is no segregation by race, by language or culture. Whenever we are more kingdom-conscious, the way we relate as a church becomes loving and sacrificial.
Jesus said, “Unless one is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.“ We can think of being “born again” as merely believing in Christ, but the second stage involves us changing our identity, becoming like Christ and bringing the kingdom to prominence in the way we relate to one another.
“It is not about my language, my colour or the way I like to worship but it is about what pleases God in the context of a diverse society. It is about the inclusion of everyone at the foot of the cross.”
We are all made in the image of God. We look different, when we look from a physical point of view. But when we look at it spiritually, we are united as we worship in spirit and in truth.
Paul said, “I sought to know nothing else among you but Christ crucified.” When we become more like Christ we become one because it is the same spirit that works in each one of us and unites us. When we love one another, we show that we are His disciples.
Though we are many, we are one body
We are so different. We are so diverse. But God says though we are many, we are one body in Christ. That is a spiritual thing. It is impossible without the Holy Spirit doing His work in each one of us individually.
“When we can really love one another as the family of God, then the church becomes God’s instrument in Ireland to show what true unity, true racial cohesion looks like today.”
We have different political opinions. We have different value systems because of different backgrounds. When we can be able to put that aside because we are “born again” and become what He is calling us to be together, then we can be a city on a hill. We become a light to the world with the love of Christ, based on the truth of the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit that defines us - a double edged sword that cuts deep into our spirit and changes the cultural norms that say, “Because this one is different from me, I cannot embrace him.”
It allows us to forgive one another, where we have hurt and misunderstand one another. It allows us to lay down our lives down for our friends. The early church became a community where those who had plenty sold all they had and shared it. Moved by the spirit of God, they responded with kindness, love and generosity.
“There is no segregation where there is love.”
We are all citizens of heaven. And until He returns, we must spread that influence of heaven even to the ends of the earth.
Paul says, “To the Greek, I become a Greek. To the Jew I become a Jew.” So for us, it may mean I need to stop doing things in my own culture and language, in order to reach the other person. Jesus became flesh like us to reach us, therefore for the sake of reaching others we need to become like them. Jesus left heaven and humbled Himself. This is the opposite of supremacy and privilege.
I was a sinner saved by the same grace. Knowing that, we become humbled. We are filled with the knowledge of His grace and where grace abounds, love abounds even more. Heavenly citizenship on earth, makes us treat everyone we meet as our neighbour in the hopes that they will find what we have found. Our mission is to bring them where He is.
Racism seeks to point out the differences, and so some feel treated less equally and others feel superior. All that comes to zero at the foot of the cross because Jesus becomes the way, the truth and the life. What He did brings us all together and when we believe, we become one.
Seeing that video of George Floyd is really sad. It brings to the fore all these injustices not just in America but everywhere. But we need to look at it from a kingdom perspective. When we are citizens of heaven, what happens to one, happens to all. We rejoice with those who rejoice and we mourn with those who mourn.
We need to deal with the hurt and seek to unite people. There is no law against the fruit of the spirit. If we as church start manifesting the gifts of the spirit, those around us will see something different.
Love not selfishness
The opposite of love is not hate; it is selfishness. Racism is about selfishness. That is why to become united with someone, you need to get rid of “you” and “me” and become “we”. In marriage, I live my life for my wife and she lives for me, together we become one. But if we are selfish and it is all about “me, me, me...” then there is no love. Jesus calls us to rid ourselves of selfish ambition so that we can become more like Him.
Moving to become what Christ has called us to be is a process. It will help to have more conversations with our children. They are growing up in a very different Ireland. Now there are children of colour who believe and feel that Ireland is their home. They feel just as Irish as the Irish. Ireland is becoming a place of great diversity and we hope that it will become more united.
Our lives show what we believe
What did Jesus preach? His sermon was always about the kingdom of God. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is amongst you.” It is still among us. God is using His body the church. As we celebrate Pentecost, we are saying that we as the church have the task of bringing the kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven!
I went to an Anglican school and we used to sing,
Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there is hatred, let me bring Your love
Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord
And where there's doubt, true faith in You
Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness, ever joy.
Paul says, “It is no longer I that live but Christ living in me.” In our church we sing a song, “All I want is for You to be glorified. So fill me up so that they see it is You in me.”
When we allow God to fill us, we show forth with our lives, what we believe in our hearts.
