Black History Month in the Church? (message 1)

I love the History Channel. I don't know...I just love hearing about the stories that have shaped our current world situation.
The only problem is, I don't know if the history channel belongs in the Church. When we gather together, what ought to be our focus? Christ.

So, what does Black history month have to do with the Lord Jesus Christ? Well, perhaps, indirectly the Lord Jesus Christ can be glorified for delivering Africans from the oppression of White slave owners. He can be glorified for the men and women who believed on Him that came before us. Indirectly, we can praise the Lord Jesus Christ that we have "come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord".

Unfortunately, our focus on Black History usually takes our eyes off of Christ and onto ourselves.

• Do the scriptures emphasize deliverance from a worldly foe, or deliverance from sin?
• Does Christ ever emphasize ethnicity as a means of affection or appreciation?
• Do the scriptures encourage us to remember our ethnic differences or downplay them in the light of the Cross?
• Do the scriptures ask us to remember those who have gone before because of their accomplishments in the world or their acts of faith? (Hebrews 11)

When reflecting on his accomplishments in Judaism (perhaps the ethnicity with the richest history of oppression, religiosity and moral character), Paul states...

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8)

I love the History Channel - but when we get History Channel at church, I quickly find myself thinking about Creation rather than the Creator. About the works of man rather than the Works of Christ. About earthly things rather than Heavenly purpose for my life. May Christ exclusively be glorified above every ethnicity He has made.

Christ is all!