As any casual glance at social media demonstrates, racial hatred is exploding in America. Once confined to fringe groups such as the KKK, our TV screens and newsfeeds are filled both with angry Black Lives Matter protestors and their “Proud Boys” opponents. We scream at each other but no one’s really listening.

And similar conflict can be found in the Church as well. Black evangelicals are dismayed at their denominations’ unwillingness to talk earnestly about ongoing problems of discrimination and inequity, while white Christians don’t understand why the legal dismantling of segregation isn’t sufficient to guarantee everyone equal opportunity. It seems we are no closer to a society where the sons of former slaves sit down at the table of brotherhood with the sons of former slaveowners than we were when Dr. King spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963.

Paul’s times weren’t so different. Oh, he tried to reach out to the Jerusalem crowd. He spoke their language (21:40), and he told of his extensive training in the Law of Moses (22:3). He then went on to explain how his unwavering opposition to Jesus had been miraculously transformed by a vision of the risen Lord (22:8). But eventually the crowd shouted him down – not because of his insistence that he had seen Jesus was alive from the dead (22:6-8), and not because he asserted that Jesus was the Righteous One, the Messiah (22:14), but because he dared to state that God was sending him to preach to the Gentiles (22:21).

Yes, so great was the Jerusalem crowd’s hatred of those of a different race and faith, they turned their backs on Paul, even though he was a Jew like them. But as they rejected Paul for refusing to join them in their race hatred, they were also turning their backs on another Jew, Jesus. For Jesus reaches across all racial and cultural lines to make a new people, one defined not by race or clan but only by faith in Him (Galatians 3:28). And as we find our true identity in Christ, we will find it easier to talk and listen to others who share our faith – even about issues that otherwise threaten to divide us. For it is only as we love one another in this way that we will ever be able to demonstrate that we are truly followers of Christ (John 13:35).

Acts 21:40-22:22 (ESV)

40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:

“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,
5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’
11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him.
14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth;
15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance
18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.
20 And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’
21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'”
22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”