Editorial
JAMES E. COSSEY
EDITOR IN CHIEF
What If This
Was Your I
HAVE BEEN thinking recently about multiethnic population, this church was
the service I was in a few weeks ago permeated by prejudice. It was 100 per-
in a Church of God in West Haven, cent white and would become 95 percent
Connecticut, and about the young empty if persons from any other ethnicity
black man—a Muslim—who came were to start attending regularly. How
CHURCH?
forward and gave his heart to Jesus. I have tragic. What if—for argument’s sake—that
no stones to throw at Muslims, or anyone young man in Connecticut had been in
else for that matter. People are people, and this church instead? He would have
God loves people. We don’t agree with received no welcome. No love. No com-
their religion, but if we throw around hate passion. He would have left both lost and
THE MESSAGE statements about them, how can we ever rejected. Instead, he came to a church
show them the love of Christ?
OF JESUS IS
composed of nearly 50 different cultures,
Jesus died for people. But He didn’t where the pastor is both Caucasian and a
“WHOSOEVER WILL,
die so people could stay as they are, or native Alabamian, and where the guest
where they are; He died to save them. The speaker was Caucasian and a native of
LET HIM COME”
fact is that religions—all religions—are Arkansas. He felt so welcomed, so loved,
just that: religions. Even Christianity, if it so cared for, that he laid aside his fear of
(REVELATION 22:17).
is not true biblical Christianity, is just rejection by family, friends, and peers,
THE MESSAGE OF
another empty religion. But true biblical and walked the aisle for Jesus Christ. Oh,
Christianity is not a religion, it is a rela- by the way, I met a lady in that Connecti-
SOME CHURCHES IS
tionship. All other religions (including cut church who grew up 35 miles from
nominal Christianity) create a false sense where I was raised, and a lady whose roots
“WHOSOEVER WILL, of salvation, while only Jesus can offer a were in a church I once pastored in subur-
genuine relationship with God. ban Detroit. They both loved God, the
LET HIM COME . . .
Jesus is the only way to God. I didn’t Church of God, and each other, and they
BUT NOT TO MY
make that up. He said it Himself (John were not of the same culture or race.
14:1-6) as did other Bible writers. Narrow- The message of Jesus is “Whosoever
CHURCH.” I’M NOT
minded? I guess. But again, I didn’t say it, will, let him come” (see Revelation
God’s Word did. There are many roads to 22:17). The message of some churches is
QUITE SURE WHAT any major city or attraction, but there is
“Whosoever will, let him come . . . but
THAT SPIRIT IS, BUT
only one way to God, and that way is not to my church.” I’m not quite sure
Jesus. If any other way can get man to what that spirit is, but it is not biblical
IT IS NOT BIBLICAL
God, Jesus died in vain. Christianity. Biblical Christianity is what
The young man in Connecticut I saw a few weeks ago in West Haven. If
CHRISTIANITY.
impacts my life. He came to church with a every kindred, nation, tribe, and tongue
Christless past and chose to walk the aisle will one day worship together in heaven,
and accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. What can somebody please tell me why we
You are invited to visit the
his future holds is a mystery known only can’t do that down here? Do we think
Church of God Evangel online
to God. But what might his future have that in heaven we will all be white, or
at www.onlineevangel.org
been had he not taken that walk of faith? black, or Hispanic? No, in heaven we will
and my personal blog at
I contrast our Connecticut church all be like Jesus. Shouldn’t we try a bit
www.jecossey.blogspot.com.
to another in which I once ministered. harder to be more like Him in the here
Located in a community with a large and now?
EVANGEL • FEB 2009 3
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