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Question About The Nativity At My Church Yesterday

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by TaxingMatthew, Dec 21, 2015.

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  1. TaxingMatthew

    TaxingMatthew New Member

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    I would like some advice, and I would like to hear your thoughts.
    A few weeks ago, after many years I returned to the church I grew up and was baptized in.
    It now has a Hispanic pastor, and many of the members are Hispanic which of course I have no qualms about.
    Christ's love is for every man. I enjoy going to this church very much. However my question is concerning something that happened yesterday after the children did an enactment of the Nativity.
    At the end, three children each held up flags from other countries to say that Christ loves these countries too.
    The thing that bothers me is that all of the flags they held up (all tolled about 18-21)
    were countries of central and South America (with the exception of Laos and Vietnam).
    For example Mexico was represented, as well as Cuba, Guatemala, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and El Salvador were represented by the children holding these countries respective flags. No other countries flags were held up. Not Canada, the U.S. or any others My question is, how should I feel about this? I do not want to be seen as bigoted or prejudiced in any way and I would very much appreciate your input.
     
    #1 TaxingMatthew, Dec 21, 2015
  2. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    "Jesus loves the little children,
    All the children of the world.
    Red, brown, yellow, black, and white,
    They are precious in His sight.
    Jesus loves the little children of the world."​

    The children identify with a family. Families have heritage.

    It is an honor to acknowledge the heritage of the family by the assembly.

    And, from a personal perspective, it may be useful in reaching those communities in the cause of Christ.
     
    #2 agedman, Dec 21, 2015
  3. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    You said that many of the members are Hispanic. Are there any Caucasian children who attend?
    Have you spoken to the director of the program - and not in a judgmental way, but simply to understand.
     
    #3 Salty, Dec 21, 2015
  4. TaxingMatthew

    TaxingMatthew New Member

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    Yes there are but most of the Caucasian's are adults. The ratio is about 74% Hispanic to 24% Caucasian and 2% other nationalities. No I haven't spoken to anyone about this. I guess the thing that bothers me is that the US flag was not included.
     
    #4 TaxingMatthew, Dec 21, 2015
  5. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Few people could identify all those countries' flags on the spot. Quite impressive.
     
    #5 Jerome, Dec 21, 2015
  6. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like much ado about nothing...
     
    #6 matt wade, Dec 21, 2015
  7. Martin

    Martin Active Member

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    Hello,

    I can understand your noticing this omission, but from you have said it sounds like the church (now) mainly ministers to people from those nations. I would not read too much into the omission. If it bothers you that much, just select a new church.

    Hope that helps,
    Martin.
     
    #7 Martin, Dec 24, 2015
  8. TaxingMatthew

    TaxingMatthew New Member

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    It does Martin, very much. Thank you a lot for your understand and your input I appreciate it. I have prayed about it and have decided to stay. Mainly because I have such cherished boyhood memories there. In fact it was this very day in 1969 when I was baptized there. Merry Christmas!
     
    #8 TaxingMatthew, Dec 24, 2015
  9. TaxingMatthew

    TaxingMatthew New Member

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    I mean "UnderstandING". I guess there is no way to edit function.
     
    #9 TaxingMatthew, Dec 24, 2015
  10. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    Laos and Vietnam are in Asia. Anyway, do you think that this was a political statement or an attempt at reconciling families over distances in the minds of these children. Personally, I don't see a role of the flags either way.
     
    #10 JonC, Dec 24, 2015
  11. TaxingMatthew

    TaxingMatthew New Member

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    Yes, I know. I said in the post "with the exception of..." About your question, I do not know. I am guessing it is the former because of the specific way they seemed to single those out. When each one was held up the child would shout the respective countries name.
     
    #11 TaxingMatthew, Dec 24, 2015
  12. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    My bad, that's what I get for speed reading at my age. I don't know how I would feel about that.
     
    #12 JonC, Dec 24, 2015
  13. Kevin

    Kevin Active Member

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    If it hadn't been mentioned about the Christmas theme, I would think it just sounded like something one might see in a Mission's Conference, or something along those lines. :cool:
     
    #13 Kevin, Dec 24, 2015
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