The Great Commission was to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,” not just individuals, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...” (Matthew 28:18-19). I would never want to negate or belittle in any way the importance of the gospel of personal salvation, or how crucial it is to our calling to seek and lead individuals to the Lord for a personal encounter, personal repentance, and a personal walk with God. However, as this verse above makes clear, there is another level to “the Great Commission” that has not yet been fulfilled. This commission was to make disciples of nations, not just individuals, and to teach them everything that He commanded us. This teaching should obviously accompany the gospel that is preached.

This leads us to some crucial questions: How do we make disciples of nations? How do we baptize them? How do we teach them to observe all that He commanded us?

First, the word that is translated “nations” here is the same Greek word ethnos, which we have discussed before. It is the word from which we derive our English word “ethnic.” The Lord is not just speaking here about making disciples of countries that are defined by political borders, but rather of people groups that are defined by their ethnic makeup.

This is an important distinction because it means that we need to focus needs on ethnic characteristics if we are going to be effective in reaching ethnic groups with the gospel. Of course ethnic profiling or stereotyping, is very controversial. It has become a major transgression in modern, Western thinking, as it should be whenever it is used to discriminate against, or abuse others in any way.

This is extremely dangerous water to tread in. It is remarkable how many people with highly visible public careers have seen their careers killed by making just one racist remark, or even a perceived one. Some of these may have been overreactions, but I for one am glad that the evil of racism is taken so seriously as it is. It is one of the most deadly evils of our times. Even so, just as lawlessness is not the answer to legalism, if we go to the other extreme trying to be “politically correct” we will ultimately be just as vulnerable to this great evil.

There are obvious “ethnic truths” that everyone can clearly see, which even ethnic groups tend to highlight and are proud of, as they should be. There are other characteristics which are also obvious, and need to be understood in some cases to help ethnic groups. This is true with every ethnic group. If we are more concerned about being “politically correct,” than in standing for what is true, we will be doomed to darkness.

Our basic commodity is truth. We must be committed to truth more than many such well meaning, idealistic, but often distorted influences and perceptions, if we are going to be ministers of the truth. However, we should never want to speak about any other group in a demeaning or disrespectful way. If we are to help illuminate general problems within any ethnic group, it should only be for a redemptive purpose. I also believe we are to do this before we start looking at gifts and strengths within that group.

We should keep in mind that the devil attacks ethnic groups in a very similar way in which he attacks individuals. For example, if a person is called as an evangelist, the devil will try to make him or her shy or even anti-social, if he can. He will do all that he can to make that person hate other people, knowing that love is the foundation of the evangelistic ministry. Likewise, God has given great gifts to each ethnic group so that it can be a blessing to all of humanity. Satan will therefore try to distort and pervert these gifts.

Also, to be true in any perception of a group, we must understand that generalizations are just that, and are seldom going to be true of everyone in the group. So with our generalizations we must make room in our minds and hearts, for the exceptions. Just because most may fit in a certain category, we must always be open for those who do not.

As you may have heard me say many times, possibly the greatest deception which veils people from the truth is the tendency to judge other individuals or people groups, by their most extreme elements. As Christians we are often judged or misjudged in this way, so we should know very well how inaccurate, and usually demeaning this is. If we are going to walk in truth we must not judge others.

So what I am about to share are generalizations which are not true of everyone in the groups I will talk about. We also need to keep in mind that what may now be weaknesses in any person or group will likely become strengths, once they have experienced the redemption of God.

As stated, God has given special gifts to different ethnic groups. You have to be blind both physically and intellectually to not realize that God has given rhythm to Africans which exceeds that of any other ethnic group, especially those who are of white, European descent. However, some of the best dancers in the world are from white, European descent. Likewise, some of those of African descent that I know have as little rhythm as I do.

A friend of mine who is a music historian pointed out that every musical instrument has its roots in Africa, even those listed in the Bible. Many of these have been greatly changed, revised, and modernized in other cultures, but you can find the origins of every one of them in Africa. Africans tend to have remarkable gifts for music that have blessed the world. This also is translated into a remarkable devotion to worship.

It also seems that, in general, Africans tend to grasp and understand the spiritual realm much faster and easier than those of European descent. This is one of the greatest gifts of all, and has therefore been under a terrible assault of the devil seemingly from the beginning. Some of the strongest witchcraft in the world is found in Africa, or where Africans are the dominant ethnic group in a country. Africa is now experiencing one of the greatest revivals in the world, and we can expect this great gift to result in some of the most powerful healing, deliverance, prophetic, and worship ministries to come out of Africa. Missionaries are about to be sent from Africa throughout the world that the entire body of Christ will be blessed by.

Europeans, in general, tend to be more pragmatic, which can make them great engineers and scientists, historically, and greatly surpassing other cultures in this area. However, some of the world’s greatest engineers and scientists have been from African descent. Likewise, some of the world’s greatest composers have been from European descent. The African scientists have been able to see things others did not often see because they were not afraid to bring spiritual truths and insight into the laboratory. Likewise, European composers reached unprecedented heights by bringing mathematical precision and even engineering principles to their compositions.

My point is when God made man in His image we really could interpret that as, God making mankind in His image. He made the different races and cultures for a reason. He gave some of His own characteristics to each one in a seemingly greater way so as mankind came together in unity, His nature would be seen. He gave to mankind a wonderful combination of uniqueness and individuality, but He also made us to all need each other to be complete.

As we have said, racism is based on fear and/or pride. However, one is not a racist because they see distinctions in other cultures or races, as long as they do not do it out of fear or pride. We need to recognize, honor, and appreciate the distinctions that God gave to different people, and to different people groups. To not see obvious differences is to be blind, and/or dishonest. One of the greatest tragedies would be the elimination of any race. Likewise, one of the greatest blessings would be the release of all of the races, and all people, to be who God created them to be.

Now some could take what I have said here to challenge mixed marriages. This is important to address before going on. This mentality can be understandable when considering how important it is to preserve cultural distinctions and heritage. However, there is no biblical case that can be made for God being against mixed marriages, and a good one can be made that He actually wanted the mixing of races and cultures to at least some degree.

First, when the Lord ordained that His creation would reproduce “after their kind,” (Genesis 1:24-25), this was after their own species. This is a law which actually cannot be broken. It has been proven impossible for any species to be able to mate with another species and propagate, challenging some very basic Darwinian theories. However, different races of people are still a part of the species of mankind, and since they can join across racial lines and reproduce, it is obvious this is not something that God prohibited.

Why would He want to have the races intermingling? If He gave gifts to different races and cultures, does He not want them preserved? To a degree yes, but it is also obvious in the creation that the Lord made His entire universe to expand and grow. He loves diversity and uniqueness. It seems that He made us to be like a kaleidoscope to be ever changing and interesting.

Also, just as breeds of animals that do not cross with other breeds become weaker and weaker with each generation, genetically the same is true with people. It does seem that, generally, mixed race children tend to be stronger, smarter, and healthier. Likewise, the “blue blood” noble families in cultures that will try to only marry within the nobility quite obviously get weaker with succeeding generations. These are some of those truths that the American founding fathers considered “self-evident.”

So what is my point? First, we must be free to see the real characteristics of nations or ethnic groups, if we are going to be able to minister to them effectively. We also need to understand that generalizations are just that, and are seldom true of everyone. For this reason we must strive to know no one “after the flesh” but by their spirit. We also need to guard against judging whole people groups, or even individuals, by their most extreme elements if we are going to perceive them accurately. And finally, we must also make room for new and as yet undefined, people groups and cultures.

In all of this it is right to honor heritages, gifts, as well as to acknowledge weaknesses. This must be done if we are going to receive from each other, or be able to help one another.

I will never forget the time when, after a friend of mine had tried to teach our entire congregation a Jewish dance, all of the black women in the church got together and came to me afterwards. A little surprised by this delegation, I asked what they wanted. One of them spoke up and said that they needed to pray for me—for some rhythm! I acknowledged my desperate need, and asked them to please do it. However, it seems that all of them together did not have the faith to deal with such a powerful stronghold! I remain almost entirely without rhythm to this day, but I doubt there is anyone who enjoys more watching those who do have some rhythm worshiping the Lord with their gift.

In the coming weeks we will deal with a few issues of how understanding other nations and races can practically help us in fulfilling the Great Commission. We will also see how racism will be one of the most deadly enemies of truth, and of our souls in the times ahead. We ourselves must be free of this evil if we are going to be lights in the growing darkness.