Unknown god: the god of tribalism

2020-11-01  

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Tribalism - “tribalism is the attitude and practice of harboring such a strong feeling of loyalty or bonds to one’s tribe that one excludes or even demonizes those ‘others’ who do not belong to that group”[1]or; 2) often disapproving : loyalty to a tribe or other social group especially when combined with strong negative feelings for people outside the group.[2] 

Racism – 1) “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capabilities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”[3] 

There are varying types of tribalism. It can come from Northerners and Southerners, it can come from ethnic or racial bounds. It can flow from political differences. Obviously, it can flow from political or belief systems. Regardless of its foundations, tribalism when it is taken to the extreme, is always damaging and always sin. 

Luke 10:25-37 (CSB) Just then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” He asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” He told him. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.” 

The monumental question in this passage is found in verse 29:  And who is my neighbor? 

“Before the question ‘Who is my neighbor?’ at the beginning of time was the question ‘Am I my brother’s keeper’ [Cain]? The answer was and is ‘YES’.”Genesis 4:9 

The answer Jesus gave: vs 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.” 

1. The only way to truly love your neighbor begins in your personal relationship with Christ  

Vs 27 He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind 

2. Loving your neighbor never develops in passivity 

Vss 31-32 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 

3. Loving your neighbor always requires being active 

Vs 33a But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him… 

4. Loving your neighbor always requires reflecting God’s love 

1 Cor. 13:4-8 (CSB) Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, 5 does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. 

Vs 33b …and when he saw the man, he had compassion.

4. Loving your neighbor does not mean having to sacrifice your beliefs or Biblical truth 

• “We can DISAGREE – but we should not be DIVIDED”
• “Bottom line – are you aChrist follower? Then we are in ONE tribe – God’s! Eph 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit —just as you were called to one hope at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 

[1]Nothwehr D. M., 2008, That They May Be One,Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY, p. 5

[2]English Language Learners Dictionary

[3]Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2014