Several years ago Dr. Billy Graham was being interviewed by Diane Sawyer and she asked, "If you could wave your hand and make one problem in this world go away, what would it be?" That's quite a thought provoking question that she asked, but apparently a question he had thought about previously. Without hesitation, the great evangelist answered, "racial division and strife."

Two thousand years ago Jesus sought to overcome relational, including racial barriers. Even at His birth He was called the Prince of Peace. Today we still have tensions and strife among various ethnic and racial groups of people. Hate crimes are going on in our state and nation. It is not limited to Bosnia and South Africa, the Middle East, or Central America.

For a few moments this morning I would like to direct our thoughts to a story of Jesus in relationship with a person of an ethnic group with whom the Jews of Jesus' day had racial tension and strife.

To overcome relational barriers we should:

I. Engage in meaningful dialogue.

Jesus, tired from traveling, came to the city of Samaria, and sat down beside the well to rest. A Samaritan woman came to the well and Jesus spoke to her. He asked her for a drink of water. Remember her response? "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" This woman knew that the Jews despised the Samaritans. The bitter Jewish, Samaritan feud had been going on for over four hundred years. Unlike Jesus, the typical Jew often avoided Samaritan villages. To make matters worse, not only was this person to whom Jesus spoke a Samaritan, but a woman. Jewish teachers were not supposed to greet a woman in public, not even his own wife, daughter, or sister. However, her race and gender were not barriers to Jesus.

Not only did Jesus speak to this woman, but He carried on a meaningful dialogue with her. Jesus did not merely seek to engage the woman in meaningless, but friendly chatter. William Barclay wrote: "We have to note that this conversation with the Samaritan woman follows exactly the same pattern as the conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus makes a statement. The statement is misunderstood and taken in the wrong sense. Jesus remakes the statement in an even more vivid way. It is still misunderstood; and then Jesus compels the person with whom He is speaking to discover and to face the truth for himself or herself. That was Jesus' usual way of teaching."

This leads to the next means of overcoming relational barriers. We should:

II. Encounter persons with truth.

This is what Jesus did. I believe He did so in a loving, sensitive, and very honest manner. He used the opportunity that came out of their meaningful dialogue to share the truth of who He was and who she was; a person in need of the Savior of the world. Jesus told the truth of Himself, of the living water, of eternal life.

As this woman began to realize the truth of who Jesus was she caught sight of who she was, a sinner, an immoral woman. Today, as women, children, and men really see the truth of Jesus, they too, see the truth that they are sinners who need the Savior.

My friends, I think that sometimes Christians have the idea that when it comes to persons who are different from us, we are doing well to carry on some friendly small talk. There is nothing wrong with some of this. Most of us do it, but I don't think it will break down relational barriers. To do so we should engage in meaningful dialogue and encounter persons with truth. I am not suggesting that we do so in a tactless, and insulting manner. Treat all persons of sacred value and worth realizing that one of us alone is not going to engage everyone we meet in meaningful dialogue or encounter them all with the truth. That is a task for each of us in the community of faith to do with those whom the Holy Spirit gives opportunity.

Many years ago I was visited by a member of my congregation who was in distress about the black friend of their daughter's. As I got to know this young man I was much more concerned about his moral standards, while professing to be a Christian, than the color of his skin. As a new Christian she did not believe that they should be involved sexually before they were married, but he told her he saw nothing wrong with such behavior. He needed to hear the truth of God's word.

One of my best friends from my college days was a student from India. He really helped me grow in my relationship to Jesus Christ. We talked about the truth. When I visit with persons of other races today, I try to be sensitive, but honest. Jesus is the truth, and when he is the center of relationships barriers should come falling down. In the midst of packing boxes to make a move from Des Moines to North Iowa several years ago Oomen came from India to visit me and my family.

When I lived in Des Moines I engaged in some pulpit exchanges with African-American pastors. We preached the truth as we went to each other's congregations. Since a black church is not the setting I am most used to, I am extra careful in my preparations, so that I do not unnecessarily offend people.

Many of you are aware of the fact that our Adel, Valley and Norwalk UMCs have had some puilpit exchanges the last couple of years. You have graciously welcomed a wonderful pastor from the Philippines and a pastor from Africa to preach in our Adel church. These pastors are friends in ministry with whom I regularly gather for prayer and support. My life has been blessed by these relationships. Relational barriers between persons are not limited to racial.

A friend of mine told a story of a prejudice of his, women smokers. Years ago he and a college friend of his were visiting as they drove down the road. He mentioned how he hated to see a woman smoke. He looked over at the young Christian lady in his car with him and saw a tear in her eye. He knew that she did not smoke and inquired about her tear and deep emotion. She told him that her mother did. He had not meant to hurt his friend or her mother, but he had sort of walled off that group of persons. Have you or I walled off any group of persons? Short people? Rich people? Poor people? People with green eyes? Politicians? Redheads? Men with beards? Fat people? Lazy people?

How about in our church and community? I've heard the story of pioneers and settlers. Persons who have not lived in the area as long as others may not really be allowed in. It may not be intentional at all. However, neither are newcomers intentionally included, so some people are excluded.

Conclusion:

To overcome relational barriers we should:
I. Engage in meaningful dialogue.
II. Encounter persons with truth.
   and finally the result is to
III. Enable people to come to Christ.

Consider what a marvelous result came forth from the testimony of the woman who came to Christ. John tells us that many Samaritans believed in Christ because of her testimony. Wow! That excites me! That can happen again today. She was not a great evangelist, but as barriers came down Christ's love was known. So can it be today in Adel and Dallas County.

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