1 Corinthians 12: 24-25 - "But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other." (NIV)

"Random acts of kindness" is a phenomenon which has become part of the Tim Horton's lifestyle. A driver when paying at the window in the drive-through line for his or her own coffee decides to pay for the coffee order of the driver in the car behind them. This unknowing and unsuspecting driver is a "victim" of a "random" act of kindness, and receives a gracious surprise when reaching the payment window: what was ordered is handed over, free of charge! What's more, the one who paid for the order has driven off, and the driver has no way to express thanks to that person.

Sometimes, the recipient of the surprise act of kindness will undertake to share the gift, by paying for the order of the driver next in line, and the "random" act of kindness spawns further tangible expressions of joy and goodwill.

I have thought a little about this "random acts of kindness" phenomenon, while reading a challenging and insightful book by David A. Anderson, entitled, "Gracism: the art of inclusion" (Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2007). The author is an African American who pastors a congregation which is ethnically diverse. He is aiming to point the way to a Christ-centred and biblical model of inclusive church growth, in the context of an urban cosmopolitan culture which has brought together people from a wide variety of national and ethnic origins. I think he has something to say to us in Ottawa and in other Canadian urban centres.

His major premise is that the key to overcoming attitudes of racism --which tend to leave even Christians thinking and living based on a "You in your small corner and I in mine" framework -- is for individual members of the body of Christ to engage in acts of gracism. Gracism seeks to counteract racism through offering individuals who may be marginalised an intentional act of grace -- an undeserved but loving hand of affirmation and inclusion. One example he uses is that of an individual standing in a long line at an airport who graciously makes room ahead in the queue for a family of foreign origin obviously confused and running late while others were vigilantly guarding their places, eager to exclude any possibility of having their place in line usurped.

Anderson roots his theology of inclusion in I Corinthians 12, where Paul reminds us that certain parts of the human body which "we think are less honourable" (verse 23) we care for "with special honour". In the same way, the church as the body of Christ is called to give careful attention and "greater honour" to parts of the body which lack such, in order that -- intentionally -- the whole body may be strengthened.

Gracist acts are not "random" acts of kindness directed toward unknown persons behind us in a drive-through line whose needs we do not know, nor are they blindly executed "affirmative action" programmes that deny rights to others. Rather, gracist actions are those which seek to promote the health and healing of one or more members of the body of Christ by intentionally offering to individuals in need of special care tangible evidence of the love of God found in Jesus Christ which none of us deserve, but which all of us need. Anderson challenges Christians to relate to others, especially others obviously different in colour, class, or culture, with personal, intentional attention, based the attention and care Jesus gave to the Samaritan woman. Using Paul's counsel in I Corinthians 12: 22-26, he proposes that we become a community of individuals who will say and act as follows:

            "I will lift you up"
            "I will cover you"
            "I will share with you"
            "I will honour you"
            "I will stand with you"
            "I will consider you"
            "I will celebrate with you"

These simple statements and actions, when directed to those who may find themselves excluded on the margins, may bring into the centre individuals whom God is graciously inviting to be part of his family.

As we ponder the real reason for celebrating Christmas -- the deep meaning of God through the birth of Jesus becoming one with us -- taking human flesh and living among us -- to reveal to us how much He loves us -- let us become gracists. Let us strive to be individuals who have eyes to see those who are different, and the courage to reach out to them. Let us undertake to offer intentional acts of grace so that others will sense the grace of God for them.

Graciously,

Your pastor,
James T. Hurd