50 years ago — June 29, 1964
The issue of race rocked our nation and the church. “Let each one of us ask himself whether he is not standing in this very moment in the midst of Peter’s … friends when the Roman Centurion requested baptism. Is there not in our denomination at this moment a question being asked … ‘Can any man forbid water … ?’” We wrestle with the question. I don’t want to “‘extend the limits of my comfortable circle.’ ‘I’d rather … bar the church against any whose presence makes me uncomfortable.’ ‘In all candor, I don’t care … to make all races welcome in my congregation.’ … But what is at stake may be our very discipleship, our eternal destiny. … What if we are fighting against … God … . The Holy Spirit came not only on Cornelius … but upon Peter and … his … friends. … The answer to the question, ‘Can any man forbid water?’ is: If he does, how can he be my disciple? … Let us cease … from the vain attempt to dam up the fountain of Living Waters.”
From “Unbar the Door!” a sermon by Thomas W. Currie.
