09 Jun Christians and Racism
For the last several months, the coronavirus pandemic has dominated our every waking hour. Social distancing, the efficacy of masks, and the readiness to reopen were virtually the only subjects being discussed on national media.
And now this past week, overnight, the pandemic was utterly eclipsed by rioting over the death of George Floyd… a Christian whose death was a tragedy, but who was a believer, and who would not – according to the testimony of his brother – have agreed with the rioting that has followed.
I could not get my mind around what was happening because of selective reporting on the part of much of the media. But in the end, with help from some commentators, I came to understand what seems very obvious now, but wasn’t then.
As we sift out the truth from the news reports, we can see that there were/are three kinds of people participating in the protests:
- Peaceful protestors who were exercising valid civil rights to encourage cultural change.
- Political agitators who oppose traditional American values and who want to create chaos for the purpose of helping bring about political and cultural change.
- Individuals of low moral character who see this simply as an opportunity to steal and to vent anger and frustration.
Much of the political discourse treated the entire group as one, tending to see them all as legitimate protestors or all as thugs and criminals. It was very helpful for me to see that there were three groups that needed to be identified and responded to distinctly.
Politically, people have the right to peaceful protest, and those who were exercising that right should be respected.
The political agitators and the criminals fall into an entirely different category. I have political opinions about all this, but want to limit this blog to assessing the situation from a spiritual vantage point.
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The Bible teaches that we should not be racist
Racism can be informally defined as the belief that one race is inherently superior to another, and that that superiority justifies discrimination against the inferior race. I wrote in a previous blog about the biblical teachings on why we should not discriminate:
We have all been created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27)
Since we are all created in the image of God that means that every human being has inherent and infinite worth. It also means that no one human being is worth any more than another human being. This remarkable truth elevates us all without inflating us, and humbles us all without debasing us.
The Bible declares that we are all equal. (Galatians 3:28)
In God’s eyes, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female… and by implication, neither one color or another. All humans are equal in God’s eyes. Because all humans are equal in God’s eyes, all humans should be equal in the eyes of Christians.
Jesus said, “Do unto to others as you would have others do unto you.” (Luke 6:31)
If we would not want others to discriminate against us, then we ought not to discriminate against others. This is the Golden Rule applied to the subject of race. It is the biblical principle Abraham Lincoln was drawing on when he said, “As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master.” Each Christian is obligated to walk in the shoes of others, and treat them the way they would want to be treated if the roles were reversed.
God intends for us to experience unity in the midst of diversity. (1 Corinthians 12:4-26)
God has created the universe with stupefying diversity. In the universe, in our planet, in our human body, and in the Church, God’s diversity is beyond comprehension, yet all parts are to contribute to the welfare of the whole, and the whole is to contribute to the welfare of the parts. It should be as the Three Musketeers said, “All for one and one for all.”
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There are three kinds of people regarding race
There are three kinds of people regarding this issue. First, there are those who are not racist. Second, there are those who are racist. Third, there are those who are somewhere in the middle, without having clarified the issues in their mind or come to convictions.
Those who are not racist should take whatever opportunities the Lord leads them to for promoting a biblical perspective on race and to demonstrate by their lifestyles a respect and equal love for all races.
Those who have never clarified the issue in their mind or come to a conviction on the subject, should allow the Scripture to speak to them to clarify their minds and lead them to accept that “all men are created equal.”
Those who are racist should choose to forsake racism.The Golden Rule applies: as I would not be discriminated against, so I will not discriminate.
In another previous blog, we looked at Four Reasons Why We Discriminate, and none of them are good. If we can more fully understand some of the reasons why we discriminate, it can help us embrace a biblical view of discrimination and, hopefully, be a part of the solution in bringing about meaningful change.
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The source of racism
James 3:15-16 tells us that wisdom generated by selfish ambition is “earthly, natural and demonic,” and it produces “disorder and every evil thing.” That is what we are seeing in racism: wisdom generated by selfish ambition, producing disorder and every evil thing.
The Scriptures have the solution for our problems. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39) and to do unto others as we would have others do unto us (Luke 6:31). If we follow the Scriptures, racism and violence will evaporate.
If anyone should be committed to racial equality and non-discrimination, it should be Christians. If we don’t get it right, who will?!? Let us be an example in all our words and deeds of the truth Jesus taught us, which He said would set us free (John 8:32).
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