 Like you, I've been thinking about racism. A lot.
My heart has been quite unsettled, even conflicted and certainly convicted. I don't want to sit idly by and do or say nothing which appears complicit. Yet there's a rumbling in my soul as I've been trying to figure out where my Christian worldview and my civil responsibility intersect. For starters, I have to keep things simple in my core beliefs (my paraphrasing below). 1. There is only one race, one blood, one body. The varying colors of our skin, our facial features, our stature contribute to a beautiful variety among the human kind. Racism, systemic or otherwise, is an issue of the heart and mind. Our spiritual battle is there. 2. Justice must have a standard that transcends human convention and worldly "wisdom"--otherwise, who gets to decide here? Because our Creator is righteous, we ought to value righteousness and justice as well. 3. How do we even know and appreciate in the first place that all lives matter? Because God says so! We are all created equal and in God's image. 4. We were designed in love and each of us has a purpose for our days on earth. Our purpose is based on loving God first and then serving others. 5. We love because we were first loved. We love others sacrificially. We love by shedding the light of Christ to those who may not know Him. Would you say that His death was the perfect demonstration of faith in action? That divine spot where justice and love crossed? 6. God accepts from every tribe and every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 7. Jesus Christ advocated for our NEIGHBOR. Our neighbor might be oppressed, needy, fatherless, widowed, poor, a foreigner in our land, without food, clothing, and shelter. The problem? Although I have these beliefs, the rest of the world may not, including Christians. Also, my faith may be without action--a sad truth for many believers, including myself. So what can I do? 1. EXAMINE. I pray. I ask God to intervene and reveal to me any offensive thoughts I may be harboring. I carefully dissect my thoughts and beliefs to make sure they carefully line up with God's Truths. Do I have hidden biases or stereotyping I need to address? 2. EDUCATE. Although it is difficult to find unbiased resources, ask trusted friends to help you in this quest. Although you may feel like you're on informational overload, just do your best. Start with one book or one video. Ask God to lead you through this process. If you read a book with a slant to the left, be sure to read a book that slants to the right. Use your go-to ministries/organizations to help guide you. 3. ENGAGE. It's not enough to sit idly by during this racial pandemic plaguing our nation. I know it feels overwhelming. But let's commit to taking baby steps. Surely, if we examine and educate, then we will have a better idea of how to engage as God leads the way. Find a friend for accountability here! Anybody want to commit alongside me? Shoot me a quick email at [email protected]. Comments are closed.
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