We face many kinds of divisions: right and left, young and old, rich and poor, and black and white! It doesn’t matter what the reason, we always seem to find reasons to divide. But God is not about dividing. He’s all about making one out of one another.
Right now, our country, even our world, is hurting and protesting, and fighting over this issue of racism. This is an issue that I thought and hoped we had dealt with it back in the day and we could move forward together as one. But it’s very clear that it is not a settled issue. Racial tensions are high and we believe the church is called to be a part of the solution.
Where does Racism come from?
Racism is so strange because it’s not something you just believe when you’re born. It’s something that seems to be inherited from our parents or taught to us by our friends. There seems to be something in us that gravitates to racist thoughts to make us feel better than others. Maybe we’ve been the object of racism and it causes us to feel a certain way about others.
Maybe it’s just ignorance. I don’t know them. I don’t understand them. So, we fear what we don’t understand. We like what is known and safe and familiar.
Racism is sin!
But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. James 2:9 NLT
We need to talk about four very important steps we can take to eradicate racism, or Erase Racism. With God’s help we will learn to not just tolerate people who are different than us, but to really love people who are different from us!
So, God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27
4 Steps I Can Take to Erase Racism
RECOGNIZE MY PREJUDICES.
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 1 John 1:8
Prejudice means prejudging. It’s a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. Most of us had some racist ideas in our family of origin. If not our parents, then maybe some other member of our family.
If you’ve ever said, “I’m not racist but.” There is nothing good that comes after “but.” You have to recognize racism for what it is, even in your own life.
It takes courage, it takes honestly, it takes integrity to recognize any racism, to admit it before God and to repent of it.
AIM TO UNDERSTAND OTHERS.
We don’t know what we don’t know. We all have blinders on to some extent.
Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2
CHOOSE TO LOVE PEOPLE.
Racism is not just the presence of hatred, it’s also the absence of love. It’s not just the presence of hatred, saying I don’t reject you; it’s the absence of love, and saying I accept you, I receive you, and I celebrate you!
Love never hurts a neighbor, so loving is obeying all the law. Romans 13:10 (NCV)
Do something to break down racial stereotypes every day. They can be small, regular acts of kindness that make a big difference.
EMBRACE OUR DIFFERENCES.
Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13
JESUS DIDN’T COME TO TAKE SIDES. HE CAME TO TAKE OVER!
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12
There is only one true race, the human race. Jesus gave His life for us!
Racism is not acceptable to God—and it is not acceptable to us!
We need to step up to be a part of the solution. This means saying, “I want to show God’s love to everyone all the time the same way I’ve been loved by God.” Remember that God’s love is unconditional.