This post is part 1 of a 5 part blog series called ‘Shaped By The Gospel’ on the subjects of race, politics, individualism, sexuality, and materialism. What does it look like to be shaped by the gospel on relevant issues shaping our culture?
In light of the recent “black lives matter” demonstrations that took place around the world and the more recent tragic news from Kamloops about a survey of the grounds at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School that uncovered the remains of 215 children buried at the site, the issue of racism is now centre stage in our country and needs to be addressed. But how are we to address racism and its various forms — individual racism and systemic racism? Does the gospel have a compelling solution to this problem? Well, let’s see what the scriptures have to say about racism and its various forms.
First, let’s define terms:
RACISM
Prejudice; discrimination; antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership to a particular racial or ethnic group. There are various forms of racism. There is individual racism where the individual makes racist assumptions and
has racist beliefs where they are exhibiting racist behaviour, sometimes behaving in a racist manner consciously and sometimes subconsciously.
SYSTEMIC RACISM
Policies and practices that are entrenched in established institutions which result in the exclusion or the promotion of a designated group. Either you exclude one group or really favour one group over all others. The deep issue with racism is this: It asserts superiority of one ethnicity over another and hence it attempts, then, to segregate the superior from the inferior. Residential Schools in Canada would be an example of this. Another example would be apartheid in South Africa. Racism produces prejudices that make sweeping negative assessments of ethnicities from a standpoint of condescension based on stereotypical, preconceived, and uncharitable opinions. Simply put, racism treats people unjustly because of their ethnicity.
So how should we address the issue of racism as Christians? What does it mean to be shaped by the gospel when it comes to issues of race? In what ways is the Christian vision different from the culture’s approach to addressing racism?
Our answer hinges on how we would answer these four questions. By and large our culture would answer the following questions this way:
Who am I? You are nothing. Go make something of yourself.
Why am I here? You are here to consume and enjoy.
What’s wrong with the world? Lack of education, lack of funding, lack of policing.
How can we make the wrong right? More education, more funding, and more policing. That’s how we will address these issues.
Here is how the Bible responds to the same four questions:
Who am I? I am created in the image and likeness of God. That’s why every single person has dignity and worth. It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white, from one country or another, what ethnicity, the colour of your eyes and your skin, you have dignity and worth because you are made in the image of God.
Why am I here? I am not here to consume and enjoy, I am here to bring glory to God.
What is wrong with the world? It is not insufficient education, funding, or policing. What’s wrong with the world is you and me. We are what’s wrong with the world because there is sin in us. We love the wrong things too much and the right things too little.
How can we make the wrong right? The gospel. Education is good and it is good for us to learn and to be aware, but the root of the issue is a heart-issue, a sin-issue. Racism is a sin issue. It’s not lack of education issue, because there are people who are well-educated who are racist. So how do you fix that? The gospel is the answer to the heart-issue, the sin-issue.
HOW DOES THE BIBLE ADDRESS THE ISSUE?
All people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26; 5:1; 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Acts 17:24-26). Racism is heresy because it denies that God created all people in His image and likeness. Therefore, that means we ought to love our neighbour (Luke 10:30-37; Leviticus 19:2; 19:13-18; 19:33-34). Racism disregards Jesus’ command to love our neighbour as ourselves. And say no to racism (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Revelation 9:9-10). Racism in the church is a contradiction of the visible unity that we as believers should celebrate. In Revelation 9 the Apostle John sees a vision of heaven filled with people from every tribe and language worshipping Jesus together.
NEXT STEPS
- LEARN: Racism is not simply an issue in other places. Multiple ethnic minorities in Canada will tell you that racism is alive and well in our country. Seek to learn the stories of others. Let us talk to our Indigenous community, hear their stories, and learn.
- PRAY: Pray that the Lord would bring reconciliation and break down the racial barriers, that God would soften hearts as the gospel is being proclaimed — because racism is a heart issue. So let’s pray that God would transform the hearts of people and would begin to treat people as image-bearers of God.
- ACKNOWLEDGE: Acknowledge the pain that is there and empathize. You may not relate to it or understand it but acknowledge that it’s there and empathize.
- COMMIT: Commit to loving your neighbour as a response to the gospel and commit to ushering in the Kingdom of God. Why? Because one day you and I will stand in the courts of heaven with brothers and sisters from all tribes and tongues saying, “Salvation belongs to the Lord”. If that will be a true reality for us for eternity then let us start trying to emulate it here and live in light of that.
PRAYER
May the God of peace who reached across all ethnic boundaries by His love, equip me to do his will.
May I seek justice, be humble and pursue reconciliation.
May our Father work in me that which is pleasing in his sight - a listening spirit and repentant heart.
Through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
+ Deep Thoughts Episode 43 “Racism & The Great Commission”
+ Deep Thoughts Episode 36 “Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth” (with Thaddeus Williams)