As I sit here and write this blog my heart is heavy. On May 8th my daughter called me, she was a little flustered. I asked what was wrong, and she said sadly what she has heard before even as a child. She said mom, this white lady called me the n-word in the grocery store. You see Joy was having a hard day because of a migraine and wanted to run to the store to pick up some groceries for her family.
The lady behind her was blasting music right in Joy's ear. And if anyone knows Joy you know it took a lot for her to ask the lady very kindly to please turn the music down just a little because of her migraine. The lady said No N-word! Joy said she didn't know how to respond to the lady, she was Shock! I have taught my children from a very young age it's not what someone calls you that matters it's what you respond to and if it's not your name don't respond. But I have to say that can get old when you have heard it as much as we have.
Well, Joy is an adult and I would say she handled herself well, she only called the woman an old hag! (Yes I laughed)! She did not curse her out or get in her face and scream at her as that woman did to her. She got her groceries and went home.
You see, we are in some ways used to hearing things like this.
I have heard it said that nothing unites people like a common enemy. Racist ideology is an enemy worth fighting together.
For the Christian, this should be abundantly clear. We serve a God who delights in the human dignity and worth of all humanity. The Bible envisions a unified church “from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9). In the New Testament book of 1 Peter writes:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).
That “chosen race” that Peter writes about is not an ethnic group. It is the Church. Our primary identity is not our nationality, our gender, our ethnic background, or our politics, but Jesus Christ.
On the one hand, it is hard to believe that such blatant racism could exist in 2021. But a study of the bible and of global history reminds us of the depth of human sin. We shouldn’t be shocked, but we should be grieved; grieved enough to join in God’s healing and renewing work in our world. This collective grief should drive us to prayer and to action.
As people debate the proper response to injustice, we must, of course, condemn all forms of racism, bigotry, and discrimination. We must call it for what it is: sin! As Christians, we renounce this hateful ideology. Racial injustice is incompatible with the promise of the gospel.
We must do the hard work of confessing, forgiving, and peacemaking. We must be intentional about extending invitations and sharing meals with people. We must contribute our money and labor to causes that promote justice. We must do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. We must pray like crazy that the sin of racism be expelled and the redemptive love of God be made manifest among us.
May God give us the wisdom to know the right thing to do and to have the courage to do it.