Grace for Racial Conversations

If you’re in America, it’s time for the annual, guilt-laden, homage to blackness – Black History Month. Because talking about black history one time a year is one way we deal with racial issues. Insert eye roll.

If I sound a little calloused it’s because that is my usual response to man’s attempt to fix societal issues born out of sin without God.

So I thought I’d get right to the elephant in the room and talk about the racial tension that seems to linger just below the surface awaiting the media’s carefully selected dog whistle. Yes, I said it. It’s important to know that headlines are carefully scripted and chosen. We’ve all heard the saying “if it bleeds, it leads” so discern when you’re fed a headline meant to elicit an emotional response. But I digress.

Let me preface this discussion with the fact that I’m speaking to Christians, followers of Christ who seek to follow His will over the dogma of popular culture. My bone to pick is with Christians who use the language and the philosophy of the world when taking on issues of race.

It is so disheartening to hear Christians and even pastors talk about race with an us vs them mentality, use the critical race theory (CRT) language of oppressor vs victim, and suggest solutions that revolve around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, protesting and segregation through black-only groups or support.

My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Part of my problem with them using this language is that a lot of it is based in critical race theory and Marxism. It is designed to divide – not heal.

But my real issue with Christians talking like this is because there is no differentiator between them and the world. The Gospel is not the solution. Man’s ideas are – and those ideas are increasingly anti-Christ in nature.

Where is the talk about love? Where is the talk of forgiveness? Like real forgiveness. Not the one where we have shows of reconciliation that later get immediately trashed when the next media headline pops up. Where is the demonstration of grace? How are we assigning the sins of slavery onto generations of people who were not even in existence when it occurred? Or slapping the racist label on someone simply due to skin color? Is that how our Father God is toward us?

A Kingdom Perspective

Part of the beauty of salvation is knowing how wretched we were and that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). This deep, beautiful demonstration of grace should pour out of us to those around us. Even those who are “sinners” because such were we!

Have we forgotten Jesus own words?

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:38-48

That’s one of those difficult scriptures that we’d all like to forget. But the Holy Spirit is challenging us to die to self.

Instead of congregating to take a knee in protest, where are the throngs of Christians dropping to our knees in the streets to pray for peace, mercy and grace? Where are the pastors leading that charge?

Instead of pushing for diversity training and “elevating black voices” where are the Christians engaging social ills with sound Biblical doctrine and elevating the Word of God in culture?

The Bible is not just for the 4 walls of the church. It is meant to transform lives, that transforms families, that transforms cities and states and governments and the world.

When I hear Christians promoting the same self-help gobbley-gook of the world it’s as if they’re relegating the real solution, the Gospel solution, the God-solution to second place or to no effect.

You may argue that all these worldly solutions are something God would endorse. I beg to differ. Our God is counter-cultural. He doesn’t assimilate to our standards.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

Think about a Savior that while dying on the cross asked His Father to forgive His murderers. Is there anyone in the black Christian community ready to don that perspective in racial discussions?

Please show me the scripture where God divides us between oppressed and oppressor? There is only one point of separation – those who follow Jesus and those who reject Him – and everyone, regardless of race, sex, economic status or otherwise fall in these two categories.

Rights & Racial Justice

In America we’re all about “Our rights”. Most certainly, we were endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights, and we should defend our Constitution at all costs. And of course, God is interested in justice and supporting the defenseless. But can I bring something to your attention that may shock you?

The world’s ideas of rights and justice are not always the same as God’s ideas of rights and justice.

We live in a world where people are purposely using and redefining certain words to guilt you into abandoning the Word of God and aligning with lies from hell. Brothers and sisters, do you not understand that everything that sounds good is not always good? Do you realize that Satan “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14)?

When the media posts the next racially-slanted headline or when some expert seeks to “educate” you on their “studies” on race-relations, pause and seek the Lord. My guess is that 9.9 times out of 10 it’ll just be worldly wisdom vs God’s wisdom. Let’s not get sucked into the rabbit hole of focusing on skin color when it’s the heart/soul’s condition that is what Christ is solely concerned with.

“Ah”, you say, “racism is a heart issue”. And I’d agree. But too many times people are surmising that racism is the cause when there is no hard evidence to back up that claim. There are so many reasons why someone could be mean, rude or entitled – they don’t all land in the lap of racism.

The truth of the matter is that one will “find” that which they are continually seeking. If your perspective and outlook in life is racially-focused your worldview will be colored by race…and not by the Kingdom of God. One “sees” a racist under every rock and in every shadow and “experiences” racism regularly – not because it is true, but because that is the lens they choose to view the world. They forget that bad people do bad things – not just racist people. Sin is a problem for everyone – not just those of a certain skin color. As one Christian sister so aptly pointed out – skin-color/race has become an idol – and so many Christians fall into this trap without realizing it.

Our focus must always be Christ and Him crucified. It must always be His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. It is not until we change our perspective from one influenced by the world to one influenced by the Holy Spirit, and we die to self and say “not my will but Yours be done” that we will see racial tensions cease and true healing occur. Christians, let’s renew our minds with the Word of God and be transformed, and not conformed to the world.