Love vs. Racism

Love vs. Racism

This last week a television show was cancelled because the star tweeted a racist comment.  Believe it or not, I had Christian friends who defended the person, but would at the same time condemn someone who votes for Democrats.  There is a problem in the church, and instead of being like some of my friends, I’m not running away from the problem.  I want to fix it because it’s easy to run away.  It’s a challenge to stay and begin to do the work that needs to be done. 

Racism.  It’s a dirty word.  If we all look deep within ourselves, we have all had some sort of racist thought, comment, or feeling.  It’s when we admit that we have sin and confess and repent that we can change.  The opposite of racism is love. 

In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, “I give you a new command: Love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”  Look at that last line.  People will know that you are a disciple of Jesus if you love one another.  People will not know you are a disciple of Jesus if you don’t swear, drink alcohol, have sex outside of marriage, steal, murder, lie, gossip, cheat, vote Republican, go to church, etc.  People will only know you are a disciple of Jesus if you love one another.

Love one another.  This is for all Christians.  If you believe that you are better than another person because of your ethnicity, then how do you believe that a perfect God created the universe and people?  You would have to believe in evolution that we were created from imperfect animals to believe that one race is better than another.  I believe that God, who is perfect, created all humans in His image, which means, God is all ethnicities. 

It starts with getting to know others.  It starts with respect.  It starts with not believing everything that is in the media or on the Internet.  It starts in your heart. Change is difficult, but it’s worth it.  Change means growth.  The church will grow when it changes.  Let’s gather together in our churches with a new sense of change and open our doors to others.  Methods may change, but the Gospel will not change.  The Gospel will spread, and then, we might actually see change in the community in which we live. 

Racism.  It’s a dirty word that hurts and divides.  Love.  It’s a word that heals and brings people together.  Love is the only hope for our country.  The love of Jesus is needed in our country right now.  There are so many of us that are His disciples.  Let’s let them know we are Jesus’s disciples by our love. Love always wins.