I have struggled for the past two weeks. I know I have to speak, but I want my words to be written and spoken with love. I can speak the truth, but if I don’t speak the truth in love, then I am just a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. So, the words I am writing, are being written with love.
I love the church. It has taken me a few years to say that, but I do love the church. The church has flaws and sins, but that is not an excuse. I just want to address one of those sins…racism. I became a Christian in a community where both black and white people lived. My church was completely white. I went to a Christian college where the community was black and white and students came from all over America, including communities that had black and white people residing. My Christian college was white. I loved my home church and that college, but white Christians, we need to repent for our sin of racism. All of us. It is the problem for all of us. We cannot deny that racism doesn’t exist when we exist in communities that are not inclusive to our brothers and sisters who are not white.
As Christians, do we stand up and only solve our own problems, or do we stand up for others? If we want to be righteous, we need to look at the definition of the word righteous as Jesus defines it in Matthew 25:37-40. (NIV) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothes you? When did we see you sick and in prison and go visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Jesus made it clear. Life is not about focusing on ourselves and our problems, but to discover solutions for others in the world.
For far too long, we have had backward theology in the church. We were never supposed to be Christians and wring our hands at the world’s problems or hide in our safe and comfortable communities and homes. My pastor, Erwin McManus, states that Jesus never called us to be safe and comfortable. Jesus was never safe and comfortable and neither were those who started the church. Jesus did give us a promise. Jesus told the disciples that a time was coming that would be difficult for them as followers. “I have told you these things, so that in me you have peace. In the world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:35 (NIV) Jesus didn’t say take heart, you will be safe and comfortable from the world. He said that we will have trouble in the world, but he has overcome it. Since Jesus has overcome the world, we need to bring His peace to the world. Our country has trouble. It has trouble for a long time. It is time that we bring peace to our country by loving all people and serving all people and being advocates for those who need it right now.
The church must humble itself and serve all people, not just the people that look or think or believe like us. Jesus served all people, even those that did not believe in Him. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interest of others.” Philippians 2:3 (NIV) We must look to the hurts of others and serve them with the love of Jesus.
The world is watching. The world is waiting. The world is marching with America. What will the church do? The church has the answers. We need to be part of the solution. We don’t have to agree with every entity of others, but the church can be the leaders in ending racism. Now is the time.
As the church, there are things we can do. First, we can pray for forgiveness for our sin of racism. Every one of us have had thoughts, words, or actions that have been prejudiced against people. As we pray for forgiveness, we need to ask God for the love of others that He has for us. Scripture tells us that when we love others, we love God. If we do not love others, we do not love God. Love is a verb. Love is an action verb. I know I have to pray for forgiveness, and I know I have to act with love.
Our first action of love needs to be to listen. We need to listen to the voices of those who are crying out in pain. We cannot silence the voices that are speaking. We must amplify their voices. We cannot demean their experiences. We cannot compare their experiences. We can only listen. Once we listen, we can have conversations with African-American leaders and friends. We need to have difficult conversations and be willing to listen.
We can also listen with reading novels and books written by black authors that tell the story of the black experience in America. I know I have to add more diversity to my reading list. I have read some, but I need to read more. We can listen to documentaries and podcasts.
We can find areas to make a difference. Whether it is volunteering in a community project or serving with people that are not of our same ethnicity, serving with and for others will open our eyes and perspectives and the most changed person will be us. We can give of our resources to those community services that need them. There are plenty of lists on social media.
As I think about all that has occurred and what the church can do, I am not eliminating my own process in this. I need pray, listen, and do. It is my earnest prayer that the church can rise up and together we can bring justice and equity for every person in America. Let’s rise up, church, for black lives and end the injustices and racism. It starts with us. Once it starts with us, racism ends with us. a
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