Let's talk about race

 

Hatred, Violence, Racial Tension, Heart Change and God's Love

Like many of you, my heart is deeply grieved at the violence which is occurring in our country. In particular I am saddened by the racial tension which is a part of the most recent national stories.

This post is likely to bother and perhaps even anger some of the people with whom I am connected on various social media platforms and I am sorry for that because it is my sincere intention to bring words of love, encouragement and comfort. However, I feel compelled to express these thoughts, nevertheless.

I honestly do not believe there is a political solution to the issues of hatred, violence and racial discord. It is not that political action is of no value or that it is completely inconsequential. I am simply suggesting that political solutions are, ultimately, inadequate because these issues originate in the heart.

This truth regarding the heart is a concept which Jesus expressed very clearly. (See Matthew 15:19)

Where there is genuine hatred; where there is a desire to inflict pain and violence on others; where there is discord or feelings of mistrust and animosity toward people who are in some way different than us there are hearts that need to change. Again, laws and political action are not without value but these responses do not, for the most part, change human hearts.

Heart-change is God’s area.

So I realize that responding with talk of God and prayer seems weak, ineffective and bothersome to some but I genuinely pray for heart change. I pray for God’s love to prevail. I pray for God’s people to be models of His love, patience, mercy, reconciliation and grace.

I have not always been the agent of God’s truth and love that I should be. I haven’t always expressed the presence of Jesus in me to the disagreeable situations of my life. Therefore, I begin by praying for His authentic and tangible work in me.

And I pray for His love in us.

God’s love is extraordinary. God’s love is profound. God’s love is perfect, complete and comprehensive. God’s love will ultimately prevail.

I pray for His love to prevail in my heart today. I pray for His love to prevail in His people today. I pray for His love to prevail in our country today.

What About Racial Unity... Is It Possible?

When I was young I remember thinking the racial tension that is sometimes felt and expressed in ugly, hurtful, unproductive, even violent ways would probably be reduced as I got older. I thought—I hoped—the issue of racial strife would lessen and perhaps get to the point at which it was no longer a difficult, divisive issue.

“We will get beyond the misunderstandings, the injustices of the past, and the hard feelings. At some point love and respect for each other will prevail. There will still be some exceptions, sure, but for the most part we will get along. We will have fun together! It will be good.” I thought.

I’m not kidding. I truly believed this was likely. I was young and hopeful.

So when I look around at our society these days my heart is grieved.

I know that brotherhood, sisterhood, true friendship, heartfelt love and unity between people of different races are possible. These kinds of loving relationships happen all the time. They actually happen every day. I have experienced this type of love and unity on a personal level and many of the people who read this post have, as well. But these simple truths do not make headlines or scintillating stories. So they are not routinely brought to our attention.

Some of the people who read this are not Christians and so I understand this next line of thinking will not offer much in the way of authority or persuasive force in those cases. But for many of us who consider Jesus to be Lord, we are called to love. We are called to forgive. We are called to extend the hand of friendship. We are called to seek understanding. We are called to treat all people with dignity. We are called to let the goodness and truth of God flow out of our lives to others.

And we are called to be different. In this case “different” means having a genuine love, respect and fondness that reaches across what some might think of as insurmountable relational barriers.

I pray the reconciliation I hoped for when I was a kid will happen. I still believe it is not impossible.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Jesus, John 13:34-35

P.S. I realize as an older, middle-class, white male some people will believe I have no business even addressing this topic because I cannot possibly understand what people have experienced due to racism. It is true that I do not know the pain many people have experienced due to racism. But what I am doing with this post is simply sharing my desire to see genuine healing in this important area of life. If that means there will be disapproval of me for expressing these thoughts, then so be it.

Loving As God Has Called Us To Love

I understand this is likely to seem foolish to some of the people who read it. However, I write this as a challenge to my online friends who are authentic followers of Jesus. I accept that some people will consider this post to be foolish and naïve. That’s alright.

The Evil One wants to see division, mistrust, fear, misunderstanding and hatred among people. He is particularly effective at using areas of life we typically point to as differences to stir up trouble. Of course, one of these areas happens to be racial classification.

If you are a follower of Jesus with even a moderate level of spiritual maturity you know that Jesus does not have a preferred race. He loves everyone. I do not intend for this to be understood as a meaningless little Sunday School cliché, I mean this literally and I believe it is extraordinarily significant: Jesus loves EVERYONE.  If you do not believe this then you do not understand Christianity. One of the most well-known Bible verses begins like this: “For God so loved THE WORLD that he gave his only Son…” John 3:16 (emphasis mine).  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of salvation for “the world.” That means it is for every single person who has ever lived.

To my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, our challenge is to love people the way Jesus loves. 

Do not honor the divisions some people try to emphasize: Love people, all people, the way Jesus loves.

Do not give in to fear. Love people, all people, the way Jesus loves.

Do not allow misunderstandings to create a permanent breakdown in communication.  Love people, all people, the way Jesus loves.

Do not live with a perpetual mistrust of others. Love people, all people, the way Jesus loves.

Do not cultivate feelings of hatred toward others. Love people, all people, the way Jesus loves.

We are called to a life of love, even if we are not loved in return. If you are a Christian and you are thinking, “Why would I do this? Why would I love people with this kind of reckless abandon?” 

The answer is: We love like this because Jesus loved us when we had done nothing to merit His love. What I’m writing here may seem impossible, but it is not. The love of Jesus can overcome. It can shine like a bright light even in a dark world.

It is my desire to love everyone I encounter with the genuine love of God. I pray that is your desire, too.

“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 1 John 4:19-21