IT ISN'T CHRISTIAN TO SAY NOTHING AT ALL

I grew up in the South during the heat of desegregation. I was in the 5th grade when one muggy spring day a fight broke out among the 8th graders, initiated by some racial slurs. Out the window to my left, I can see and hear crowds of whites and blacks running to the football field where nostrils flared and fears spilled out in a slugfest. My teacher, who was white, ordered all of us to put our heads down on our desks and be still. Sadie Mae Jones, on my left and Roger Jackson, behind me, are both African-American. I felt afraid for them and for me. I just wanted everyone to get along. In some ways, a lot has changed since then. But as you've seen in the news, some days it feels like nothing has changed. 

Because of the murder of George Floyd, we've seen again how racism and prejudice is still a rift that divides. A deep wound that needs healing. In many ways, I feel inadequate to speak. But when we say nothing, we say something. So here goes.

RACISM IS EVIL AND PREJUDICE IS A SIN. As Christians, we're often guilty of prioritizing certain sins. We talk about how porn eats out a man's soul and adultery begins in the heart. We speak out about abortion and sexual promiscuity. But prejudice is often underplayed with statements like, "Yeah, that's just the way they are. You know my uncle doesn't mean anything by it. He just has issues with black people." Racism isn't a worse sin than others. But it's sin nonetheless. And while sin is sin, some sins have graver consequences and do more collateral damage. Racism is one of those. 

GOD IS NOT COLOR BLIND. I've been guilty of saying He is. Probably with words like, "When God sees you, He doesn't see the color of your skin and we all bleed red." It sounds true but it isn't completely.  All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. (Psa 86:9) The end of our Bible tells us that God is glorified by the tapestry of the nations. "And they sang a new song: 'Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."' (Rev 15:4) God loves the nations and He's a missionary God who sent His Son and now sends us to the nations. He created color and wants His family to reflect that. 

What can we do? Ultimately, as a Christian, I believe only the gospel can root out the racism in my heart. But as a citizen of two worlds, I offer some practical ways I'm growing.

1. BE INFORMED. As a white American who grew up in the South, I thought I understood the issues. I thought because I had a few "black friends" I got it. I confess I was naive and that I still don't know how subtle and deceptive racism can be. But if I've grown, it's partly because I've been intentional about reading broadly on the subject. If you're white and lean conservative, you need to read other viewpoints--even those you expect to disagree with. Here are a few to consider: 

"Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

"Becoming" by Michelle Obama

"Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northup

"Why We Can't Wait" by MLK, Jr. 

2. LEARN TO LAMENT. We're not good at grief. Western civilization has tried to eliminate death and push grief underground. And we aren't better for it. We've coined new descriptions for funerals like "Celebration of Life." We make light of those from the Eastern part of the world who in our eyes are over-dramatic with their grief while we effectively do drive-bys before the funeral and crack a few jokes in the parlor. While it's appropriate to celebrate life rather than death, it's not healthy nor is it biblical to ignore the sting of grief. Paul writes to the Roman Christians, who were likely experiencing persecution and injustice, "Weep with those who weep." (Rom 12:15). Over a third of the Psalms are lament. And the book you probably skim through, Lamentations, is an expression of grief over the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus wept in His final hours before the crucifixion. Grieving is part of life and lamenting is Christian. No, we don't weep as though we don't have hope, (1 Thes 4:13). But don't interpret that to mean, we don't weep at all. Weeping with our black neighbors over the death of one of their own is not only the right thing to do. It's the Christian thing to do.

3. LEAN IN AND LISTEN. It's ironic to talk about listening in a post about speaking up. But we've forgotten how to listen well. When someone says something, I'm already thinking about my response like the world can't go on without me responding to the last thing that was said. I have a friend who has a practice of asking at least seven questions when he disagrees with someone. Maybe that's too many for you. But how about asking at least  three questions before you give your opinion? And avoid the question "why." Asking why someone does something or feels something raises defenses. Instead ask, "what and how" questions: How did you feel last night? What do you wish people understood? 

4. HAVE THE AWKWARD CONVERSATION. The elephant in the room is not slinking away just because you ignore it. On Tuesday morning, as a staff, we dove into the topic of racism. We asked the African-Americans on our team to tell us how it feels to be a minority culture in our church. We confessed our sins to one another. And we sat through awkward silence sometimes afraid to speak, not knowing what to say. But I believe we moved forward a few steps toward authentic community because of it. I've heard pastors say, "We don't talk about that. We preach about how we are one in Christ and emphasize that. You get more of what you emphasize. If you talk about racism, it will just get worse." I disagree. How can our black brothers and sisters begin to heal if we act like nothing happened? Don't just tweet, post, and give thumbs up on social media. Sit across the table from someone different than you and ask questions. Yes, there will be awkward moments but loving well includes listening well. And that includes the ministry of presence in the in-between. 

5. BE INTENTIONAL WITH CROSS-CULTURAL FRIENDSHIPS. Let's go deeper than saying, "I have black friends." Do life together. Pray. Play. Have dinner. Celebrate the uniqueness of other cultures. This has been a gift to me and I'm grateful. One of the sweeter moments I've had in the last few years was going to Pappy's BBQ with my friend, Kempton, who happens to be black. Going to our cars, we paused on the parking lot, and locked shoulders for a moment and prayed. I know people were watching but I didn't care. I felt alive. I felt healing. It was beautiful. 

Long after the news of George Floyd dies down, there will be another tragic incident. Racism isn't going away. But I'm hopeful that a bit of healing will flow through His church in these days. One day those in Christ will worship as one multi-cultural family. John, the friend of Jesus, saw a vision of the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, the leaves of which "were used for medicine to heal the nations." We will taste of the healing together as a dark-skinned Messiah is crowned King of all. Till then, we pray, we weep and we hope.