The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:6; also Isaiah 65:25)
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. (Amos 5:24)
The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. (Psalm 103:6)
What are some foundational and strategic steps black and white Christian Churches should do to help at least reduce racism and its negative impact on persons and society?
1. Recognize racism as spiritual warfare; stereotyping that produces evil is at the core of racism.
2. Recognize that the concept of race in terms of color of skin is not present in the bible; it is of human invention by sinful humans. It is important for governments and persons to recognize its presence in order to effectively combat racism.
3. Recognize that no race is superior to any other race. God favors no race over another race.
4. Recognize there are racist in all races and there are non-racist in all races.
5. Recognize that racism is both about attitude toward and/or using one’s power to give someone a negative view of another race and/or oppress someone of another race spiritually, socio-economically, legally, or otherwise.
6. Realize that persons of all races have such attitudes and/or power though at different degrees and types and can therefore be a racist and exercise racism.
7. Recognize that the more power one has the greater negative effect one can have due to one’s racist attitude. It is clear that the white community wields more legal, socio-economic, and other power over and than blacks due to numerical population and historical oppression and suppression. Therefore, it is logical to observe that the white community exerts more racism than blacks though blacks have and continue to gain power and must avoid engaging in reverse racism through shaping of negative attitudes and/or oppression..
8. Realize that both individual and institutional systemic racism exists as lingering effect of slavery and past racist mechanisms intentionally devised and employed by past persons and governments to oppress blacks in America. Furthermore, there are racist today who intentionally devise and/or employ mechanisms that oppress Black Americans.
9. Recognize that today’s non-racist whites should not feel guilty about past or present racism of racist; but, they should feel an obligation to help blacks overcome the lingering effect of past racism and of current racism in our society’s institutions.
10. Recognize that being a racist and/or exercising racism is sinful. The church should preach and teach against such calling its congregation to repentance concerning these sins just like all other sins. The church should call its congregation to repentance from being a racist, exercising racism, and/or failure to help the nation and its people to overcome the lingering effect of past racism and the presence of racism today. This should be done by both the black and white church not just pointing out weaknesses and sins in the other race but also in its own race that should not but does contribute to the environment and spirit of racism.
11. I have focused on the black-white racist/racism issue. But of course similar principles apply to such issues involving people of all races to include reverse-racism none of which should be tolerated.
12. Also this applies to the individual person, universal church (worldwide body of Christ), local/regional churches, conventions, and all groupings of Christians.
**Let the church not sit idly or complacently by as we prioritize and enjoy salvation through Christ Jesus; but, let us leverage the opportunity presented by the crisis.***
Selected Scriptures: Matthew 4:17; Matthew 22:34-40; 2 Timothy 4:2
God Bless and Much Peace and Love!
Chaurcey
