TRUE Equality: Confronting Racism As Christ Followers Part 2
by Akua Carmichael
“After this I looked, and behold a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands” Revelation 7:9 (ESV)
The gospel is for all people regardless of race, culture, or language. It is ironic that here on earth we have so many challenges with racial inequality and the cultural divide that separates us.
We are reminded that heaven is a place of zero tolerance for racism.
Since we serve a God who invites all of us into relationship with Him and each other, our response to racism as Christians, should mirror that of our faith. Sadly, that is not always the case. As evidenced in my conversation with my Christian friend, as mentioned in my previous post, it is possible to be a Christ follower and engage in racist behaviour.
Being a Christian does not equate to being perfect; it does mean that when we fall short we are also reminded of what we believe and challenged to do better; raising our personal standards and rising up to fulfil the holy calling as ambassadors of reconciliation to which we have been called.
What I most appreciated about my Christian friend is that in spite of failings, there was transparency and ownership regarding the racist behaviour and an intentional decision to change.
The Solution to Racism – the Christian’s impact
The solution to racism lies in our willingness to accept and live out the true gospel. Being anti-racist should not be a new thing for us. Our commitment to champion racial equality should be rooted not in the current social reckoning that anti-Black and other forms of racial discrimination are wrong, but in our shared belief that all people are created in the image of God, and that all lives are valuable.
When one in the flock is unprotected or under siege, Jesus leaves the 99 to pursue that one life because it has just as much value as the others and at that point is in greater need of protection. Jesus pursues and brings the one back into the fold because His ministry was that of reconciliation.
The reason Jesus came to earth was to reconcile humanity to Himself and then to each other. As followers of Christ, we are called to this ministry as well. Our daily response to racism is a true test of how well we are growing and maturing in our Christian faith. Racism is the anthesis of love. How can we claim to love God and our neighbour and yet keep those who don’t look or sound like us at a distance? How can we be mature Christians and discriminate against others based on their race?
We should promote racial equality and treat others without partiality because of our example in Jesus who died for all- every man and every woman of all nations, races, classes, and colour. If we are truly committed to Christ and our Christian faith, treating people with fairness in an inclusive and thoughtful manner is our way of life. It should not be unusual or extraordinary for us to live like this. It should be who we are because of the God we serve. As Christians we have a much higher calling and more important duty based on our faith.
So on a day to day basis, how do we fight the good fight against racism? Here are some suggestions:
(1) Start with yourself. Be intentional about examining your own thoughts, attitudes, actions and behaviours on issues of discrimination and racial inequality. It is possible to be a Christian and engage in racist behaviour. Be honest with yourself about areas of struggle or failure and commit to changing and reflecting God’s love in your interactions with all people, regardless of race or culture.
(2) Make a point of living your life in a way that encourages others to follow your example as a person who treats people impartially and with fairness. Jesus is our ultimate example of treating people with fairness and compassion.
(3) Call out inequality when you see it. It is much easier to look the other way or ignore racial inequality if we are not personally affected, but we are falling short in our mandate if we just look the other way. Within your sphere of influence, use your power and authority to address discrimination and promote racial equality.
Our individual behaviour on a day to day basis makes all the difference. As Christians, we are best poised to be God’s example of love, grace, kindness, fairness and equality in an unfair and discriminatory world. Through our example, we have the opportunity to influence others and their behaviour in order to win the fight against racism and inequality.
Akua Carmichael is a wife, mother, lawyer, and teacher. She is also the author of My Lifeprint - an estate planning manual and workbook and You Are Priceless, a 31 day women’s devotional journal. Akua is also a board member of Gather.