Like people across the country and around the world, I have been disturbed by the killing of George Floyd and by the violence that has erupted in its wake. This is my attempt at a macro level biblical response to the injustices that our Black neighbors all too often have to face.
The Image of God
In Scripture, the foundation for human worth is humanity’s creation in the image of God. Genesis 9:6 tells us that killing a person warrants the death penalty because we are made in God’s image: an attack on a person is an attack on the God in whose image s/he is made. Jesus ups the ante by telling us that belittling or holding another person in contempt is the equivalent of murder (Matt. 5:22). As in Genesis, how we treat our neighbor is how we treat God himself. This is one of the reasons Paul insists that no matter our race, sex, ethnicity, or religion, we are all spiritually and morally equal before God (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11).
To put it bluntly, any time you use anything—race, class, sex, ability or disability, or anything else—to determine a person’s worth instead of the image of God which we all share, you are literally insulting God to his face and are guilty of idolatry.
Racism is a prime example of this. Although things are better than they were 50 years ago, it is still a problem that affects all levels of American society.
Institutional Racism
Sin is not only an individual matter. Individuals are guilty of sins (plural), but Sin not only infects individuals but cultures and institutions. This is something any thinking Christian should recognize this. But somehow, when it comes to institutional racism, too many shut their eyes and refuse to see it. I understand this: in my environment, I see little to no overt racism; I reject the idea of microaggressions; Critical Theory and all its variations are based on false ideas about humanity; and frankly, I just don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to live in a world where entrenched racism is a reality.
But none of that means that institutional racism isn’t there. And it doesn’t mean that we can ignore it.
The Rules of Engagement
As Christians, we need to fight racism and any other ideology that bases a person’s worth on membership in an identity group. Society—in biblical terms, the world—may do that, but we can’t. We need to oppose injustices and abuse whenever and wherever it rears its head. And if we are not ourselves victims of injustice, we must listen to those who are and fight for them. That’s what loving our neighbor looks like.
As we work for justice, we also must recognize that society (i.e. the world) will fight us. The solutions it offers are inevitably based on one group having or being given power over another. Critical Theory, for example, despite its denials, wants to invert the relationship of oppressors and oppressed. But Jesus tells us that’s not how his Kingdom works. To Jesus, the solution to the problems in society is the proclamation and living out of the Kingdom. If we claim to be followers of Christ, we need to follow his lead by refusing the lure of power and instead work to advance the Kingdom through prayer, repentance, humble service, sacrifice, and love. Only then will we see society begin to be transformed into one characterized by Kingdom values, by righteousness (a word that can also be translated justice), peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:7).
Thank you, Glenn!
Prof. Sunshine: You say ”
But none of that means that institutional racism isn’t there. ” Where please?
It manifests itself in a variety of ways. Looking just at police, the fact that people are pulled over for driving while Black; that young Black men have to be taught to be as non-threatening as possible even in the face of the likelihood that they will be stopped and questioned by the police; or the number of Black men who were wrongly convicted and are now being set free through the Innocence Project. Or take my good friend, a large Black man married to a small white woman, who was accused by his wife of kidnapping and assault, who was arrested even though there was no physical evidence, held on $750,000 bond (the policeman who killed Floyd had a $500,000 bond), then was on an ankle monitor, but was never asked for his side of the story nor did the prosecutors look at the evidence of his innocence that he himself had amassed, the prosecutor did not even turn over exculpatory evidence for months, then when the charges were eventually dropped, the prosecutor took the time to slander him, and months later he still is not given open access to his children. This kind of thing happens more than those of us in the white community want to admit. We can chalk it up to some bad apples or to individual racism, but it is too widespread for that. The individual sins are caused by Sin that has pervaded the culture of institutions like the police and the Hartford prosecutor’s office that lead to this kind of injustice.
Attend Saturday prayer with people of all races as I do. Seek acquaintanceships with people who are of other races. Talk to everyone who wants to talk to you. You will soon find you cannot hate people you know. You will grow comfortable with them. Soon, you will not notice their race. It is that simple. Will yourself to tolerance then love.