Racisms Discipleship Problem

 A major area of contention for the Church is answering the questions surrounding race tensions, and racial reconciliation. How are many in the Church to respond to the reality of histories where institutional organizations of denominations participated in the structural realities of racism that plagued much of western civilization until the last couple generations? How are we supposed to talk about these issues now, especially considering the political fervor on both sides seeking to cross the finish line, often just causing more problems due to caring more about rhetoric rather than results?

 While we can, and at times need to look at these realities, if we are honest the solution is also found in Church history. Simply put; racism has a discipleship problem. Let's see how.

At every point in the development of equality and human rights from the Roman Empire till now is spearheaded by followers of Jesus, who disciples into His way of seeing the world will not stand for any form of injustice against another image bearer of God. In the Early Church this took the form of Christians saving babies who were literally thrown out of the city gates, adopted and raise as their own. This being the ancient fore-bearers of Christians who advocate for the lives of the unborn, who continue on this tradition be fostering and adopting children at rates much higher than that of the general society. 

Then we get to slavery and racism and it is the same. Most famously William Wilberforce led the charge to abolish slavery in the British Empire, being compelled by his Christian faith to abolish the most horrid trade of human beings. While this was the case, many in England (churchgoers at that) supported the continuation of slavery. This rung true for many in the United States as well.

How to we reconcile these two realities? At the same time of having outspoken Christians pushing for the freedom of other humans, there were those sitting in the same churches wanting to keep it. The answer simply was discipleship. Were the people in the pews growing in their relationship with God and those around Him? I would argue not. Especially considering the Church of England at the time of William Wilberforce for the most part had descended back into the philosophical moralism of the time of John Wesley which was the foundation and catalyst for the great awakening. 

Anytime we look at history it is those in the Church, alive in the life and power of the Holy Spirit, being transformed to look like Christ are the ones pursuing true justice. And I think we all could learn a lesson from them. Racism has a discipleship problem. If our focal point in churches was on disciplining Christians to see whoever is at the table with them as another image bearer of God, with immeasurable value, and similarly broken by sin we would see the commonality that is shared by us all. 

Then we would be able to put aside political dogma and rhetoric in our attempts to bring us all together and focus on the only one who reconciles. That is the one who died completing the perfect work of justice on the cross. As He is our focus, and truly is then I believe that things like racism will fall away.

Why?

Because racism like anything else not allowed in God's Kingdom becomes washed away as we are transformed to look like Him. I may be a naive optimist with this view. But we believe that's how it works for all the other pervasive elements of our broken human nature when coming in contact with the God who makes all things new.