Racism, part 2

After the last post on racism, I thought I needed to go a little deeper with our tendencies on how we handle the issue of racism. I greatly appreciate the feedback that you gave both publicly on the blog and privately through e-mail. It you have not read the post, you can here: http://kris-harrison.blogspot.com/2010/11/racism.html

One of my goals for this blog is to help us think through how we think. To allow the Lord to penetrate our hearts and reveal who we really are, and to see a glimpse of who He is. If you're not a Christian I hope that you will still read my posts. You can feel free to disagree and to exchange your views with me. Maybe you can help me see where you're coming from. If you are a Christian you can feel free to disagree with me as well.

With that being said, I want to probe racism a bit deeper and try to see how the Gospel relates to how we look at racism specifically in some who engage in relationships of a different ethnic background and our reaction to those who exhibit signs of racism.

1) Seeking approval in relationships for the wrong reason and the gospel's response

The first thing I want to throw out is that many who engage in relationships with people from a different ethnic background or color do so for the wrong reason. Please don't assume that if you have in the past or are currently in a relationship that fits this description that I am talking to you. I have no one in particular in mind, I'm only thinking through what some have done. It would be dangerous to assume that this is the case when it's not.

This person might not be getting the attention they think they deserve or they need. This same type of attitude will follow for a girl (sorry to pick on the girls) who dresses provocatively simply to attract guys. If you have to undress in order to get attention then you are seeking the wrong attention. In the same way if you have to 'shock' your family, friends, or other people by a relationship with someone of a different ethnic background then you have a heart problem. This comes down to seeking the approval of others. When you don't get that approval you either look for it elsewhere and often you seek to hurt those whose approval you don't get. Notice that this is actually less about race and more about the person themselves, race gets inserted and makes it more obvious because of our sin. Don't think that there needs to be a race difference for this scenario to hold true, it's just easier to see when brought to light.

How does the gospel solve this problem?
The gospel says that you will never receive the approval you need in someone else. You will always be let down. Your friends and family have issues just like you do, whether they admit it or not. The person who seeks this approval is searching for someone who will love them, often this love is at the expense of the ones who hurt them: their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, mom, or dad, the love and acceptance that they were seeking to gain. The gospel says that you are approved by God when you repent of your sin and trust in the work of His Son on the cross. If someone is seeking approval through any other means they are trying to earn love. You can not earn God's approval, it is freely given to those who trust in His Son. The problem is that our sin stands in the way. God will not approve of you because your sin separates you from Him. That's why Jesus came to earth and died. The person who is seeking acceptance from another relationship by clinging to or running from someone will only find it in Christ. Sure, you may find someone who loves you and accepts you, but they will fall short. Jesus is the only one who will never let you down.


2) If you're not racist do you think you are better than the person who is?

As I said in my first point, it holds true here too, I'm not thinking of anyone in particular. If I am thinking of someone who this applies to, it's me. It's easy for those who attempt to view others equally to look down on those who show signs of racism. True, it is sad that some people are that way both in their thoughts and actions, but this should cause us to weep, not to look down on them as if we are more superior. If we feel superior then we are actually doing the same thing we are accusing them of, only instead of color we are using different means to justify us. We're not 'better' than someone simply because God has allowed us to see things a little more clearly. We each have serious flaws (sin) that makes us undeserving of God's Grace. If racism is not one of those flaws, and I would think that in one degree or another it is, then what other flaws do you have?

3) Who needs Jesus more?

Now specifically for the Christian: If your response to the person who you think exhibits the signs of racism is "that person needs Jesus more than me" then you have just proved that the opposite is true. For the believer to think that someone else needs their sin exposed and to repent more than themselves has a small view of their own sin and a small view of the Holiness of God who cannot tolerate sin. If you think that you "did that" (repenting of your sin, trusting in Christ) years ago and that you are ok now, then you need a fresh awareness of the price that your sin cost God, the death of His Son. I pray that if you are a believer then you will increasingly see how much of a sinner you truly are and how Holy God truly is. When seen in this light you will not only see how helpless and hopeless you are apart from Him, but you will also see how loving, gracious, and merciful He is in saving you.

Both of these posts on Racism point to the fact that to me this world is not my home.

Racism

Well, I honestly don't know how each person will respond to this. This is one of those that you are free to disagree with me on, but please seek to understand me. Because of recent conversations, the details of which I will not share, this topic has been really working hard on me.

The questions I hope to answer are: What is racism? Why does racism exist? How does it evidence itself in a daily manner? Are you a racist? What is the solution to racism?

First things first, my goal is not to talk about one race as opposed to the another, simply to point out how we deal with the issues about race. I would even argue that there is no such thing as a 'different' race. We all are related if you go back far enough. There is only one race, the human race. But there is different cultures and those cultures do have an influence on us.

Also, this post should be applicable to whatever pigment of skin that you have and from whatever background you come from. Racism is not a skin color, it is heart problem.


What is racism?

According to the dictionary, racism is: : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

I would like to take it a bit farther and possibly make it more clear. Racism is simply thinking that you are better or more deserving than someone else of a different color.


Why does racism exist?

Because of sin, mainly the sin of pride. Since sin entered the world it rears its ugly head in different ways. Looking back in history it is easy to see that the sin of racism has caused many evils in the world. We like to put ourselves on the throne and determine what is right and wrong instead of looking to the one who created us.

How has racism evidenced itself in the past?

Thinking about Hitler exterminating the Jews because he felt they were an inferior race is a perfect example of racism when carried to its natural outcome. Our own country has the terrible past of owning slaves as well. It was less than 50 years ago that blacks and whites didn't eat in the same restaurants, drink from the same water fountain or go to the same schools. I am obviously too young to have experienced those events, but there are many living today who have.

How does racism evidence itself now and are you a racist?

The Ku Klux Klan still exists in some areas. It's amazing that they have to hide cowardly behind hoods. Maybe you're not in the KKK, but I'd like to go deeper.
This is where it gets personal. If you were in a room and someone asked you to raise your hand if you are a racist would you raise your hand? Let me ask you some questions and see how you do?

1) Do you think of yourself better than someone of a different race?
2) When you checkout at a counter do you go to the person who has the same color skin as you, even if it's a little out of the way, do you avoid the employee at the counter that is of a different color or ethnic background, even if it's right in front of you?
3) When you walk into a building/classroom/restaurant, do you avoid an area because of the skin color or language spoken by those in a particular area?
4) When you are walking close to someone of a different different skin color or ethnic background do you reach for your pocketbook or wallet?
5) Would it offend you if your sister, brother, son, daughter, mom, dad, grandson, grand daughter or friend married and had children with or adopted someone of a different race?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then it's very possible that you are harboring some racism in your heart. The difference is in the degree that you carry it out. I think that with many people today they feel like they are ok as long as "they" (meaning the 'other' race) stay to themselves. That logic may work for a while, but not for long. It is mostly just an easy way to avoid the problem.

Jesus said that if you hate someone then you have committed murder in your heart. I believe this applies to a group of people as well. Are you guilty of murder?

What is the solution to racism?
If you're not offended/convicted yet, this might do it. The solution to racism is the cross of Christ. When you realize that you are utterly unworthy of acceptance before a Holy God, you will not look down on others, you will look up to God. The ground at the cross is level, there is no 'better' in God's eyes when he views the skin. We are all unworthy of Him and desperately need His Grace.

For those who profess Christ I have two more application questions:
1) If Jesus was a _______ man, would you still worship him, would anything change? (fill in the blank with an ethnic background/race different than you)
2) If you had to spend more time in heaven with someone of a different race than your own, would you still want to go?

It may look like I'm pointing the finger out to everyone else, but please be aware that I am also aware of what goes on in my heart as well. Most of the questions asked above have went through my head sometime in my lifetime. I'm ok with admitting it, repenting of it and seeking forgiveness in the cross.

I will end this with a personal story of a conversation with someone I had about 6 years ago. Again, the specifics of which ethnic group we talked about doesn't matter and they could be interchanged with another very easily. Let's say the guy's name was Barry:

Barry: "Kris, what do you think about these people marrying someone of a different race?"

me: "When you think about it Barry, we are really of the same race, the human race, we just look different, maybe listen to different music and dress a little different"

Barry: "Well I'm not racist or anything, but I just think that people should stick to their own kind, know what I mean?"

me: "I do too Barry, that's why people shouldn't be married to their cat or dog", smiling but understanding what he meant.

Barry: "Well doesn't the bible say it's wrong, something about not being unequally yoked?"

me: "Actually it's referring to a Christian and a non-Christian not being together, not different ethnic Backgrounds Barry. Let me ask you a question, you have a little girl right?"

Barry: "Yes, she's 2 years old"

me: "Ok, I'm going to give you two different options and you tell me which one you would prefer.

1) Your daughter is 19 years old and has a boyfriend who wants to marry her, he's white, drives a truck, listens to country music, and has a blue collar job. In other words, he's a lot like you. The problem is that this same guy verbally, mentally, and physically abuses your daughter.

2) Your daughter is 19 years old and has a boyfriend who wants to marry her, he treats her like a queen, takes her to church every Sunday, and promises to always treat her with respect and dignity. Oh and by the way, he's black.

Which situation would you prefer?"

Barry: "I don't know, I'll have to think about it"


That conversation actually happened. It was very sad. The person continues to think he's not a racist, what do you think?

I am very thankful that my kids are growing up in an age when everyone is free to sit in any seat on the bus, go to any restaurant they want, drink from any water fountain they want, and vote with their vote counting for a full person (not 3/5th of a person). With that being said there is still a lot of racism that goes on in the public arena and in private homes. There's a lot that goes on in the heart of a lot of people. I pray that both of my kids will view each person the same; someone made in the image of God, who has sinned against Him, and who needs God's mercy and grace.