Racism, repentance, and me
Moselle’s and my hearts are broken for our black brothers and sisters grieving and processing the trauma of George Floyd’s unjust death. In our conversations with partners on our team over the past couple weeks, we have heard similar thoughts from many of you.
I thank God for the many voices placed in my life who have been encouraging me to lower my guard and approach this discussion more humbly and compassionately.
Colossians 3:12-14
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
The social media landscape feels uncomfortable in these seasons of heightened awareness to racial injustices. Much of me wants to do the bare minimum to make the discomfort go away.
Maybe I can condemn an outspoken racist and say I have done my part. That would be so much easier than to ever address the whispers of racism that I ignore deep down in my heart. Or maybe I can share a few posts, blurbs, and videos to ease my conscience and show I am simply a part of the choir. Surely it isn’t me, but someone else who needs to hear this stuff.
No, it is me. I need to hear this.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
The past couple weeks God has repeatedly called me towards humility and repentance. I believe the Spirit is using this moment to cut through my pride and convict me of sinful and racist thought patterns deep in my own heart. Could the Holy Spirit be doing the same with you?
2 Chronicles 7:14
…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I want to encourage you to meditate and pray through the scriptures in this post with me, in light of what is happening in America, in light of the fortifications of pride we are scrambling to build in our own hearts.
Let’s resist the temptation to assume these scriptures were intended for someone else and not our own selves. Note, the audience of these passages: “my people”, “God’s chosen ones”, “my heart”, “those whom I love”. Not “that guy”, “the lost”, or “fools”.
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
The battle in my own heart against the whispers of racism is likely going to last my whole life and will require constant heart checks. It is my hope that it doesn’t take another high profile death of an innocent black person to remind me check my heart again.
I invite you to join me in creating a space in our busied frantic souls for pausing and practicing humility, confession, and repentance. This place of brokenness is where Christ loves to bring healing and life, the kind that can be passed on to our neighbors and families. This is why Jesus came to us in the first place.
Revelation 3:19-20
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
If you have thoughts and/or feelings you would like to share about this, please contact me and let’s talk and pray though this together.