Are you trying to figure out how to navigate all the challenges connected with racism? Systemic racism? How to be sensitive to the issues but not to engage in reverse racism? These issues baffle many of us and Rock Solid truths from the Bible can guide us into answers that promote unity and draw people together.

Doing The Wrong Thing

The reality is that we are all sinners. Each individual bears that commonality. Every human being struggles with temptations, bad habits, and decisions that hurt ourselves and others. We say or do things that are wrong. We don’t do or say things we should. Doesn’t matter what color your skin, you sin. I sin. We all sin. And, that gives us common ground.

Romans 3:22b-24 says:

There is no difference between Jew [Black or Asian] and Gentile [Hispanic or White], for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2 also describes how all people were dead in our sins but by God’s grace through Christ, we were saved. Not because of anything we did.

Doing The Rights Thing

God’s goodness means no individual is entitled to anything. Trying to demand our rights only makes us angry and bitter, determined to take from others what we think belongs to us. When we (Native American, Asian or White or Black or Hispanic or whatever) form groups to make power grabs, it hurts everyone. White supremacy. Black power. Anger escalates anger. Violence begets violence.

For those who walk with Jesus, Ephesians 2:13-16 describes a better way: 

In Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 

That’s unity. Peace between different ethnic groups takes forgiveness–letting go of the past and starting anew–just as it does in individuals. The Tutsis who survived genocide in Rwanda are a prime example of how in Christ, groups can be reconciled even after horrific injustice. Although reconciling with their Hutu attackers seemed impossible, they now live together in peace. Applying biblical principles of forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love, no one is better than anyone else. No one has more privilege. No one is entitled to anything. At the cross, old grievances dissipate.

As God’s children, everyone is on common ground. And among us is stunning diversity–eye color, hair color, skin color. Some are short. Some are tall. Some have freckles. Others don’t.

A week ago was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Every individual would do well to keep his words from the “I Have A Dream” speech in mind:

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

In the Bible, the character traits of righteousness and justice go hand in hand. God is righteous, and we are made in His image. He is just and the more we learn to live like Jesus, the more we seek His wisdom, the more just we become. It’s a process. It takes time. Meanwhile, there is grace, undeserved favor. There is mercy, not giving us what we deserve. Endless opportunities to become more like Jesus.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. knew that nothing could be more effective toward fighting injustice than to work toward justice as one. And many people of all ethnic groups have done that. No doubt if you think about it or do a little research, you can think of numerous Americans of various ethnicities who have broken color barriers to achieve tremendous success in every area of life.

What are you doing to build character that promotes God’s righteousness and justice? How do you overcome anger when you perceive injustice? Did you know that James 1:19 & 20 says that the anger of man cannot accomplish the righteousness of God? I’d love to know your thoughts.

These resources offer Rock Solid information: 

The Center for Biblical Unity

Why Social Justice Is Not Biblical Justice by Scott D. Allen