Love in the Midst of it All
Inspired by Dr. Eric Walsh
Sermon: Crippling the Gospel: How Racism Hurts the Work of the Church
Link: https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/recordings/21963/crippling-the-gospel-how-racism-hurts-the-work-of-the-church.html
Before I can write about anything, I recognize that I am an Indonesian-American man that will never understand what it is like to have to fear for my life if I get pulled over, or to have the odds against me simply because of the color of my skin. In the midst of everything going on, only when black lives matter will all lives really matter. As I listened to Dr. Walsh, an African American physician, I was inspired to seek love and reformation amidst everything that is going on in our society. This issue of racism has been here for hundreds of years and is still present till this day. Just to put this in perspective, Auntie Ellen quoted:
“I was confirmed in all I had stated in Minneapolis, that a reformation must go through the churches……While we will endeavour to keep the “unity of the Spirit” in the bonds of peace, we will not with pen or voice cease to protest against bigotry.”
Interesting how this situation took place in Minneapolis many years ago and even till this day racism is still happening in that city. However, as I thought about it, racism is an issue of the heart. There is a place for protest as Auntie Ellen quoted above. But the one thing that protest may not be able to change is the heart of a human being. For example, when was the last time you had an argument with someone about politics or something important. It doesn’t matter how much you yell or quote facts, seldom do people change their views until they eventually convince themselves what is true and right. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that there is no place for protesting for a change. I believe that it was through protests that legislations and governments recognized a need for change. It took brave men and women such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks to end racial segregation. Protests are often used to bring justice when it is demanded. However, protesting cannot change the heart of a racist man.
We protest for changes in legislation and civil rights, but where protesting cannot go, we go with love. Where people think that the color of our skin dictates the content of our character, we love so they know that there is no correlation between skin color and hatred. Where there are people you know who think there is no such thing as racism, pray that their eyes may be opened. I believe that was what Jesus did. He was a man from a bad part of town also known as Galilee. People had their biases against him, but when they got to know him for who He was, their hearts were changed. It is unfortunate that some people think that racism is not a problem in society today. However, until the day where all lives are truly equal, fight for the oppressed, defend the poor and fatherless (Psalm 82:4), and love all that you come across.
George Floyd
Breonna Taylor
Ahmaud Arbery
Antwon Rose Jr.
Philando Castile
Freddie Gray
Walter Scott
Laquan McDonald
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the list goes on
