An Ancient Method to Restore Modern Day Race Relations

Race relations in my city are at a low ebb. Two weeks ago a black man was shot and killed by a white police officer. Investigations are pending. Resignations and firings have happened. Protests and marches have taken place. More than just the tragedy of the shooting itself, this has drudged up old fault lines that reveal just how far we have to go on race relations, even in the “Christian” South.

I believe the answer to this centuries old issue is to go back even further still to the early church in the 1st century. Racial fault lines were open chasms in the Roman Empire. Racism was enshrined by law, women were regarded as little more than property, equality was a wisp of a dream. Into this socially and racially divided society, the gospel of Jesus broke forth like a lightning bolt and changed everything.

Here’s the pronouncement made by Paul to the early church:

11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Colossians 3:11

After the pronouncement, Paul continues. Once the ideal had been set, Paul gives the church the blueprint to fight for that ideal. It’s the same blueprint we can and should use today to restore race relations.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

• Clothe yourself with compassion and kindness  Look at racial issues not just from your view, but from the other side as well. If you’re white, try and put yourself in the shoes of a person who feels that they’re harassed by the authorities based on the color of their skin and nothing more.
• Embrace humility and gentleness. Recognize and realize that you don’t know it all. There have been hurts given and received by both sides. Both sides can claim the victim, and both sides have been the aggressors. Rather than point out the other side’s faults, embrace your own.
• Practice patience. Something torn apart for centuries cannot be repaired in a day. Race relations are repaired one relationship at a time, one generation at a time. Patience includes bearing with each other even when our differences divide us.
• Forgive, forgive, forgive. Forgiveness releases the toxins of bitterness, allowing old wounds to heal and creating a safe place for new bonds to begin. Restoration cannot happen without the level of forgiveness that can only come through God.
• Love loud. Love covers over a multitude of wrongs. Love to the level that Jesus loved you. Show love, preach love, share love, live love. Love loud and let love win the day.

QUESTIONS: What else can Christians do to repair modern race relations?