The Race-Wise FamilyExemplo

Not Even One

Since the early days of human history, when Cain killed Abel right after the Fall (see Genesis 3), we have seen how sin has undergirded all manner of conflicts—including racial and ethnic tension—between people groups in our world. As we read in Paul’s letter to the Romans:

Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (3:9-12)

On an individual level, racism is one way that we, in our sinful nature, disregard the image of God present in each human being. Sin mars the way we see both ourselves and other people. Sin also causes us to value certain people groups as better than others, and it is the source of the ugliness and hate that has been part of our broken world since the Fall.

Racism is also threaded through our history. It’s not that rac­ism didn’t exist in centuries past, and now it does. Instead, with the rise of viral videos and social media, we can firsthand see more of the sin.

If our relationship with Jesus transforms us, we should have a transformed view of our neighbors and is­sues of life and justice. This means that if we think people who are Black, Asian, Latino/a, Native American, or of any ethnic background are beneath us, we need to ask God to address the sin in our hearts. This also means that as we seek to address the sin of racism, we must restore people to God (vertical) and each other and our surrounding environment, both nature and so­cial systems (horizontal).

Addressing the sin of racism in our hearts and its manifestations in our society is one vital way we join Jesus in his gospel-centered work in the world.

God, Our Heavenly Maker, we confess the unkind, unloving ways we have treated other humans. God, strip our minds and hearts of racist thoughts, words, and actions. Use us as your hands and feet to dismantle racism in our country, and lead us into greater obedience and love. Amen.