After another tragedy widely publicized by the press, racism is back on the agenda of discussions, social media posts and the subject of demonstrations.
Among so many events on the Internet, I was struck by the billing of actions and the positioning of the church, there are even accusations that if Christians did not do something, they would have sinned!
- We were placed against the wall and forced to say something.
- Often by the believers themselves.
- Accusing their shepherds!.
Biblically discussing current problems and taking advantage of these opportunities to preach the gospel is fantastic, however, is this feeling that the church is doing nothing for racism if we do not preach on the subject, or if the pastor does not publish a verse with a hashtag condemning this practice?
Should the church do more to combat racism?
God created us in his image and likeness, man and woman (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, all human beings are equal in essence and value (Genesis 9,6). If so, where does racism come from?
When man despised God, where his identity came from (Genesis 1:27), he lost his reference and began to try to assert himself by despising the life of the other (Genesis 4. 1-8).
The Bible talks about several cases of racism. In the Old Testament, we see Israel despising other nations (see Jonah’s story and the reason that led him to disobey God, Jn 4. 2). In the New Testament, we see jews despise the Samaritans.
Paul reminds us that the root of racism is the contempt of God (Romans 1:18-32). In other words, racism is not the root of the problem, but a symptom of a society that despises God as God.
When Jesus lived here, he preached against racism, he spoke to the Samaritan woman, fighting machismo and racism (John 4:1-45), he told a parable where the hero was a Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37).
Jesus suffered racist attacks because he was from Nazareth (Jn 1:46), apparently called the son of prostitution (Jn 8:41) and a Samaritan possessed by a demon (Jn 8:48).
It was rejected by the Jews, by the Romans, and denied by Peter, who suffered the condemnation of the sin of those who despised him (1 Peter 2:22-24).
But his death and resurrection brought down racism; in it, equal values are restored and all are one (Galatians 3,28). In Christ the wall separating races is broken (Ephesians 2: 11-22). In the Gospel we no longer look at people from a human point of view (2:5:16).
Therefore, the only complete solution to racism is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If racism is the result of sin and the gospel is the only solution to the problem, then the best fight against that evil is to preach the gospel, and that is exactly what the church does all the time, not just when it returns to the agenda.
The biblical exhibition reveals the gospel on every page of Scripture, showing that in Christ we must love God above all and with everything, and love our neighbour as ourselves (Mt 22:34-40).
Think with me: if people love God first and then themselves, will there be racism?Who does more to fight racism: the world?Just go back to this topic from time to time, never providing a real solution; Or the church?Who preaches the transformative gospel?
The Church manifests the glory of God by uniting different people (Ephesians 3. 10) who would otherwise be enemies (Ephesians 2. 14-16), transforming them into a people and a family, hoping to live eternity in this diversity in the worship of God and Christ . (Rev 7: 9-10).
So, yes, the church is constantly fighting racism. The world, however, despises the solution, and is therefore doomed to racism, feminism, xenophobia, homophobia and all kinds of mutual contempt (Rom 1:28-32, 2 Tim 3:1-17).
In order not to take to the streets, set police stations on fire or use hashtags, the church can be accused of not caring, but we have already shown that this is not true.
But my question to you as a Christian is this: do you really think the world is worried about racism?Does society care about life as God wants?This dictates the agenda order of this world (see Ep 2. 2; 1 Jn 5. 19)?Do you want peace and harmony?
If society is so interested in equality and human rights, why is there nothing said about the massacre of Christians in the world every year?One argument doesn’t cancel the other. However, one is more ignored.
We cannot repeat what the world screams without the filter of the Word: we are sheep among wolves. We must be intelligent as serpents and simple as doves (Mt 10:16). We must be careful about the motivation of the world’s speech.
Blessed are those who desire justice, for they shall be satisfied (Mt 5:6)!But remember: simply displaying a black screen doesn’t solve the problem. We must preach the gospel!
So protest preaching!Show us the real problem and the only complete solution!
Peut-être. Si simply repeats the discourse of the world, yes, he has to do much more, but if you faithfully preach the Word (1 Co 1:21-23), he takes the opportunity to show the reason for our hope in this matter (1 Peter 3:15), he does his job well. In this case, the fees are not justified.