This Sunday I'll be teaching on Colossians 3:9-11 which is a fitting portion of Scripture in light of the recent shooting in Charleston. I know many of us have been really affected by the tragic and senseless act of violence against innocent people gathered to study the Bible. This along with repeated incidents of white police brutalizing and killing unarmed blacks have reminded us that racism is very much alive today in 2015. Much of the banter on social media, sadly, shows how angry and suspicious and deficient the thinking is on all sides. Our country desperately needs a change of mind.
As expected there is much talk about how to fix the problem of racism. The strong appeals for officers to wear cameras on their uniforms for accountability will help. There has been a push for stronger punishment against officers found guilty of abusing their authority which will help. The inappropriateness of flying the confederate flag has been greatly challenged. Taking that down would be a good step. All these things are good but in order for the power of racism to be broken we need more than outward reform. Mere outward reform can even lead to further animosity. What is needed is heart change. Mindsets passed down for decades and even centuries need to be changed.
There is hope in Christ. When we become new in Christ He renews our minds to begin to think like God does. In the family of God there are no distinctions and categories that separate and divide. The Gospel demolishes racism and prejudice and bigotry. The Spirit awakens the heart to see all people as created equal, all people as made in God's image, all people as sacred. Jesus taught us to "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27-28) This kind of love can break the cycle of racism one person at a time. This Sunday I'll be talking a little about all this and especially how in the church all our differences fade as we realize our common identity in Christ.
–Pastor Scott A.