I have always had friends with different colored skin, different eyes, different economic status, etc. However, I have realized I automatically distrust every person I meet, because of my experiences with abandonment and rejection- I am slow to trust anyone. We are products of our experiences AND … then the choices we make. For me, it has never been about the color of their skin or where they are from, or what they believe.
George Floyd’s death was a horrifying tragedy AND It seems all people have agreed. – except those who are racists.
I believe the root of racism is sin. Racism, prejudice, hate, slavery, murder, etc, have always been a part of ALL history. WHY? Because sin is the root of all evil actions and thoughts, including racism.
I also believe all human beings are precious, made equally in the image of God. The Bible (God’s Word) is the true history of humanity, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the answer—,the only answer. Every person is a descendant of Adam and Eve, so every person is a sinner—that’s our biggest problem, no matter who we are, where we come from, or what shade of skin we have. Our biggest problem is the sin that separates us from a holy God.We are all ONE RACE, but (obviously) there’s biological and cultural diversity within humankind.* Our differences or our uniqueness- It is what makes life interesting and sometimes difficult.
If we really want to see change in our world- there is no quick fix, no laws to change hearts and minds. It is one by one, learning to love others. I love this image I have seen on social media recently:
What does the Bible tell us about Love?
John 15:17 says
This I command you, that you love one another.
1 John 4:7-8 says
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
What does love look like? Growing up we think love as mushy as this wonderful feeling. As we get older, we realize it takes a lot more than a feeling to love others.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
WHOA! So, how do we really love others? The truth- to love others is hard and messy, but also can be deeply rewarding. It will cost us. I believe it is worth it though. I want to be fully alive and fully experience the realness of being connected and stretched by learning to love others.
I think this song says it best: Love Feels Like by Toby Mac
I am tired, I am drained
But the fight in me remains
I am weary, I am worn
Like I’ve never been before
This is harder than I thought
Harder than I thought it’d be
Harder than I thought
Takin’ every part of me
Harder than I thought
So much harder than I thought it’d be
But empty’s never felt so full
This is what love (this is what love)
This is what love
Feels like
This is what love (this is what love)
This is what love
Feels like
Poured out, used up, still givin’
Stretching me out to the end of my limits
This is what love (this is what love)
This is what real love
Feels like
This is what love feels like poured out
Used up still willin’ to fight for it
This is what love feels like
Yeah, this is what it feels like
Like floating confetti
The beautiful gets messy
When the fallout finds the floor
But in the depths of the trenches
Is the richest of riches
Love is calling us to more
This is harder than I thought
Harder than I thought it’d be
Harder than I thought
Takin’ every part of me
Harder than I thought
So much harder than I thought it’d be
But empty’s never felt so full
This is what love (this is what love)
This is what love
Feels like
This is what love (this is what love)
This is what love
Feels like
Poured out, used up, still givin’
Stretching me out to the end of my limits
This is what love (this is what love)
This is what real love
Feels like
This is what love feels like poured out
Used up still willin’ to fight for it
This is what love feels like
Yeah, this is what it feels like
And now these three remain
Faith, hope and love
But the greatest of these is love
It’s worth everything you put in
Everything you put in
It’s worth everything you put in
Everything you put in
Everything you put in
Everything you put in
It’s worth everything you put in
Love
This is what it feels like
Poured out, used up, still givin’
Stretching me out to the end of my limits
How else does love look?
- Listening
- Being present
- helping
- supporting
Does it mean we agree on everything- NO! It is respecting one another’s thoughts, decisions, and position even when we do not agree.
At Redeem and Restore Center, we exist to honor God in all we do, and to follow His commands by loving others- regardless of race, color, creed, or religion.
The women we serve need to experience real love to really heal. People need love to heal. We can’t change others, but we can lead by example and be authentic.
ALL people are messy, make mistakes, and hurt others. SO, we also need grace. Grace while we learn, grace when we fail, grace as we grow. Just as God gives us grace while we were yet sinners- we are to give it to others also.
Join with us in letting our light shine for Christ and point all those who bear Christ’s image to his finished work on the cross and the hope, peace, and reconciliation between hearts that it brings, by God’s grace.
*from an article by ,Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis
To dig deeper into the topic of ‘one race’, I highly recommend a book by Tony Evans, Oneness Embraced. ,https://store.tonyevans.org/product/2165/oneness-embraced-softcover