Diminishing others, in any way, is sin and it contradicts what Jesus has called us to as Christians: to love others as ourselves (Matt. We were not designed to live like this. Our country’s history is stained with this sin and the only way forward, to anything better, needs to come through recognition and confession of that sin on the part of those who have been complicit to it by not recognizing it and working to stop it. How do we do that? Some possible first steps:
- Admit that, as a white person, I don’t really understand all of the bigotry that my African-American friends face because my skin is light and I don’t experience it.
- Go out of my way to show love and respect to all of my neighbors, regardless of race, religion, political bias, social or social class.
- Seek justice for those who’ve been wronged by the underlying fabric of racism that has been woven through our history as a country from slavery through this very moment.
- Pray that those who only view the world through their own eyes will have their hearts broken and their minds enlightened to the truth of how much their perspectives have been tarnished and limited by sin and self-centeredness so that they might consider the injustices that others must endure through on a daily basis, see the error of their own ways and be humbled.
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
— Matthew 22:36-40
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