Is Racism Still A Problem in America? Yes and No!

Monday, January 16, 2023 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I appreciate the truth of one of his most well known quotes that we should judge based on the content of our character rather than the color of our skin. There is much Scripture that supports this statement such as 1 Samuel 16:7 - "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Is racism still a problem today in our nation? Unfortunately, yes, and it always will be. However, it is not because of what some call "institutional racism." The narrative of the liberal media and far too many leaders that America is more racist now than ever is simply not based in reality or factual history. 

I believe racism is and always will be a problem in our nation because it is an expression of the struggle with sin that all of us have, not just one group of people. It is part of our human struggle with sin that all of us have times when we show partiality (bias) based on race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, etc. We have thoughts, attitudes, and actions that reflect this partiality in positive and negative ways. We are tempted to treat some people better or worse based solely on some human distinction that has nothing to do with that person's character, 

Consider James 2:1-4, "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. (2) Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. (3) If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” (4) have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"

If we are honest, all of us will realize we have all been on both sides of the sin of bias and partiality. When we are the receiving side, or victims of another person's sin of partiality, as Christians we must apply biblical commands and principles of forgiveness. (See Ephesians 4:32 and Matthew 18:15-35)

But when we are on the other side of bias, where we are guilty party who sinned against someone else, we need to apply biblical commands and principles of confession and repentance. (See 1 John 1: 8-10 and James 5:16)

By God's grace our nation has made tremendous strides to counter the wrongs of our past. May we as Christians living in this blessed nation strive to be more effective as God's salt and light, to better experience and share God's love. May our thoughts, attitudes, and actions reflect those of Jesus Christ who died for all of our sins and rose from the dead. 

Pastor Louis Lee