Black and White or Living Colors?
I rarely-if ever-mention “politicized” issues in these 52 week plans, though my own world-view is as aligned with the Bible and Christ as I know how. I know I don’t have the market on truth cornered, but there are a few things I am willing to declare without hesitation:
- I believe in life and making life possible for as many as I can.
- I support pro-life causes and even vote accordingly.
- Another issue that I have strongly support is accepting all people regardless of their differences. When the term “black lives matter” was (still is) making headlines, I wondered which lives the organization meant.
- I believe that “all lives matter”. I couldn’t imagine that would be controversial. It is in some circles.
I will keep this brief and biblical. All lives matter to God and to most, if not all, the Jesus-followers I know. The shade of your melanin doesn’t matter to me. God’s design is for us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love others as we love ourselves……and we do love ourselves, don’t we? We feed, clothe, care, comfort ourselves and look out for our interests most of the time. In God’s power we can love others and put their needs and well-being above our own. We choose against ourselves in order to benefit others. Right? That is what God’s love does.
Jesus Christ became poor so we could be rich in life, love, forgiveness, mercy, and hope. God created the world in such a way that our needs could be met. He gave us the intelligence to use our skills and creativity to supply not only our needs but also those of others.
Here’s my bottom line: Racism is not a black and white issue. Racism is a heart issue and has been for a very long time. Seems as though we as human beings have found ways to look down on others for lots of reasons: skin color, appearance, region of origin, nationality, ethnicity, gender, wealth or lack of it, religious beliefs, education, and more. See what I mean? Somehow we believe that we can make ourselves more by thinking others are less. Racism(believing we are somehow better than others based on skin color) in all forms is wrong and has been the cause of many evils.
In Christ Jesus there is no room for it. He obviously has accepted us with our differences and even our sin. He died for us while we were still sinners, and He welcomes us into His eternal family by faith regardless of skin color. Aren’t we glad?
My friend Lynda Elliott co-wrote the following song to promote harmony, love, and acceptance in our world. By God’s grace we will move past racism and hatred of others, but it will happen one person at a time – starting with you and me. You ready?