Your Life Matters
This Hurts • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsAll identities are subordinate to our identity in Christ.
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The Challenges at Hand
The Challenges at Hand
Paul’s declaration in Galatians 3 that in Christ there are to be no distinctions between people is perhaps one of the most radical observations ever made. In two verses he brings into question and destroys the basis upon which so much human division and conflict has found its root. In Christ ethnic and racial, economic, and gender distinctions are without merit because of the oneness of the children of God. The twin crisis here in America of the Covid virus and racial unrest has shown a bright light on some of the most detrimental effects of the lines of separation society has constructed over generations.
Medical data has revealed people of color, and the elderly, have been disproportionately affected by the worst presentations of the novel coronavirus. These groups are the ones who most often suffer from the dreaded co-morbidities that seem to be especially dangerous traits to exhibit in the presence of Covid; and are also more likely to suffer from economic disparities linked to poor access to health services. An additional economic factor effecting people of color is that many of them fill “essential” worker positions that have left them more exposed to the virus while others were able to work from home during the lockdown.
This last week President Trump signed the Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities in response to the tremendous public outcry over the deaths of unarmed black men by police officers in recent weeks. Unfortunately, these deaths have occurred against a difficult history of race relations in which law enforcement has played a central role. Even in taking this extraordinary step the predictable chorus of voices from both the right and the left have weighed in with opposing opinions regarding the efficacy of the order. Only commitment to the intent of the directive and time will tell us whether policing will improve because of this gesture.
If the past is any indicator of the future, we should not expect any substantial improvement in the underlying factors that have led to our current state of racial friction at least in the short term. However, if we know where in the past to look, we can find the poisonous fruit tree of racism that has fed the division and hatred of our hearts over the centuries. This may sound simplistic but knowing this background can be of tremendous aid as we consider realizing Paul’s admonition to the church in Galatia.
Because most of us have been raised both passively and actively to be mindful of racial differences we probably take these distinctions to have always been the case. Furthermore, because of culture and society we often believe these divisions actually have merit. It has been said if you repeat a lie often enough people will believe it. The Nazis came along in the 1930’s and taught us that if you tell a lie then make it a big lie because people are willing to swallow big lies more readily than little ones.
The history of race as a concept is rife with lies both small and great built upon fear, greed, hate, and ignorance. Although conflict between persons and people groups is a perennial occurrence from earliest recorded history and probably predating that conflict along racial lines, in the modern sense, has a beginning that is fairly discernable and recent.
Western Civilization and the Invention of Race
Western Civilization and the Invention of Race
The headwaters of Western Civilization originate in the confluence of Greek philosophy, Judaism, and Christianity wrapped together with the spear of Rome. Although these groups were thoroughly committed to the superiority of their unions over that of others, they still provided a clear path to anyone who wanted to join their ranks. Baptism served as a symbolic rite of entry for Hebrew and Christian community. Greeks allowed barbarians to learn, speak, write, and think like Greeks. In other words, for them the only meaningful distinction among people groups were the invisible differences of heart and mind. Color was little more than a novelty.
This was the predominant case up until the fifteenth century when Spain codified racial differences in a much more systematic and rigid manner than ever before. Jews in large and growing numbers had been forced to convert to Catholicism. With their increased numbers, prosperity, and influence the Old Christians became deeply troubled and sought to contain what they perceived as a threat. Consequently, laws were enacted that separated people along biological grounds within Spain.
It was determined that anyone who had Jewish blood within the five previous generations was subjected to a number of restrictions preventing their full participation in Spanish society. Colleges, certain religious orders, and government positions were placed off limits to these conversos, as they were called. Racial distinctions and racism would flourish from this point on in history.
The Spanish Inquisition
The Spanish Inquisition
To enforce these laws the Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478. In short order it would expand its interest in maintaining purity by targeting Christianized Muslims, and Romany. As Spain became a colonizing world power the Inquisition would turn its attentions to controlling the indigenous people of Asia and the Americas. After the Inquisition moved to Rome in the 16th century the list of targeted groups would expand to include Protestants, homosexuals, alleged witches, freethinkers, public intellectuals and pretty much anyone the church found irritating.
Persons and groups persecuted by the Inquisition were effectively and permanently barred from any prospect of assimilation within the larger community. Previous inquisitions had almost exclusively focused on religious piety and allegiance to the church. But the biological factor of “impurity of blood” had now become the central concern. Because of the blending of church and state classes of people were defined by religion, ideology, and race or ethnicity by force of law. What had previously been a minor distinction became central to individual and group identity.
From this point forward the tools of society would be marshalled toward reinforcing these distinctions. “Scientific” theories would be proposed that justified increasingly toxic racist thinking. These mental constructs would be directed toward the people groups of Asia, Native Americans, and most harshly against enslaved Africans.
Colonization
Colonization
As White Europeans began to explore, exploit, and colonize the world they took with them not only superior technology and disease but more importantly ideas and values which today we understand collectively as Western Civilization. One of the primary characteristics of Greek thought, a main contributor to Western Civ, is the tendency to prioritize and categorize the contents of both the mind and the world. As they expanded they encountered cultures and people groups far different than their own and by definition inferior. Their exploits were also sanctified by the European’s belief in the superiority of Christianity above all other religious ideas, beliefs, and practices.
This last point is a critical issue to our survey. When we read the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, it is abundantly clear that God values all people, he does not place value on outward appearance (1 Sam 16:7) he assess the heart of individuals and renders judgment. Nor is he concerned with the social status of individuals (Deut 10:17,18; Job 34:19). In fact there is nothing about the human system of valuing individuals that God condones (Romans 2:11; Gal 2:6). So how did European Christians justify the thoroughly documented history of land theft, exploitation, and enslavement of large people groups throughout the brown world?
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.
Yet He is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For they are all the work of His hands.
For there is no partiality with God.
But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.
Yet He is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For they are all the work of His hands.
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
Actually it really wasn’t all that hard thanks to a little creative thinking. When explorers encountered previously unknown people groups they were perplexed to account for both their presence and existence and more importantly a justification for subjugating them. After all the Bible was pretty clear about the imperative to love other people.
Here is where racism in its most pernicious presentation went into hyperdrive in the form of two theories: the pre-Adamite and the degenerate theories of origins. In order to explain the presence of Native Americans it was proposed that they were either descendants of a group of people outside the line of Adam or were from a line of people that had somehow become degenerate. No explanation for the degradation was every proposed. It was just accepted.
Whatever the case may have been these theories allowed the Spanish to categorize Native Americans as subhumans incapable of abstract thought and thus unable to govern themselves. It was also asserted they lacked the moral capacity to accept the Gospel. Eventually the church would push back against these notions but the die was cast and the allure of unimaginable wealth and opportunity would prove to be too great a temptation to re-evaluate humans who were now little more than cattle.
Racial theories that degraded the full humanity of native people in the Americas would be the basis for their inhumane mistreatment and would be later used to justify the enslavement of Africans that became increasingly more important as the Native American population rapidly declined due to disease. An additional advantage that Africans provided is because of their exotic looks, i.e. considerably darker skin, those that escaped slavery could not easily blend into surrounding groups of free Native American tribes and certainly not among White Europeans.
It was the Spanish and Portuguese colonial powers that worked out the basic theories that justified the exploitation of entire people groups. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the English, Anglo-Americans and the French would exponentially build on their work and the idea of race as a meaningful distinction became further embedded in the mind.
This short history by no means accounts for all of the nuances and layers of challenges that must be dealt with in regards to racism. But what this does do, I hope at least, is suggest that the ways by which we divide ourselves are really only superficial and in many instances wholly without merit and that they are learned and not innate. I know most people accept this in theory but do you really? I mean when you look at someone do you really see them as another human being? Or because they look or sound different do you perceive them as a threat or unintelligent, or not worth the effort to know and ultimately beyond the call of the Gospel?
With the above considerations coupled with what Paul asserts in Galatians, and in Romans 10:11-12, and in 1 Corinthians 12:13, and Colossians 3:9-11, it should be crystal clear to any honest thinking person that we can have absolutely no divisions within the church over the issue of race or social status. And furthermore although, admittedly, it is not as forcefully argued the same must be said over the status of women within the church.
Now let me venture into perhaps more dangerous waters, in light of our current climate, its amazing that I can even make that statement. How much more contentious can things get? Wait a second and you will see.
At the forefront of our latest racial friction has been a slogan and an organization. Of course I’m referring to Black Lives Matter. As was mentioned in a previous sermon this slogan was coined and the organization launched shortly after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, in 2013, in the death of Trayvon Martin the previous year.
From the very beginning the statement has not been without controversy. The often repeated, and not without merit, response by some has been, “All lives matter” or the assertion that blacks are far more likely to die as a result of black on black violence than that inflicted by either police or whites in general. These responses are completely legitimate issues to raise.
However, to raise them requires a fuller understanding of the context of many of the people who are making the proclamation. Folks proclaiming BLM are, in many cases, beleaguered and tired of dealing with the frustrations of life that statistically are, so often the case, associated with people of color.
The poverty, drug abuse, crime, poor education options, and broken families that so many people of color have to deal with present a seemingly insurmountable obstacle to overcome. Many of these things, of course, are the result of poor personal choices and the lasting legacy of toxic cultural practices. But nonetheless aren’t the greatest challenges any of us face the interior ones and therefore just as desperately in need of real solutions?
When anyone calls out in distress should not our response be to consider what can I do to be of assistance regardless of what my beliefs are about what the source of the persons distress may be? In other words don’t get caught up in the semantics of the cry just take it for what it is, a request for help. In the context of the history of race in America a call to be acknowledged as fully human.
A great response might be, “What have I learned from my trials that I can lend to someone else to assist them in their journey?” All while keeping in mind that your personal development was not a clean linear process. You made mistakes along the way. You assumed wrong things about yourself and others. You were forgiven and your were persecuted along the way.
Therefore, the statement BLM is not all that problematic in gracious context. The organization however is a different story. Examination of the stated intent of BLM reveals the following statements:
“We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.
We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise).”
These affirmations are not taken from a para organization they are explicit goals of the organization itself. In addition to these two articles numerous other assertions are made that clearly indicate the BLM organization is equally, if not more, concerned with transgender and queer rights.
The Bible is abundantly clear that all people are to be treated with respect and love. However, the Bible is just as explicit in declaring that our true identity, and value, is not found in or defined by anything or anyone else than Christ the only one who can make us whole. Therefore, any organization that encourages us to ground ourselves in the broken identities of this life cannot be looked to for guidance in seeking to redeem this sin corrupted world.
We all understand the importance of professing Christ however to profess Christ means that we take on his character and follow his example in everything. Jesus showed love and compassion for every person he ever met. He demonstrated love, compassion, and tenderness without any consideration for the person’s background or status.
The Samaritan woman at the well - Acceptance
The lepers - Compassion
The woman caught in adultery - Protection
The pharisee Nicodemus - Respect
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
We are the Children of God by His provision and His will (John 1:12-13).
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Here’s a simple test you can apply to your thinking. Ask yourself if your son or daughter brought home someone of another race who absolutely loved and adored them would you have a problem with that?