The Gospel and Race

Tonight I attended a worship service/Christmas party with other Rhodes students and students from the University of Memphis. The event was put on by each of our separate bodies of Campus Outreach, a national Christian ministry that is aimed at equipping college students with the resources to follow Christ on their campuses. As I looked around the party tonight, I was pleasantly reminded that the Gospel of Jesus Christ knows no barriers. Students of all different race and socio-economic background were gathered with the shared purpose of worshipping God and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ that comes with the Christmas season. This event embodied a kind of racial harmony that I don’t often see at Rhodes, and I think that that comes from an understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I want to preface this discussion by acknowledging that the ministry that I described above is not perfect and neither is the church that I attend. This blog isn't a plea for conversion but rather a discussion of the Gospel as a potential solution to racism and racial injustice. I also think it is important to acknowledge that the Bible and Christian "morals" have been perverted to justify slavery and racism in the past. Slave owners during the time of chattel slavery often pulled verses from the Bible in order to justify their unrighteous acts. Verses such as 1 Peter 2:18 which states, "Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh." and Ephesians 6:5 that says, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear". The use of the Bible in this way is a clear deviation from the message of the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus. Often times, the Bible is pulled out of its historical context and its message is misconstrued to fit different situations. I can understand that this might lead some to question the Bible and it's teachings as a method for solving racial issues, but I firmly believe that a clear understanding of the Gospel and it's message leads not only to racial tolerance, but a love for all of God's people.

The Gospel teaches that Christ was crucified on the cross for everyone: for blacks, whites, Latinos, Asians, etc. It also demands that followers of Christ are to replicate the love that Christ showed to the world by dying on the cross. This takes the form of unconditionally loving others, even our enemies. Galatians 3:28 says that there is neither "Greek nor Jew" in the family of God. Ephesians 2:11-22 also explains how Jesus destroyed the racial divide and allowed for all people to be one in Him. If this calling for Christ exalting diversity were lived out in our society today, I think that racism would cease to exist.  

Last year over Christmas break, I had the opportunity to listen to Pastor Bryan Loritts speak at a conference in Nashville. Loritts is the lead pastor of Fellowship Memphis, a racially diverse church with three locations in Memphis. In one of his talks at this conference, Loritts begged for the understanding that Jesus was not a white American; that Jesus was a man who didn't see color of skin or social status, rather he saw people as God's creation. Now, as an attendant of Fellowship Memphis, I have been able to see how the message of the Gospel can transform people's mindsets and put love and understanding where racial divide once existed. I have witnessed the power of Christ like love in the Memphis community and ultimately I believe in its capability to change people's hearts in ways that no legislation, activism, or other teachings can.