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I don’t believe in systemic racism because I’m bought into some secular theory. I believe it because of:
1. God’s Word. The Bible teaches us human beings are depraved. Apart from the regenerating and/or restraining work of God’s Spirit, we only do evil all the time. Our sin.../1
1. God’s Word. The Bible teaches us human beings are depraved. Apart from the regenerating and/or restraining work of God’s Spirit, we only do evil all the time. Our sin.../1
is never merely an individual enterprise, it *always* affects others. Our sin, including our natural biases, suspicions, and prejudices, are not limited to our individual thought life, but play out in our actions, including the structures and systems we build in a society.../2
It is not a leap at all from the true doctrine of human sinfulness (in my Calvinism, “total depravity”) to its effects in a culture, community, nation. Examples of this abound in the Scriptures from Babel to “Shibboleth,” to the Judaizers’ alienation of Gentile siblings../3
2. History. As followers of Christ, we pursue the truth. When we honestly assess our history as a nation (or when I look unflinchingly at my family or my faith tradition - Southern Presbyterianism), we do see the systems and structures built specifically to create division.../4
and disparity. From man-stealing to chattel slavery to Jim Crow to redlining and beyond, there have been sinful systems built for sinful purposes around the issue of race. This is undeniable. And utterly disturbing is that Christian people and communities who did faithfully.../5
preach the Gospel of Jesus(!), including imminent and gifted theologians and otherwise loving pastors and elders, either tolerated or were complicit in the building and perpetuation of partial and prejudicial systems.
3. Testimony. The Scriptures demand the testimony of 2.../6
3. Testimony. The Scriptures demand the testimony of 2.../6
or 3 witnesses of an offense for the cause of justice. I have heard from my brothers and sisters in Christ who are black of their experience of prejudice and racism, not only in individual encounters, but also in the societal and structural obstacles they face. The witness.../7
has been consistent, compelling, and given by people I trust. What reason have I on earth not to believe and accept their testimony?
God’s Word, the readily accessible historical record, and our siblings in Christ testify to the sinful reality of systemic racism... /8
God’s Word, the readily accessible historical record, and our siblings in Christ testify to the sinful reality of systemic racism... /8
I would urge all of us in this conversation, whether we agree or disagree on this issue, to turn toward one another in love rather than away from one another in condemnation. If we are united to Christ by faith, we ARE united to one another already.../9
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection & sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but /10
in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.../fin
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.../fin
