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I preached on May 17th a sermon detailing some of the history of racial injustice in our country. As we find ourselves embroiled with protests surrounding the treatment of African-Americans in our nation, there are many people who don't know what to think. Certainly, the murder of George Floyd on May 25th was horrific. And it comes after other recent well-documented racist crimes in our country.
As I mentioned in the sermon, I believe that the tension of the coronavirus keeps us from observing our normal boundaries. When human beings are under anxiety, they are often not on their best behavior. If a person has racist tendencies, these may not come into play during a normal day. But if there is undo stress in their lives, a racist act may be perpetrated. This doesn't excuse or validate any act of racial injustice or violence. It simply helps us understand why we may have been seeing these more frequently.
It is the same reason you are more likely to see signs of domestic abuse during times of stress.
As we look at family systems theory, we remember that all systems seek balance or homeostasis. This balance can be healthy or unhealthy. As we look at racial disparity in our country, we can see that it didn't just crop up overnight. We have seen a slow arc toward equality for African-Americans in the United States. The laws we have passed have helped to remind us of the equality needed. But unfortunately, laws can have little teeth if they are not embraced by the majority in specific locations.
So it should be no surprise that we have a ways to go with regards to racial justice. Many in the white community acknowledge that our country has a problem with racism but find the rioting, vandalism and looting that may accompany protesting dulls their appetite for justice regarding race. It may be important to see these more troublesome aspects as a consequence of injustice. Think of a boiling pot untended.
And just as a person under stress may act upon racist tendencies where they would normally observe boundaries, we can see the same anxiety move a person pushed to the edge to lash out. If a person feels that there is no hope, they may want to burn it all down. Then they feel that we are now on the same playing field.
As Christians, how do we respond?
Within John's Gospel referenced above, we remember Jesus washing the feet of his disciples who would not be seen in his day as his equals. He then invites us to keep this mentality regarding the rest of the world. Jesus specifically gives us the new commandment,
"Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." (John 13:34b)
This doesn't mean that we allow violence to take place indiscriminately in response to the hopelessness and rage of the situation. Rather, it means that we take the stance that we prevent the inequalities from happening and continuing in the first place. We seek understanding and follow it with compassion seeking to bring lasting change for the better.
In this Christians seek God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We haven't always followed through with this if we are to be honest with ourselves.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" wrote in 1963,
"I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by the myth of time; and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection."
White leadership is often quick to quote Dr. King, acknowledging him as someone they respect and admire. I read these words and they sting my pride because I have also remained silent perhaps too many times when an injustice didn't interfere with my own comfort. I hope to never utilize Dr. King's words or movement to keep intact the status quo if the norm that I want to maintain is unjust.
I don't think keeping some people disadvantaged economically or maintaining different access to the rights guaranteed by our Constitution is the way to serve our neighbors. It is not American and it is certainly not Christian.
But we are a resurrection people. This allows us to find and offer forgiveness to one another. This allows us to move beyond repentance and on to reconciliation. May it be so for us this day and every day.
Let us pray:
O Holy God, open unto me light for my darkness, courage for my fear, hope for my despair.
O loving God, open unto me wisdom for my confusion, forgiveness for my sins, love for my hate.
O God of peace, open unto me peace for my turmoil, joy for my sorrow, strength for my weakness.
O generous God, open my heart to receive all your gifts. Amen.
Prayer by Howard Thurman, Civil Rights leader, 20th Century
Photo by David Geitgey Sierralupe via Flickr.com. Used under the Creative Commons license.
All scripture quoted is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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