By Melissa McLaughlin

Another gruesome and wicked act of racial injustice carried out in our land.

My heart dropped.

My stomach sickened.

My body heaved with grief.

 

How did we get here, Lord?

How can we bring justice, Lord?

How can we bring healing, Lord?

 

What is our response?

Stealing,

Killing,

Destroying?

Some have chosen this.

 

Silence,

Blame,

Shame?

Others have chosen this.

 

Abba Father, how do we bring Godly justice and healing in Christ?

Each person is created by God, made in His image, precious in His sight.

Would God desire some to be ashamed of the skin tone He designed?

Would God desire some to be despised because of the shades He chose?

Over the centuries, African American people have experienced heinous, evil treatment in this country at the hands of many white American oppressors. Sickening, hate-filled, evil.

How do we right this wrong with Christ’s justice, truth, grace and love?

Should those who have not mistreated others because of their darker skin be put in the same category as those who have? Based on… the lighter tone of their skin? Does that bring the justice of God and the healing in Christ?

As a response to this atrocious evil against African Americans, some Caucasian Americans now vehemently express shame at being white.  Does this bring the justice of God and healing in Christ?

Does God now desire us to be ashamed if He created us with a light skin tone? Will that bring Godly justice and healing in Christ?

Recently, I witnessed a young white woman posting a video of herself covered in her own feces, in order to show the degradation of her skin color that she felt our culture demanded of her. Does this bring the justice of God and healing in Christ? Does this honor the God who created her?

We will never find God’s justice or healing through man-made efforts or human wisdom. We need to seek God’s Word and ask His Spirit of Truth to confront us where we are wrong, instruct us where we lacking and to heal us where we are broken.

Scripture Truth

1. To begin we know that mankind was created by God, made in His image.

Genesis 1:27So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Every person, male and female, bears the image of God and is precious in His sight. To disparage another person for the design which God has chosen for their frame, is to disparage God Himself. This is a grave sin.

2. God blessed ALL the nations of the world through Israel, as he brought our Messiah through this people group.

Genesis 22:18 – Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.

From the beginning, God’s plan was to save people from every nation. Every nation matters to God and every nation should matter to us, no matter the geographic location, no matter the physical features of that people group.

3. God loves the whole world, so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins that we could be more than a mere part of His earthly creation, but we could be part of His eternal family in heaven. The whole world. To exclude or deride another person because of their God-made skin tone, is to hurt a person for whom Jesus died. Jesus loves each one that much. So should we.

John 3:16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

4. God has gathered believers from every corner of the earth to join His heavenly family, representing the glory of all He has made.

Revelation 7:9-10 – After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

When we gather in heaven, part of the beauty there will be our reflection of the diversity of God’s grand design. Many people, worshiping with one voice before our Savior and God. Many people, one beautiful family, gathered at one table, for the wedding feast of the Lamb of God.

If God created, blessed, saved and gathered people from every nation, tribe, people and language to be part of His eternal family, as believers we should work to gather and reflect His family here on earth.

The world cannot do this. We need the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach us, convict us, fill us with compassion, truth, understanding and LOVE. We do not have enough love on our own. We need to abide in Christ in order to grow in the Fruit of the Spirit to love each other more, no matter our background or skin tone.

What Can We Do?

Clearly, God’s call is for justice, love and healing for all people. But hatred for others and self-hatred is so widespread. How do we, small as we are, just one person in the face of a tidal wave of evil, how do we bring forth God’s justice and healing in Christ? One by one.

1. Seek the Lord Jesus. Read His Word, the Bible, for it exposes us to ourselves. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you God’s truth about Christ, about yourself, about others and about the world. Only the Holy Spirit knows the truth about all that is happening around us. He can guide you in God’s ways.

2. Speak. Speak to your family about God’s truth regarding the people God has created using the scripture truths from above. If you hear others putting someone down or making them the butt of a joke because of their skin tone, speak out! Do not tolerate this. Period. Stand up for the downtrodden through your speech. Teach your children and those who are near you that God has made each person, black, brown, tan, white and every shade in between. By His design, we reflect His image and are precious to Him. So precious that Jesus died to save every single one who will accept Him as Savior and LORD.

3. Act. Demonstrate to a watching world what you believe about God’s precious people of all nations. You may feel led to participate in a peaceful protest or seminar on establishing cross-cultural connections in your community or church. More importantly, strive to work on building personal relationships as a demonstration of what we believe. Invite a friend or family of a different race to come to your house for dinner (or an outdoor picnic if still under quarantine.) Be intentional about including those of other races in your activities and family life. Go the extra mile in your personal life to reach out and heal this deep wound of humanity.

4. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to change the hearts of those who are hurting others or disparaging themselves because of the color of their skin. Pray they would be drawn to Christ to receive Him as Savior and LORD, for only He can heal our sin-sick human hearts. Only then can people see themselves and others with the eyes of Jesus. Commit to pray daily about this issue. Commit to pray with a prayer partner about this issue. Pray about this issue in Bible study groups, at the dinner table, in prayer groups.

Whether your skin is black, brown, tan or white, you should not be ashamed of your skin tone. Nor should anyone ever hurt or diminish another person because of their shade of skin. You are uniquely designed by God and you bear His image. His artistry is awesome, the colors of His paintbrush endless. May we treasure our unique hues, shapes and sizes as a sign of His endless glory.

Psalm 139:13-14 – For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Additional Resources:

Racial Reconciliation by John Piper at Desiring God

A Message From My Heart By Dr. Tony Evans at Urban Alternative

When Everything Falls Apart: 7 Strategies to Get You Through By Melissa McLaughlin