During these days of racial tension, Gerri and I thoroughly enjoyed reading to each other the book Steal Away Home: Charles Spurgeon and Thomas Johnson, Unlikely Friends on the Passage to Freedom by Matt Carter and Aaron Ivey (B and H Books, 2017).
From it, we learned that the British preacher Charles Spurgeon, who spoke against slavery had his books and sermons burned by slave holders in the southern US before the Civil War. We also learned that Thomas Johnson, a freed American slave attended Spurgeon’s Bible College and became one of Dr. Spurgeon’s closest friends on earth. I recommend this great book and also ask that we continue to pray for racial justice and reconciliation in our country today.
Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” This dream has made progress, but based on recent events in our country, we know it has a long way to go.! Can it yet be more fully achieved?
It is said that by definition, only the majority in power can be racist, while either the majority or minority can have prejudice. In the spirit of Martin Luther King, let us pray and work for the destruction of both racism and prejudice in our country and in our community.
King led the Civil Rights movement as a clergyman, out of churches. He called on white pastors to join the cause and live up to Scripture.
Nothing promotes racial harmony like living out true Christianity. First, the Christian Doctrine of Creation demolishes our racism and prejudice. As Genesis says, we all descended from Adam. Biblically, there is one race, the human race; and we are all made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
Second, the Christian Doctrine of Salvation demolishes our racism and prejudice. All ethnic groups are sinners in need of the Savior (Romans 5:12). God provided one Savior for all people (John 3:16). All ethnicities are humbly saved from sin the same way—faith in Christ alone (Romans 3:28-30, 10:11-13). God has promised to bring redeemed people around His heavenly throne from “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).
Third, the Body of Christ demolishes our racism and prejudice. All who trust in Jesus Christ are equally members of His Body, the universal Church, where He provides genuine oneness (John 17:22-23, Colossians 3:10-11). Remember our Lord’s words the night before He died: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35). Rev. King knew this and declared, “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Fourth, obedience to Christ will demolish our racism and prejudice. “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism… if you show favoritism, you sin” (James 2:1-9). Paul once rebuked Peter for refusing to eat with Gentiles and said that the Gospel demands fellowship across ethnic lines (Galatians 2:11-16).
King would want us to remember Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That is why he believed, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” Charles Spurgeon modelled that in his friendship with freed slave Thomas Johnson.
Jesus is the answer to the racial divide. The Son of God came to earth to reconcile us to His Father when we accept Him and His death for our sins. He calls us to share that good news of salvation in word and action, “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). If we are people transformed by the Gospel, we will love others as Christ loves.
May God help us to live out the Christianity we profess as we ask Him to help us heal the racial hurts around us.