Vital signs- Sunday, September 11th, 2022

The Racism Antidote:

Love Like Jesus Does

Racism begins with a lack of love. You can’t love someone like Jesus does and harbor prejudice in your heart toward that person. It’s impossible. We must love everybody the way Jesus loves them. 

Jesus gets very specific about this in John 15:12: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (NIV). How does Jesus love us? Unconditionally, freely, completely, and continually. So how should you love other people—even those of other races? Unconditionally, freely, completely, and continually.

Love doesn’t mean we approve of everything someone else does. Jesus doesn’t approve of everything we do, but he still loves us.

The Bible says, “As believers in our Lord Jesus . . . you must never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance” (James 2:1 GNB). Although a person may look to be homeless, you should treat that person as you would a CEO.

Love is very practical.

1.  Don’t be colorblind. They like their color, so you don’t have to ignore it. Just don’t make decisions about them based upon their race.

2.  Don’t tell people who’ve been treated unjustly that you understand. You don’t. Nobody knows the injustices others have faced. To say you do is simply being dismissive.

3.  Remember that your history is not the same as their history. Someone born in inner-city Chicago and a person born on a ranch in Gallup, New Mexico, have different histories. And history matters.

4.  Don’t ignore history or say, “Get over it.” Pain matters. We can’t possibly understand their pain.

5.  Fight all stereotypes. Everybody in the world feels stereotyped. But stereotypes are never true. Let’s commit to seeing each and every person as an individual, not someone stereotyped because of their skin color, creed, or nationality.

Together, when we love like Jesus does, we can eradicate racism.

Are you ready to start?

“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬