Racism

Greg & I are taking a class together this semester - Christianity & the Problem of Racism. (Don't tell, but I'm actually sitting in the class right now.) It's been an incredible opportunity for us to confront, discuss, and get involved together in a major U.S. issue. Two of the books we've read for the course already (okay, so Greg really read them; I just read the reviews...) have been incredible eye-openers for me to from where this awful issue or racism comes and how deceived the conservative consensus today is regarding the status of racism in our country. (If you're interested in either of these perspectives, I'd highly recommend these books -- Racism: A Short History by George Frederickson (2003) and Whitewashing Race: The Myth of a Color-Blind Society, Univ. of California Press (2005) written by a group of authors, professors, politicians, etc.) It definitely makes us think...and dream and plan...about how to be a part of the reconciliation instead of inactive by-standers and thus part of the problem.

Last night in class, we spent a good deal of time looking at how the Bible often deals with sin, the crucifixion, and reconciliation in corporate terms. Our American culture (and often-times our Christian culture) has focused so heavily on individualism to the exclusion of our corporate identities. (My love for community and experience living in a less-individualistic country definitely cheered for this lecture/discussion!) As a white Christian, what does this mean for me? My obligation to reach out to the victims of the Holocaust, Apartheid, African American Slavery, and now the racism that thus remains in the U.S. today? My obligation to even apologize? Something to think about, friends. Something to lay before the throne of our Lord and be ready to do whatever necessary to show God's heart of love and reconciliation...