In the words of Sydney J Harris, “history repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.” We must use the lessons we’ve learned from history to inform our decisions now. The hard truth is that people of color have been oppressed by various forms of racism and it is retraumatizing when events like the killing of George Floyd happen. We must seek to learn from the mistakes made in history – including our own church’s history – so that they are not repeated.

 

Listening is the door to empathy. Empathetic listening requires humility that asks: what can I learn from you? It requires putting aside our own opinions and lived experiences, going low, and creating space to truly hear others. Listening can be painful; naturally we want to defend our positions, we want to be heard, we want to be right. One of our greatest learned tools as ministers is the art of listening. When we are able to actively listen with the goal of understanding, is when we can gain ground and build bridges. Consider entering into these conversations by saying, “I am sorry for what you are going through. I want to learn. I am listening.”

 

As racial injustice runs rampant in our world, may our collective cry of mourning and lament unify us. Biblical lament gives expression to deep grief and sorrow. It creates the path of complaint and petition for God to move on behalf of His people. Through both individual and communal lament, we are offered an invitation to draw near to our faithful God who weeps with us. One of the first steps to seeking justice and loving our neighbor well is to enter the space of lament. “Mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Lament insists we do not stay silent on behalf of those experiencing the evils of racism nor will we protect ourselves from the impact. We follow the example of Christ and willingly enter both pain and sorrow for the sake of loving others more completely and for the sake of standing on the side of justice.

 

The Lord Speaks in a clear warning in 2 Chronicles 7: 13-14, “At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

 

It is essential for those who want our land to be restored and for those that call upon the name of the Lord, to personally and corporately turn away from the sin of racism. We can work to accomplish this by embracing the cause of justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the thousands of other black lives who have been lost to blatantly racist people, racist policies and racist systems in our country.

But we also must look within – within our own hearts, our own local churches, and even within our own fellowship, the Assemblies of God. Let us commit to creating opportunities in our churches and in our spheres of influence by elevating the voices and stories of our brothers and sisters of color, who have suffered in silence in our communities and congregations.

 

 

We have heard white Christian leaders say, “I don’t see color.” While this sentiment is well- intended it is problematic because our black and brown friends are not translucent, nor are they white. It’s not wrong to see color. In fact, to not see color is a disability that we call color blindness. Indeed, different shades of color add beauty to our world and lives. And different cultures, and ethnicities, and colors are lovely elements in God’s good creation. In heaven it is said that there will be “people from every tongue, tribe, and nation.” Heaven will not erase human distinctions; it will honor and celebrate and use them as part of the panoply in praise to God. But while there is beauty in diverse colors, on this fallen planet, there is also pain. How black and brown people move through this broken world is different than white people; they carry an added load that white people are most often totally unaware of. For white people to say, “I don’t see color” can often mean that they don’t really want to hear or understand how being a person of color in these United States is painful or hard. So, to love our friends of color well we need to both appreciate the goodness and challenges they face in moving through this world in black and brown bodies.

 

Southern New England ministry leaders, when faced with racism, injustice, evil, sin, confusion and brokenness, we are to lead. This means we go first, pray, speak, stand, organize, serve, clarify, sacrifice, listen, seek to understand. We lead, not in our own strength, but the transforming power that works in us. We lead with God’s strength (Eph 3:20), to accomplish God’s purposes as we face racial injustice in all of its pernicious forms, both within and outside the Church.

 

[1] K. A. Mathews, Genesis 1-11; 26, vol. 1A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Publishers, 1996), 160.