There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
Yesterday was a snowy day. That is how Januaries are in Michigan. I just got out of my car and was heading into my office. At the same time a white car was pulling up next to me and I noticed it was Carol Cheyne, she was trying to get my attention. So I waited for her to pull up and then roll down the window.
“Hi Carol, how are you today?”
“Great! Hey Pastor, I have something I bought for you. It is a book I thought would be important for you to read.”
Carol is a book lover like myself, and over the years she has given me quite a few really good books to devour. She pulled out from the front seat a new hard covered book and the title was, “Under Our Skin.” She said, “I loved this book and after I read it I thought of you.” I looked at the cover and it said, “Getting real about race.”
Oh boy, a book about racial reconciliation, just what I need. Maybe it was the cold January temps, but I think I Carol could read my impression of the book–I thought I already knew everything that needed to be known about race relations. I even muttered in a short tone, “It probably is a book about how we don’t understand the black struggle and how blacks and whites are so different, when in actuality we are not different at all, right?”
She looked at me in a look my mom use to give me when she thought I had something to learn and said, “Just read it.” And then she drove off to see some ladies for Bible study.
So as I walked back to my office feeling a little guilty for my snarky comment, I started reading the introduction…2 hours later I was more than 3/4 done with the book feeling rebuked and repenting of my coldness toward the real issues behind our race wars.
Carol forgive me.
This Sunday I am going to talk about four important biblical areas we need to take deadly serious to turn our culture back to righteousness: Sanctity of…Life, Marriage, Property, and the Dignity of human existence. After reading this book the issue of race relations follows closely behind if we are ever going to be a truly civil and kind society.
This book is written by Benjamin Watson, a pro-football player who is both a true believer and a person broken by the racial divide he sees in our country. He is also a black man. His insight is compelling and convicting, and I believe his voice needs to be heard by all of us. He became famous after posting his ideas during the riots in Ferguson after Micheal Brown was shot dead on the street by a police officer. The day after it happened he put his opinion on Facebook and it was liked by over 800,000 people. It is from this posting that the book “Under Our Skin” was written. Here is what he posted on Facebook, something we all need to wrestle with:
At some point, while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down. Here are my thoughts:
I’M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes.
I’M FRUSTRATED, because pop culture, music and movies glorify these types of police-citizen altercations and promote an invincible attitude that continues to get young men killed in real life, away from safety movie sets and music studios.
I’M FEARFUL because in the back of my mind I know that although I’m a law abiding citizen I could still be looked upon as a “threat” to those who don’t know me. So I will continue to have to go the extra mile to earn the benefit of the doubt.
I’M EMBARRASSED because the looting, violent protests, and law-breaking only confirm, and in the minds of many, validate, the stereotypes and thus the inferior treatment.
I’M SAD, because another young life was lost from his family, the racial divide has widened, a community is in shambles, accusations, insensitivity hurt and hatred are boiling over, and we may never know the truth about what happened that day.
I’M SYMPATHETIC, because I wasn’t there so I don’t know exactly what happened. Maybe Darren Wilson acted within his rights and duty as an officer of the law and killed Michael Brown in self-defense like any of us would in the circumstance. Now he has to fear the backlash against himself and his loved ones when he was only doing his job. What a horrible thing to endure. OR maybe he provoked Michael and ignited the series of events that led to him eventually murdering the young man to prove a point.
I’M OFFENDED, because of the insulting comments I’ve seen that are not only insensitive but dismissive to the painful experiences of others.
I’M CONFUSED, because I don’t know why it’s so hard to obey a policeman. You will not win!!! And I don’t know why some policeman abuse their power. Power is a responsibility, not a weapon to brandish and lord over the populace.
I’M INTROSPECTIVE, because sometimes I want to take “our” side without looking at the facts in situations like these. Sometimes I feel like it’s us against them. Sometimes I’m just as prejudiced as people I point fingers at. And that’s not right. How can I look at white skin and make assumptions but not want assumptions made about me? That’s not right.
I’M HOPELESS, because I’ve lived long enough to expect things like this to continue to happen. I’m not surprised and at some point, my little children are going to inherit the weight of being a minority and all that it entails.
I’M HOPEFUL, because I know that while we still have race issues in America, we enjoy a much different normal than those of our parents and grandparents. I see it in my personal relationships with teammates, friends and mentors. And it’s a beautiful thing.
I’M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT I’M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through His son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One that’s capable of looking past the outward and seeing what’s truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It’s the Gospel. So, finally, I’M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope.
Please, don’t be like me when Carol handed me the book, acting like I had it all figured out; please wrestle with your own heart and ask, “Do I really love my neighbor as myself, even if he or she is a different color?”
