“Having been liberated by Christ from the penalty and tyranny of sin, we are now surrendered as slaves to Christ. There is humility in surrender. As a person or a people wave the white flag of surrender they say to the world ‘I surrender the idea under which I used to march. I surrender the allegiance I had to the idea for which I fought.’ The question of the Christian call, is are we willing to do that?” — Carmen Fowler LaBerge
Flags are flying at half-staff in America. Again. This past week, our country was again torn apart with acts of violence. America is existing in a fractured state. During times of grief and anger, it is easier to retreat into our own like-minded and homogenous-looking communities rather than risk reaching across divides. It is more comfortable to assign blame than examine our own hearts.
For those who are Christians, there’s a deep heartbreak and great responsibility. Division and emnity break the heart of God and so, break our hearts as well. God cares about justice and mercy and equity and truth. And while we do not rush to judgement, neither do we cover up injustice. Racism is real and it has plagued humanity for millenia. Here in the United States, racism is complicated by a history of race-based slavery for which some Christians provided justification.
That means that Christians today, of all racial backgrounds, have a heavy burden of responsibility and a mutual call to leadership as peacemakers. We must work together to change unjust systems and alleviate the misery of the oppressed as mutual burden bearers. And we must also die to self – each of us and all of us – submitting our personal preferences and comfort for the good of the Body of Christ and the glory of God.
As flags fly again at half-staff, let’s use the Confederate Flag as a point of conversation.
Listen to related podcasts from The Reconnect with Carmen LaBerge:
The Reconnect 7-8-16: A wrap up of the week: ambush kills five police officers in Dallas;
The Reconnect 7-6-16: In Baton Rouge, Alton Sterling was shot and killed in an altercation with police, and a bystander’s video of the shooting has gone viral. Trillia Newbell joins us to discuss what believers can and must do to lead in racial reconciliation.