We Have a Race Problem
We have a race problem in our country. The recent incidents in Georgia and Minnesota are the latest in a series of incidents that, before the prevalence of mobile cameras, were hidden in plain sight.
The killing of a young African-American man in Georgia looked way too much like a modern day lynching. The shooters claim they were defending a vacant home under construction from someone who constantly stopped by the site. Let’s say for arguments sake that the young man had bad intentions when he visited the construction area (although it appears that he was just looking for a drink of water!). But what if he was looking to commit a crime? The Supreme Court rightly ruled that no one can use lethal force to protect property whether it be one’s own or someone else’s. One can only use deadly force to guard a life because the Court found that no “thing” is worth the life of a human being. The fact that the shooters believed that a house under construction in their neighborhood was more valuable than a fellow person is chilling.
What about the incident in Minnesota where a man was pinned to the ground by a police officer with his knee on the detained gentleman’s neck?
I worked as a prosecutor in upstate New York and I worked with really good police officers who were paid too little for risking their lives. I also worked with those who had no business being cops because they were bigots. Of course, any large group is going to have a percentage of those with views that are based in ignorance, hate or both. Yet, most are not armed by the government with the authority to take your freedom. The incident in Minnesota has yet again brought to light the necessity of vetting those who more often than not only want to do an honorable job honorably.
I want to say two things about these incidents: (1) the evangelical church has spoken out boldly for the protection of innocent life and it should be commended for it but it should also speak to the taking of lives whether by individual citizens or representatives of the government when race was clearly at issue. The church should seek to protect the rights of minorities as zealously as it has to save the unborn; (2) As the great preacher Dr. Tony Evans has stated, “Racism isn’t a bad habit; it’s not a mistake; it’s a sin. The answer is not sociology; it’s theology.” In other words, it is Biblically based evangelism and discipleship that is the only cure for our nation’s race problem.
The only way to approach the cross with faith is as a sinner and the only way to live once one has made that journey is as a humble servant. I thank God for the legislation that has passed over the last fifty odd years but the only real answer to our race problem is revival fueled by good theology. It is only when a sinner is heartbroken by the cross so that they follow Jesus as King and view every word of Scripture as a command that racism will fade from their purview. It is only when we see all people as either unrepentant sinners in need of Christ and repentant sinners as family that we will begin to make progress beyond ballots and “safe spaces.”
I urge any preacher reading this to speak out and all of my fellow Christians to pray for revival and to get busy sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. It really is our only hope.
