Counter CultureSýnishorn

Race

Since the time of the Civil Rights Movement, some have advocated for a colorblind society that pretends our differences don’t exist. This, however, isn’t what the gospel compels. The gospel doesn’t deny the obvious ethnic, cultural, and historical differences that distinguish us from one another. Nor does the gospel suppose that these differences are merely superficial. 

Instead, the gospel begins with a God who creates all men and women in His image, a God who then diversifies humanity according to clans and lands as a creative reflection of His grace and glory in distinct groups of people. Therefore, the gospel compels us to celebrate our ethnic distinctions, value our cultural differences, and acknowledge our historical diversity, even forgiving the ways such history may have been dreadfully harmful.

Obviously, we’re not attempting to deny the clear differences that exist between diverse people. Instead, what we must advocate is a gospel-rich confession that we compose one race. When that reality is clear, we’re at a better starting point for discussing our differences.

The category of “race” as we commonly use it is unhelpful because it locates identity in physical appearance: “You’re black; I’m white.” These statements seem simple, but they’re more than mere indicators of skin color. They carry with them a whole host of stereotypes and assumptions that are based squarely on biological attributes. Simply because skin tone or hair texture appear a certain way, we instinctively assume certain characteristics about others, either positively or negatively (most often negatively). Our equality and dignity as image bearers should compel us to pursue unity with people who make look different than us.