Racism and Our ResponseSýnishorn

Is Racism a Spiritual Issue?

The world has faced unprecedented trauma and tragedy on various fronts over the past few years. Much of that has been race-related, and the repercussions have been heart-breaking. Whether you’ve witnessed it or experienced it, racism has affected us all. It’s hard to fathom where racism comes from, or why human beings see fit to treat each other abominably. And of course, everyone’s experiences and opinions on the subject differ. To understand the root of this issue, we need to lay aside personal perspectives and turn to God’s Word – and the very beginning is a great place to start.

Genesis 1:27 tells us God created people in His image. Because every single person is made in the image of God, carrying and reflecting His likeness, we all have intrinsic value and significance. We’re all worthy of respect, dignity, love, grace, acceptance, and inclusion. We dehumanise people when, explicitly or implicitly, we disregard them as image-bearers of God. Racism begins when we stop seeing God’s image in people who don’t look like us. Ironically, other people were never supposed to look like us. We were all supposed to look like God. This is what makes racism not just a moral issue but a spiritual one too.

While various approaches to racial restoration and reconciliation are helpful and necessary, it’s also time to deal with racism on a spiritual level. We need to learn to see people through the lens of grace and love, the way God does. Revelation 7:9 is a picture of what heaven will be like: filled with the reconciled people of God from every tribe and nation, unified though not uniform. We also need to begin praying the way Jesus taught us to pray – for His Kingdom to come amongst all people, on Earth as it is in heaven.

Ultimately, Jesus will wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. Imagine for a moment how different your life would be tomorrow, if all injustice, discrimination, hatred, prejudice, and vitriol disappeared from the earth overnight. And while we wait for Jesus to make everything new, we’re to live out our God-purposed lives, finding ways to build bridges of unity, love, and grace that will take all people into spacious places. We’re part of God’s masterplan of renewal and restoration, and that should galvanise us to be more intentional around racial justice.

In summary: the root of racism is spiritual. We have stopped seeing the image of God in people who don’t look like us. Let’s ask God to open our eyes to the beauty of each person we pass on the street or sit across from on the train or work with or study with or serve alongside at church. Let’s look for opportunities to love, honour, and respect them as image-bearers of our great God who displays His glory through the diversity of all He has made.