Why is the Church Talking About Race?
“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NRSV) “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6 NRSV) Recently I was asked why the Church is talking so much about racism lately. Shouldn’t the church be talking about more spiritual things, focusing more on discipleship? Doesn’t anti-racism belong more to the political sphere? There is a simple answer to such questions. The Church is talking so much about racism because it would be unfaithful not to. Let me explain. The work of anti-racism is not primarily political. It is theological, spiritual. As the Genesis passage above reminds, people…all people…are made by God, in the image of God. There are no exceptions. Thus, anytime someone is treated as less than that, particularly in when such treatment is systemic