If you could break down the root cause of racism in one word, what would the word be? If you were given the power stop racism with one word, what would that word be? The racism issue may seem complex and impossible to solve, but it doesn’t have to be this way. When strained race relations and racism are broken down to the ridiculous, it comes down to two words that many people choose to ignore.
Luke 6:43-45“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Racism has been a part of history almost as long as humans have existed. Here in America, many people have worked tirelessly to stem the tide of racism. Names from the past like Dr. King, Robert Kennedy, and Rosa Parks come to mind. The civil rights movement had a tremendous effect on our society and finally the darkness of oppression was lifted. America isn’t a perfect nation and although the turbulent 1960s saw the end of wide spread, state sanctioned racism… the root cause still exists to this day.
I want to briefly mention that although this nation isn’t perfect and there were dark days in our history, America is a land where the playing field is now level. Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White people all have the same opportunities for a bright future. If a person… regardless of color is willing to work hard, come in early, stay late, go the extra mile, take initiative, and be creative….the possibilities are endless. When people work harder to find solutions rather than excuses, great things can happen.
Does this mean that everything is perfect here? No…things aren’t perfect, because there are still people (of all colors) who were born into disadvantaged situations. Moms are left by “men” who refuse to take ownership of children they helped bring into the world. Drug and alcohol abuse have ravaged the inner cities. When the father leaves the home, the home no longer functions as it was supposed to. When the father leaves the home, the primary provider and mentor leaves children to face this world at a great disadvantage.
Despite all of these challenges and sometimes overwhelming odds, there are numerous accounts of children beating the odds and moving onto a bright future. Even with all of the imperfections of the American system, this is still a land of opportunity for those who are willing to work hard and refuse to wear the label of victim.
Here we are forty years after the civil rights movement and racism is still with us. Race relations seemed to improve over the last four decades, but now in just the past few years, it is clear that all is not well. Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, and other major cities are resembling the old days marred by violence and hatred. There are isolated cases of a very small number of white police officers exhibiting brutality. They should and will be punished according to the law.
But here is the thing, a vast majority, over 99 percent of our law enforcement officers are the real deal. These men and women put their lives on the line everyday to protect citizens and uphold the law. These Black, White, Asian, and Hispanic officers don’t ask about the race of a robbery, shooting, mugging, auto accident, or abuse victim; they simply get there quickly to help. The overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers are kind compassionate people who took a difficult job because they care about (all) people and they deserve respect.
Anarchists, agitators, and the self-anointed entitled are always looking to exacerbate a crisis and where a crisis doesn’t exist, they will start one. The recent events at the University of Missouri “Missou” and other campuses is a prime example of the entitlement mentality of some of the youth in the nation.
These kids are attending college, living in warm dormitories and eating wholesome meals in modern cafeterias. They take it for granted that they are getting a world class education when in other parts of the world, education is a luxury for the chosen few.
Black lives Matter (BLM) is an organization whose only purpose is to promote anarchy and civil unrest. At its core, BLM is a racist group. You either toe the line and agree with their inflammatory rhetoric, or you are labeled a racist, hater, or will be shouted down. BLM doesn’t remotely resemble the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s…because unlike BLM, the Civil Rights movement was primarily about bringing people together and not about hatred and division. Regardless of what opinion you have about the events leading up to Fergusson, Baltimore or other places… what followed each event was disastrous. Instead of letting “due process” run its lawful course, evil people have taken matters into their own hands.
Agitators and anarchists burn down businesses, torch busses and police cars, while homeowners are left defenseless because their neighborhood has become a war zone where even the firefighters and paramedics are targeted when responding to calls for help. People who are bent on causing trouble come in all colors. Their “apologists” come in all colors too. But lately…a majority have been self-loathing white kids on college campuses who are whining about “white privilege and safe spaces.”
These white kids (usually 20-somethings who are bored), conjure up a self-loathing of being white because they want attention and want to be accepted by the self-made victims and anarchists around them. The reality is that any person or any color who cares enough to do their homework about the Black Lives Matter movement and white privilege kiddos will run from this nonsense. I have included a link to a video from well-known Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke exposing BLM and victimization for what it is.
http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/08/19/sheriff-david-clarke-slams-black-lives-matter-hannity-says-they-should-protest-black
Let’s go back to our two questions:What if you could break down the root cause of racism to one word? Racism at it’s very core is an issue of the humanheart. It’s the heart that devises evil; it’s the heart that is goaded on by greed and selfishness. Yes…racism does still exist but it only exists in the heart of a person who is bent on self, greed, and pride. James sums up this heart condition well and it is the root cause of racism on all sides:
James 4:-4a “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passionsare at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people!”
Deep in a Black, White, Asian, or Hispanic heart are motives. What motivates US is the driving force behind the way we treat people. If we focus on our own hearts, then the facades must fall. The facades include the violence and hatred of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The facades include the self-loathing white 20-somethings crowd… wallowing in the label of white privilege. This is pride and narcissism at its core. The facade also includes people of every color who choose to blame others for every evil in the world, instead of examining their own hearts.
What if we could stop racism with one word?Unfortunately racism will be a part of this world the Prince of Peace reigns on this planet. Although we cannot completely eradicate the evil of racism from this world, there is a way it can be purged from an individual human heart with one word:Jesus
It is the heart that looks at another person of a different race and views them as something less. It’s counter culture and not the norm for us to view others just as valuable and important as we are or to love them when we have no reason to love them. Since this value and love of other humans outside of our family isn’t normal, where does this ability come from?
It comes from a transformed human heart, a heart that has been washed and cleansed by Jesus. He alone can do this work in hearts. You can’t change your heart by yourself. You can’t march, self-loathe, protest, shout, join hands, hold posters, boycott, sit in, or label others enough to change yourself. Only Jesus can make your heart new.
He will give you a heart that looks at people of all races as created equally by God and loved just as much by Him. Resist the silly notion that you can change society and confront racism with angry tweets, posts, and speeches. While many people are screaming at others for being racists, they have ignored the fact that they themselves are racists. They chastise other white people for being white. There is black on black violence, black on white violence, and white violence driven by hatred of blacks… it all comes from an evil heart
This may not be politically correct, but it’s the truth: All races are capable of being racist.
Racism is a form of heart disease and if left untreated… it’s terminal.
1 John 4:20“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannotlove God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
If you are reading this article and sense the tension in our society and especially in your own heart in recent months, you need to know that Jesus is the answer to the evil of racism in your heart regardless of your skin color. He promises to transform your heart if you’ll let Him.
If you will acknowledge the evil, hatred, and vileness of your sinful heart, then he will make you clean. When the Lord cleanses your heart, you will then be enabled to show (genuine love) for people of all races. Don’t let the lies and agenda of anyone or anything stand in the way of total heart renewal. Below is a link to our:Are You Saved?page. Click on it to understand what it means to become a follower of Jesus.
Please write and let us know if you decide to follow Jesus. Feel free to write in if you need prayer or if the Lord has freed you from the sin of racism.
All for Him,
Howard