Look & Mourn: A Christian’s Response to Racism
This post was written by a Gospel Guam author & contributor Michael Hennegan.
In his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. makes this surprising statement on who he believes to be the greatest opponent of black freedom:
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who continuously advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
This quote describes the type of response to racism from some Christians that I have seen in person, on social media, and, if I'm honest, in myself.
I have been silent on social justice, racism, and the oppression of black people in my country. I cannot be silent any longer. My prayer for any who read this article is that you too will cease to be silent on this issue. It is not enough to say, "I am not racist" or "I have black friends; therefore, I am not part of the problem." It is not enough to simply not hate black people or use racial slurs, not be a racist cop or a white supremacist. For Christians, we must look to Scripture for a right response to racism and racial oppression. God's Word points us to many responses we should have such as praying for our country and using this opportunity to share the gospel with our neighbors. But one other biblical response that Christians must not neglect is to mourn.
"Mourn with those who mourn," Paul says in Romans 12:15. Right now, our African American brothers and sisters are mourning over centuries of racial injustice that continues to affect them to this day. They weep over countless murders, police brutality, slurs, discrimination, inequality, and crimes committed against them daily. Their crying out has taken many forms from social media posts, to peaceful marches, as well as violent riots ––these are all ways that the black community has cried out. Black people are mourning.
And in response to these cries, some Christians have failed to sympathize and listen. We have failed to mourn with those who mourn. We dismiss their cries because we take issue with their method of protest or phraseology. Or we ignore their cries by bringing up other issues. We support and vote for their oppressors. We choose not to speak out against racism that we see in our daily lives. As a personal example, several years ago, when Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in protest of black inequality, I felt that it was disrespectful to the flag, our troops, and our nation. I got hung up on that he knelt, and as a result, I chose to ignore why he knelt. In my ignorance and bias, I failed to grasp the larger issue that Kaepernick was trying to bring attention to. We Christians must be more careful not to dismiss cries of the oppressed for any personal reasons, biases, or beliefs. There may be a time to discuss our personal problems in the future, but to mourn with those who mourn means to set those issues aside, be humble, be teachable, die to self, and just listen. This is how Paul puts it in Romans 12, after urging believers to mourn with those who mourn,
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Romans 12:16
Not only does God's Word direct us to mourn with those who mourn, but we should also follow Christ's example of mourning over sin. There are two instances in the Gospels where Jesus wept over sin in his day. In John 11:35, Jesus' friend Lazarus died, and at his funeral, Jesus sees the sorrow that sin and death have brought upon his friends and the little town of Bethany, and he wept. And then in Luke 19:41–44, Jesus approaches the city of Jerusalem and cries over her sin and the coming judgment. Christians should weep over sin as Christ did. Racism is a great sin in our country. We see in the news and in our history books, the devastation racism has caused. And we see from Scripture the terrible wrath and judgment to come for this great evil. This should be enough to cause us as the Church to weep.
Zechariah 12:10 says, "They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn. . ." In the gospel, we look on Christ, whom we have pierced, and we mourn. We turn from our sin, to God for forgiveness and salvation. Just as Christians look to Christ and mourn, can we do the same for our black brothers and sisters? Can we look at them and mourn? Can we repent of our sin of racism?
To the black community: I would like to say I am sorry. I, personally, have failed to stand with you. I have failed to hear your cries. I have not mourned with you. I am sorry, and by God's grace, I will come alongside you now and seek justice.
To all believers: Dr. King's words must challenge us. Our silence and our shallow responses, our failure to listen, and complaints of methodology have allowed racism to continue and thrive in our nation, our churches, and in ourselves. We must tremble at this great evil and mourn with our black brothers and sisters at the great hurt we have caused them. Look at the injustice and mourn; only then will true progress and healing finally begin.
