Willing to Learn

I attended an event on racial reconciliation this week an in-home gathering led by Men of God Fraternity to discuss how the gospel tangibly transforms everything, even the space of racial tension in the United States today (especially the space of racial tension today). These believers have faced real discrimination, and I left profoundly struck by the humility, graciousness, and courage of each person in the room; they proclaimed again and again the beauty found in Christ as we are called to be “ministers of reconciliation” in the spaces that are fractured.

Maybe you have heard the roar of social media and the news, the conflicts around race, the division that can spew carelessly to drown those in its wake? Maybe you have wondered what to do, how to engage, what to say or think as the claimed Church of the Living God? I don’t have any answers, but here is some of what was shared last night that I found convicting and helpful and encouraging too.

1. We spoke of Proverbs 31:8: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” Minority voices in the United States exist; we do not need to speak FOR them but instead ask, “How can we ELEVATE these voices so they can be heard? Practically—what voices speak into our own worldviews? Out of all the books we read, sermons we hear, songs we sing, and friends we make—how many of these are the voices of believers from diverse backgrounds? Surely, we cannot elevate the voices we do not know.

2. A statement that resonated: “When you’re ignorant to something, you feel unable to engage.” Unsure how to address the injustice others proclaim, we stay silent. Is it possible to choose another way? Could we take the first small step, choose to fight to LEARN so that we can choose to engage?

3. When we approach Christ for communion, we stand on an even playing field. Multi-ethnic communities are surely sticky and hard; let’s be willing to say, “You’re worth it.” A few questions: does the God who created all nations reign mightier than the lines that divide? Does the God who entered into our space equip us to enter challenging spaces as well? Yes, yes—we proclaim it, we whisper it, we shout it: it’s true!

I sat next to a girl whose grandfather marched with Martin Luther King Junior and suffered in jail for doing so. She spoke with kindness and grace: she spoke of the evil in her own heart, of the Grace of Christ that covers all parties. She reminded us of the biggest step: “Ask questions. Continue the conversation. Address the topic even when it’s hard.” I asked if certain questions were most helpful or hurtful, and she replied, “The questions don’t matter, really—say, ‘I want to know what you think. Can you please tell me?’ What matters the most is the genuineness of your heart. That’s what makes the difference.” We don’t need special tools or challenging trainings or “correct" questions to engage in this space: we need a genuine willingness to learn.

The evening started and ended with prayer; the evening started and ended by proclaiming Jesus as bigger and better than any conflict, any fear, any loss, any injustice, any pride. The world is shaky and fracturing, surely: God is reigning and mighty, still. May we be people who proclaim this hope directly in the face of broken systems and structures and hearts; may we be people willing to learn.

#Race #Reconciliation #Voices #Learning #Church