From language to animals, the earth is full of variety. Even food from different countries has a distinct flavor that becomes a cultural signature. So we can start to assume that the Creator of Heaven and Earth enjoys more than one kind of thing. Ever heard the phrase “Variety is the spice of life”? It’s because He authored all the ingredients. So I think it’s safe to start to assume that when it comes to man, being made in God’s own likeness and image (Genesis 1:26) would naturally encompass every hue on the human spectrum.

Ever since the fall of man (Genesis 3), the serpent has attempted to dismantle anything that reflects God’s presence. Humanity is his target at all times. We have an invisible enemy. His intent is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He will use anything to take us down. One of his biggest weapons against mankind is racism. When people play into his hands, filling themselves with lies about those created in the Lord’s likeness and image, they’ve allowed the enemy to win territory in their heart. He now has a stronghold, teaching people to fear, condemn, prejudge and even hate God’s own creation. You may not believe that Satan exists. That’s very convenient for him. He can stealthily move through your life, using anything in your vicinity — with no resistance from you. Those who believe in Jesus are protected from the enemy’s plans because of His covering through His blood. So though the enemy can have ideas and schemes, the Lord declares “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Racism is the plan of the enemy, but not just to cause chaos, pain and heartache on earth. See this joker knows that his time on earth is short. And he wants to take as many people down with him as possible. Misery loves company, right? If he can get humankind to be so filled with hate, disgust and rage, how can man ever see God? See, Satan wants to take away the gift of salvation from man. Cause at the end of the day he is the biggest hater there is. He is the father of lies (John 8:44) and brings confusion. It only took one question from the serpent in the Garden of Eden to help bring about the fall of humanity. So imagine what he can do by dividing people based on race. Well, you don’t really have to do you? Sadly, we hear and read about it all the time.

To me the saddest commentary in this country about racism is that many American Christians are the most silent when it comes to talking about it. We are one of the most segregated populations on any day of the week, not just Sunday. Throughout our every day lives, many Christians will only spend time with other Christians that resemble themselves. This was never God’s plan. So again, you have to assume that this is an evil scheme concocted to separate His children. Jesus even said,“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24) The church is NOT a building. It is people who make up the church, the Body of Christ. We are called lively stones (1 Peter 2:5). So if our stones are not fitted closely together and connected by every supporting ligament (Ephesians 4:16), then our work to express love to a dying world doesn’t have full effect. So when bias and prejudice run wild and unchecked in our country by God’s people, He’s grieved. How can He not be when the very people that Jesus expects to stand for the truth stay silent. There is no debating that Jesus helped those suffering, oppressed and forgotten. Many Christians are very passionate about timely issues in America (i.e., abortion, LGBTQ rights) and express those views with fervency, but the issues like equal access to education, mass incarceration and police brutality go largely ignored.

We have a pretty tainted history in the United States: genocide of Natives, slavery, Jim Crow, segregation. It ain’t pretty. Though history books may try to gloss over these sins, the Lord has not. There are repercussions for sin whether or not it’s repented. If you don’t think so, check out the story of David in 1 and 2 Samuel. David loved God like crazy, but he was an adulterer and a murderer. His reign as King of Israel started gloriously. But because of his grievous actions, his time as king went out with a whimper and immorality and death ran throughout his bloodline. There was a price to be paid. And as I ponder on the church, scripture and God’s requirement for Christians to operate as one, I can only conclude that it’s past time for us to turn back the tide of hurt, anger, bitterness and confusion that has infested our nation. We need to begin to have hard discussions, visit communities outside our own world and be willing to seek God for answers. If we continue down this path of denial believing everything is fine, we blind our hearts to what God is showing us in this season. We are born in this time for a reason. Let’s use it to the glory of God and thwart the plans of the enemy. ~~THB

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NIV)
Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.