A Better Christian
The statements below are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of the Renaissance.
If you’re like me, these past couple of weeks have been a time of reflection and education on what it means to be an American, and, on a more personal level, my own values and shortcomings. As the movements and protests, both small and large, began gaining momentum, I felt conflicted, and at times, defensive. I felt pressured to hold myself accountable, and I didn’t like it. After all, I would like to think that I treat people fairly and that my self-awareness keeps my prejudices in check. And then I watched this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsUa7eCgE_U. This video is not new and has been circulating for a few years, but it feels almost curated for this moment in our history. He asks: “What can I do to change? You know? To be a better American.” After a week of cynicism, this simple question made me stop and shut up. I have never asked myself: “What can I do to change? To be a better American?” And I wonder whether this question is much different from: “What can I do to change? To be a better Christian?” The obvious answer at the moment seems to be: don’t be a racist. It sounds easy, unquestionable, and more importantly, right. In fact, no one ever says that racism is a good thing. People rarely, if ever, object to the statement that racism is wrong. I am inclined to believe that 10 out of 10 times, a stranger on the street will agree with me that racism in any form is abominable. But here we are.
What I am learning and realizing is that this is a choice that must be made, one that I must make – consciously, daily, always. Jokes can be hurtful, stereotypes can be wrong, and inclusion does not happen naturally. And when I stay mindful of these truths, I can be better and do better. I can be a better American, a better human being, and a better Christian. After all, I must choose to take up the cross and follow Christ – consciously, daily, always.
I feel like this needs to be said too: racism is not exclusively a white/black issue. It is rampant and affects everyone. Sometimes, it is overt and intentional; other times, it is silent, but nevertheless, contemptible. When I was a fourth year associate at a private law firm, I learned that a second year associate was getting paid the same amount as I was. She was white and I am not. I tried to justify the firm’s discrimination in my own head; perhaps she had qualifications, apart from her race, that she brought to the table that I otherwise did not. Playing the race card felt tired, cliche, and just too easy. When I began to realize that there was no justification other than the fact that she felt entitled to demand more and the firm had affirmed her entitlement, my blood boiled and my tears ran. I was mad at myself for accepting an unacceptable answer, and for naively believing that my compensation was solely based on merit and equity. But it was at this same firm, where I would hear someone make a joke about a Black colleague based on a stereotype, and I would be silent, and perhaps I had even laughed.
There is a lot to be said, discussed, debated, confronted, reconciled, and overcome when it comes to this country’s multitude of sins – slavery, systemic racism, and blatant ignorance, to name a few. The same can be said of my own multitude of sins. But there is hope for me; I am forgiven and redeemed by the blood of Christ. So where do we even start in finding forgiveness and redemption for this country?