The Gospel & Racism
As we near the end of Asian Heritage Month in Canada, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the issue of racism from a cultural and biblical perspective. As an organization that exists at the intersection of faith, work and society, the issue of racism touches on all of those aspects, and we hope to continue to listen, learn, and advocate for ourselves and for others who experience racism.
In this last year, the issue of racism has simmered to a boil because of multiple factors. From the murder of George Floyd and the violence against many other Black Americans, to the Black Lives Matter protests, to the coronavirus and the Anti-Asian hate crimes, to the killing of Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, and Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Grant, and Suncha Kim Yong Ae Yue in Atlanta. Closer to home, we have also seen a rise in anti-Asian violence. For example, over the last year, there has been a 717% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in Vancouver over the last year. Seniors are fearful of being attacked when shopping for groceries or just going out for a walk.
There are also more subtle experiences of racism that are not so obvious. Whether it be negative attitudes blaming Asians for coronavirus, or being passed up for a promotion at work, or critical comments about the food Asians bring for lunch, these are just a few instances of racism that exist beneath the surface.
So how does scripture address racism? There can be much that can be said about this topic, but in this brief post, I just want to touch on one passage.
Galatians 2: 15-16:
15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
The background to this passage in Galatians is that Paul is writing to the churches in Galatia and explaining how all Christians are justified by faith in Christ, and not through racial or cultural distinctions. In Galatians 2, Paul describes a story about how he opposed the Apostle Peter, because although Peter believed in the Gospel of justification but faith alone, he gave in to the peer pressure of other Jewish believers and reverted back to justification by works. In the story, the Jewish believers in Antioch claimed that Jewish culture, and particularly circumcision, was necessary to being accepted by God. Therefore, those who were circumcised regarded themselves as superior to the uncircumcised Gentiles, and would not associate with them. Paul calls out this hypocrisy, and reinforces the Gospel truth that we are justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law.
So how does this apply to our understanding of racism in today’s context? We see here that the sin of racism is rooted in the belief that one is superior to others based on culture and race. All human beings seek to justify themselves by something. Or in other words, all human beings seek to base their identity and confidence in something that will give them self-worth. The Gospel states that basing our justification and self-worth in anything other than Christ alone is a mistake. It leads to division and oppression. The antithesis to racism is to look to Christ alone as our justification, instead of our race and culture. We are all made in the image of God, and no one is more worthy than another based on our own ideas of self-worth.
Those who are transformed by the truth and power of the Gospel can hold to this truth, and through the power of Christ, be emboldened by this truth to advocate for self and for others who are oppressed.
