I conversed with a Christian leader in the neighborhood about the topic of race and kingdom ethics.
His view and attitude towards the issue of race is optimistic; in that, it makes all people equal despite having a different skin color. Understandably, the Christian leader develops an understanding regarding the history of humankind, whereby he vividly creates a thorough comprehension that all human beings are equal in terms of ethnicities and race. He bases his argument on the history of Adam and Eve and subsequently that of Noah, imparting the idea that all humans are created in God’s image to glorify and praise Him in this world (Rae 6). Due to this reality, individuals from every ethnicity and race are ultimately considered to be extended families who are critically meant to live in harmony and peace. The leader comprehends that it was God’s gracious judgment of human’s sins at the Babel Tower that consequently led to the segregation of various people. For instance, from Lamech to Cain, and consequently to the present-evident distribution of people groups throughout the world. Therefore, it is evident that all human beings are the same and were created in the actual resemblance of God; hence, the racism ordeals in society should cease.
The dialogue partner took the issue seriously and represented the opposite view charitably and clearly. The Christian leader opined that despite developing the biblical understanding regarding racial differences, the fact remains that there are high levels of discrimination in the world. Wytsma opines that “people disintegrate, affiliating themselves to those with similar racial background” (21). For instance, the leader mentions that the African-Americans are the ones that are mostly racially abused by the whites. Since the time of colonization, blacks have faced significant challenges in maintaining their status quo. Segregation is evident in the different parts of the world including the U.S. He urges that there is a need for people to respect and handle one another is a charitable matter, working towards solving other’s problems irrespective of their race or ethnicity (Wytsma 31). Thus, the dialogue partner took the subject seriously, considering and representing the conflicting sights undoubtedly and liberally.
The Kingdom perspective significantly influenced the interlocutor’s perspective regarding the present-day ordeals of racism. He begins by quoting the book of Mark, Chapter one, verse fifteen, which says that the time is here, God’s Kingdom is nearing, so people should repent and trust in the good news. Arguably, the Christian leader quotes the first statement of Jesus Christ when he commenced in ministry journey. Moreover, he refers to the book of first Peter Chapter two, verse eleven, whereby Peter tells the people that human beings are strangers in this world and that we belong in the Kingdom of heaven. As a result, this kingdom understanding influenced how people in this world as just passersby, whereby we belong to the same home, which is heaven (Wytsma 40). Therefore, since we are going to a typical home after the end of the world, it vividly indicates that we are one people; hence the issue of racial difference should not separate us.
I agreed on the interlocutor’s argument that was created in the image of God. I equally believe that every human being is special, hence need to respect one another in society despite our racial differences. Wytsma equally reiterates that “people should share and regard their neighbors with utmost respect, benevolence, and parity” (44). Moreover, I agree with the speaker that we are in this world for a short time. For example, human life expectancy is reducing drastically, whereby one cannot live even for one hundred years. Comparably, the Bible presents the argument that Methuselah lived for nine hundred and sixty-nine years. However, I disagree with the argument that racism is the leading cause of existing societal differences. Presently, there are more critical forms of segregation that are dividing people. For instance, the socioeconomic status is dividing people in society more than racism (Wytsma 71). Hence, I agree with the interlocutor this world is not our home; in that, we belong in heaven and that humans were created in God’s image hence need to uphold one another.
The critics that the interlocutor made in the conversation is the fact that people are embracing racism and hate for one another due to their skin color, yet we worship the same God. For instance, the speaker gives a critical example between the Africans Americans and whites. The majority of the members of these two groups embrace Christianity. The Christian leader challenges how one can claim to love God, whereas he does not love his neighbor. He quotes the book of Matthew Chapter twenty-two, verse thirty-nine, which champions the idea that people need to love their neighbors as they love themselves (Wytsma 56). Contrary, the leader mentions that people love themselves and worldly pleasures than they love God. Many people are attending church sessions as a norm and way of life. Hitherto, they do not do according to the doctrines and dictations of the bible. Therefore, the interlocutor challenges people to love their neighbors as the only way of defeating racism in society.
The interlocutor’s beliefs on the key terms and concepts represent the level to which evil has traversed and unknowingly held many people captive. According to Wytsma, it is Satan that brings the wave of racism, white privilege, and collusion in society (33). The speaker mentions that Satan is making the whites and the blacks feel more superior and underestimated, respectively. The speaker mentions that presently, the issues surrounding racism are mental. The whites live believing that they are mightier than the blacks, whereas the African-Americans live knowing that they are being discriminated against. He develops the example that if a white and black person does the same thing to an African-American, including abuse, the victim will prefer the white’s words as racial. Every person should stand for justice and support equal measures for specific misconduct. In the courts, the jury should cease from enacting a heavier penalty to blacks that they do to the whites, which subsequently exemplify implicit bias. Thus, the interlocutor beliefs that despite racism being evident in society, people need to change their perspective and cease seeing every whites’ mistake as an incident of racism.
The interlocutor believes that the church should heavily be involved in preventing racism in society. First, the speaker depicts that the church should conduct and coordinate group discussions about the topic of racism. For instance, the church should impart the knowledge that people are the same despite their racial differences since when children are in the Sunday schools (Rae 37). The individuals will grow upholding love and harmony among themselves. Second, the church can offer a parenting class. As a result, parents can comprehend the appropriate ways to guide their children, making them respectful. Understandably, respecting others is the starting point of defeating the racism menace in society.
According to the interlocutor, addressing racism in the church requires critical attention. For instance, the church needs to develop a system whereby the clergy is a representation of members from different racial backgrounds. It should contain African-Americans and whites, among other critical groups. Therefore, there is a need for the church to be a role model to the entire society on the ways of combating racism.
Works Cited
Rae, Scott. Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. Zondervan Academic, 2018.
Wytsma, Ken. The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege. InterVarsity Press, 2019.