Speaking Out Against Racism
By now many of you have heard the news that a white supremacist group known as Wotans Nation is moving into Meigs County. Many people feel upset, angry, and frightened by this news. I know that I am not a native of Meigs County, and this affects many of you more than it affects me. We can all admit that this is troubling news indeed. It is disgusting, outrageous, and wrong to claim that one race is superior over another. As Christians, we believe that God created all people in God’s own image. All are equal in the eyes of God. As United Methodists, we have strong language that speaks out against the evils of racism.
The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church states, We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God... We deplore acts of hate or violence against groups or persons based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, status, economic condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious affiliation. Our respect for the inherent dignity of all persons leads us to call for the recognition, protection, and implementation of the principles of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights so that communities and individuals may claim and enjoy their universal, indivisible, and inalienable rights.”
Racism, in all of its forms, is evil. There is no room for this blatant disregard for human life in God’s kingdom. We must speak out against the Wotans Nation. There are many unknowns that many of us are facing. What can be done? How does our church respond? How does our community respond?
As we seek to answer some of these important questions, I would ask us to remember who we represent. As Followers of Jesus, we represent the God of love. Therefore, violence is not the answer. Hate is not the answer. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that.” In this dark time, let us shine the light of Christ. Yes, we must passionately and emphatically speak out against racism. But let us make sure that we do not become the darkness that we are meaning to drive out.
I’m the meantime, here is an article on ways we can take a stand against racism: http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/ways-united-methodists-can-take-a-stand-against-racism
Let us pray,
God of all creation, we know that you have formed us in your image and breathed life into us. Help us to speak out against the evil institutions of this world. Help us to stand up for our sisters and brothers who will be the most affected by this white supremacist group. Lord, send us your Holy Spirit so that we may bring about healing, hope, love, and transformation. Amen.
