In Part 1, I opened by exploring the perennial nature of the problem of racism, citing historical examples of its expression, and in spite of the fact that racism in the form of slavery and institutionalised segregation-such as Apartheid and Jim Crow- though abolished have not wiped out the presence of racism.
I closed off the last article by asserting that the real problem is what I believe to be a matter of the heart.
Jesus cements this point through his statement to his Disciples regarding eating with unclean hands-addressing the issue of what truly makes one unclean-
“And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” Mark chapter 7 verses 20-23 (ESV).
Even though there have been strides made to address racism that we can celebrate, my point is essentially that what has been done can’t be enough, the problem still exists.
In the 1960s –for example-in the segregated south, one of the landmark moments was when Chief Justice Earl Warren ordered all of the nation’s schools to be de-segregated “with all deliberate speed”; however Alabama chose not to cooperate with the supreme court, their public schools remained strictly segregated. Essentially, after the passing of a law, Alabama chose to oppose the decision, why wasn’t the passing of the law enough then?
And why isn’t the presence of laws not enough now? Horatius Bonar in his book ‘God’s way of Holiness’ makes the point that I think cements the essence of this article
“Love without Law to guide its impulses would be the parent of will-worship and confusion, as surely as terror and self righteousness, unless upon the supposition of an inward miraculous illumination, as an equivalent for law”.
The latter part of the quote by Bonar is what I believe to be the answer to the issue of racism “inward miraculous illumination”; one needs a transformation of the heart, as the scripture above states in Mark “out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder...”
Legal frameworks are good and necessary as well as lobbying by humanitarian groups, even the church. But essentially that cannot be the ultimate answer, since even though these things have been implemented, we still have racial prejudice.
In Part three, I will conclude by looking on the answer that Bible seeks to give on the matter.
Paul Lewis is a Staff Worker for Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship in Kingston Jamaica, where he also resides. He has aspirations of becoming a Christian Apologist and he loves reading especially topics like: History, Philosophy and Theology. You can follow him on twitter @VeritasDeiVinci
Paul Lewis' previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/paul-lewis.html
Paul Lewis is a Staff Worker for Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship in Kingston Jamaica, where he also resides. He has aspirations of becoming a Christian Apologist and he loves reading especially topics like: History, Philosophy and Theology. You can follow him on twitter @VeritasDeiVinci