Shame and Racism

 

    I’m working this week on a sermon comparing guilt to shame.  Shame, as I’ve come to understand it has to do with who we are. Yes, we feel shame and are shamed by others, but shame is an identity. Whereas guilt is about something we’ve done.  Guilt has to do with being guilty over a crime or sin I’ve committed. 

    All of this has brought the issue of racism into my mind. Racism is about shame.  Racism attempts to take a person and identify them with negative stereotypes.  It becomes about who they are.  

    It may also have to do with guilt.  We make people feel guilty for their skin color.  We say “all such people do this.”  It also becomes an issue of what someone does, i.e. guilt.  

    Why? Why do we do this to other people? Why do we make someone feel bad for who they are?

    I grew up in a majority white neighborhood and went to a majority white school. I had friends in high school who were Asian but none black.  My college was mostly white, my Seminary the same.  Do those facts make me racist? I don’t think so but I don’t know.  

    Recently I talked to some friends who have felt discriminated against. It honestly broke my heart.  The closest I’ve experienced that was in Uganda when I was the only white person for miles. But that was only for a week.  Their stories were heart wrenching for themselves and for their kids.  I think if we all stopped to listen to stories from real people, from our friends, we would want to be different!

    Jesus met with men and women. He talked with Jews, Greeks, and Samaritans.  He sent his disciples out to all the nations.  Heaven will be filled with people from every tribe, language, and nation.  Am I ready for that?  Does my life reflect heaven now?  Am I loving those different than me? Are you?

  Church, how should a Christian respond to racism?