95 Theses for Christian Racial & Ethnic Unity: #24

Racism is a spiritual and moral problem. . .There could be few greater miracles in our society than to find a solution for racial alienation. . . .  We live in a racist society, and it is clear that the church has been called to bring about reconciliation, to heal the wounds that racism has caused . . . . What am I calling for? To be honest I am calling for the church to a deliberate action that will challenge the racial barriers we have placed about us. Even something as simple as going to the Bible study of a different ethnic group may prove to be very meaningful. In fact such actions may be indispensable if we are to deal with segregation in our pews. The natural course of our tendency to separate may never be broken unless some of us begin to take deliberate action that challenges the way we choose to separate ourselves. American history has proven that racial barriers have tremendous staying power. Tearing down those barriers will take concerted effort. We as Christians must become part of the solution; otherwise, we are probably part of the problem . . . . Living out the ideology of racial equality is more important than stating a belief in such a philosophy. 

George Yancey, Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006), 12, 79 and George Yancey, Beyond Black and White: Reflections on Racial Reconciliation (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996), 136-138, 179.

[Read the Introduction to 95 Theses for Christian Racial & Ethnic Unity here.]