Faithful Thinkers: The Scourge of Racism in America

The Scourge In America

With the murder of George Floyd, America is going through yet another devastating national event that has triggered emotions and violence rather than unity, comfort, and perseverance. Racial division and tribalism in America has long been perpetuated by those who stand to gain from America's division and unrest. As a result, so many Americans are tired of having their motives and hearts assumed to be evil because of the evil actions of a relatively few guilty people that happen to match their same physical description. It seems that this scourge has been on the rise in America. It is time that Americans come together to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn while we reason a way through the current devastation and towards a reconciled and healed future. If we do not, this great nation will fall, and we have only ourselves and our pride to blame.

Ravi Zacharias on the Scourge of Racism

In his book, "Can Man Live Without God?," Ravi Zacharias takes on the issue of racism and addresses it explicitly:

"If the scourge of racism is ever to die, it will only do so on the biblical basis of who we are as human beings as we learn to respect each person in his or her distinctive and essential splendor- granted by virtue of creation. Ironically, in rejecting any part of humanity we essentially reject ourselves."- Ravi Zacharias

The Christian worldview claims that God created all human beings in His Image, with equal and intrinsic value and objective purpose. The racism that we see in America today is the result of the rejection of God as our creator and a rejection of humans' intrinsic value. America has rejected humanity's purposeful creation by an all-loving God in favor of a purposeless accident of naturalistic evolution. What we see is the natural and logical consequences of such a rejection of reality and replacement of it with a delusion (see 6 Ways Atheism Is A Science-Stopper)

Purely naturalistic origins of any organism cannot impart intrinsic, much less, equal value to its organisms. It is up to the organisms to determine which ones are more valuable, and that is accomplished through the exercise of power. Violent clashes of warring tribes and factions are the only way to establish value, and that value is not even objective; it is only relative and is only established until that clan is defeated by another clan.

The dire consequences of naturalism are so apparent that even famed atheists, like Richard Dawkins, are saying that holding to the false-on-their-view belief of God's existence is necessary for the survival of civilized society (see the details here: Richard Dawkins' Warnings of A Godless Society).

Unless God exists and is our Creator, the whole idea of all men being created equal has no foundation in reality. However, we all know intuitively that all men are created equal, and we know intuitively that racism is objectively wrong. If naturalism is true, then nature has played a cruel joke on us and our emotional outrage, at the evils perpetrated against a person merely because of their color of skin, is nothing more than a feeling. It is not reasonable; it is not logical; it is not scientific; it is only our feelings, our opinion and has no foundation in the reality of the world that we live in.

America Cannot Live Without God

Without God, there is no endowment of inalienable rights to "all men." Without God, the foundational document (The Declaration of Independence) of America is based upon a falsehood and must be rejected. And if the foundation of this nation is removed, so will this nation crumble and fall.

If Americans are going to claim that it is objectively true that all humans are created equal, that all lives objectively matter (regardless of skin color), and that racism and murder are objectively evil, then it is time for Americans to defend that position as being grounded in reality, being more than merely an opinion or wishful thinking, but being objectively true. If Americans are going to claim that it is objectively true that justice is good and should be served to those guilty of murder, then it is time for Americans to defend that position as being grounded in reality, before more than merely an opinion or wishful thinking, but being objectively true.

It is time for Christians to rise to this occasion and demonstrate that their worldview is the only worldview that not only grounds the intrinsic and equal value of all human beings, but that these human beings are fallen and make mistakes. Yet, there is forgiveness to be extended from one human to another that has not just been commanded by our Creator but has been exemplified by the historic events of His death and bodily Resurrection (See Did The Historical Jesus Rise From The Dead?).

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

"Always" means "at all times," whether you feel like it or not, whether in pain or in joy. Being prepared in times of pain, like this one, allows us to not just comfort others in the present times of pain but allows us to prepare the path to prevent similar times of pain in the future. And ultimately, "always be[ing] prepared" allows us to present hope to those suffering that eventually all pain and suffering will be eliminated and defeated forever. (See "Always Be Ready" by Hugh Ross and "Forensic Faith" by J. Warner Wallace.)

There is purpose in Christ; there is value in Christ; there is equality in Christ; there is forgiveness in Christ, there is healing in Christ, and there is a future hope in Christ. If America rejects the truth of Christ, there is no purpose, no value, no equality, no forgiveness, no healing and ultimately no future hope for America.

Racial Reconciliation Can Only Come Through Christ

Americans can come together to work towards the eradication of the scourge of racism. We must see each other as intrinsically and equally valuable, worthy of our respect and our concern. We must enter into each other's suffering and bear each other's burdens. And while we do this, we must reason together to find the solution. We must recognize that what is false cannot stand in reality. But, thank God, the Christian worldview that allows for the scourge of racism to be eradicated, is true. We just need to prepare ourselves to defend the truth of Christianity in our discussions with others, so that there is, indeed, the possibility of seeing racism defeated in America. Once more, Ravi Zacharias:

"I am convinced that all our attempts to change the letter of the law and to reeducate people have been, and are, merely band-aid solutions for a fatal hemorrhage. The system will never change because our starting point is flawed. The secular view of man can neither give the grandeur that God alone can give, nor can it see the evil within the human heart that God alone can reveal and cure, for atheism implicitly denudes each individual of the grand image God has imprinted upon His creation...The grace of forgiveness, because God Himself has paid the price, is a Christian distinctive and stands splendidly against our hate-filled, unforgiving world. God's forgiveness gives us a fresh start."

For more on this topic, see these posts:

Other great sites and blogs that discuss a more reasoned approach to dealing with political issues (even if that is not necessarily their main focus):

Alisa Childers (focuses on progressive Christianity and its effects on theology and culture, including politics)
All The Things (focuses on all things Christian in culture and often discusses critical race theory, social justice and their effects on culture and politics)
Center For Biblical Unity (Brand new ministry that focuses on racial reconciliation through Christ contra Critical Race Theory)
Cross Examined (apologetics ministry of Dr. Frank Turek, co-author of "Legislating Morality: Is It Wise, Is It Legal, Is It Possible")
Free Thinking Ministries (focuses on God's existence but discusses moral issues and how they affect culture and politics)
Neil Shenvi Apologetics (focuses heavily on critical theory and social justice and their effects on racial reconciliation and politics)