I’m Not A Racist!

Psalm 139:23-24 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” 

As a secondary school teacher, I facilitate learning that is not always to do with Drama or Maths. Sometimes the learning is: ‘This is how we talk to people when we’re angry’ or ‘This is how I cope with disappointment’ or even ‘This is not how to talk to Ms Rai when she’s asking where my homework is!' But one of the biggest lessons that our young people learn (and all people for that matter) is how to react to just criticism and to accept when we’ve got something wrong. That lesson is a lot easier, for example, when it’s an essay that needs adjusting. I am the teacher: I have gone to university to study this topic, there is a clear knowledge gap between myself and the student, they know I know what I’m talking about and that my advice and instruction is going to help them. 

However, I have found that nothing gets a stronger defensive position than the phrase ‘that’s racist’ or even more so, ‘what you just did or said is racist’. Racism is evil, in no uncertain terms, but that means people associate racism with the most evil of acts. That 'lens' leads to the perception that good people can’t be racist, because racism isn’t good.  

Let me call that out now – kind, loving, generous people can be racist. Some consider being accused of racism, being called out for racist comments or behaviour, horrifying. I would argue suffering racism is worse. 

We live in a racist world, with structural systems that dictate the way we see and treat others. Everyone is at least a little bit biased. But as Christians, we seek to imitate Christ in all things, and are called to love others as he did. That means finding and eliminating our prejudices, in whatever form they take.  

Prayer — Let me urge you today to pray the words from Psalm 139 to God. Ask him to show you if there are any prejudices, biases, ignorance, that hurt others. Having those things means nothing more than being human; facing them and looking to change them is part of following Christ.