What if, in this current time in history, the white church sees its own need and works to meet it? My journey in anti-racism turned a corner when I went from thinking about helping other people get their needs met, to recognizing my own need for healing and transformation and a new worldview. Without addressing the impact that racial oppression has had on my own eyesight, heart, and choices, meeting others' needs only continues to be done through the lens of white superiority within a mindset that maintains systemic racism. I think this is true institutionally for the church as well.
The system of racial oppression has harmed every person. Even though white people live with privilege and power, as a people group they have consciously or unconsciously betrayed love, compassion, justice, community, wholeness, humanity, to have that privilege, power, and upper hand through the years.
When we can grieve this truth and see the need for our own transformation, we can begin to confess, own our part in the narrative, and turn and move in a different way. The words and life of Jesus can guide us in this repentance, both in values and in actions, so that we as the church might bear witness to good news of great joy for all people.
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