By Ruth Burke
I had originally written a different post for this week but after the white supremacist march in Charlottesville I knew I had to respond. White supremacy is evil and completely incompatible with the gospel. But that is not what this post is about. As a black Jewish Christian I have wrestled with my response so I thought I would share what has been helpful and encouraging to me. Below is Romans 12:15-21
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me and I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”
I love this passage because it instructs us as Christians in how we should respond to the tension and naked evil that is so rampant right now.
First, we are to empathize and associate with those of us who are suffering. Being able to weep with those who weep requires that you know someone who is weeping. Right now, all those hated by white supremacists are weeping, myself included. If you know anyone in that group, the Bible tells you to come alongside them, join them in weeping, and offer them support.
Second, in our words and actions, we should strive to say and do what is honorable and what promotes peace. The Bible says to give “careful thought” to do what is honorable. So rather than spouting off without thinking, I should critically evaluate my own thoughts and actions in light of scripture. More than likely, God has something to say to me before I hit “post” on Facebook.
Moreover, hate does not promote peace. So we should also do everything we can to denounce hatred and stand up for our brothers and sisters. As Christians we know that everyone has dignity and value because we are all created in the image of God. We need to share these truths with everyone and call white supremacy for what it is – lies from the pit of hell.
Finally – and this is the most important point of this passage for me right now – God, not I, is the one who will avenge. We are instructed, commanded even, not to avenge ourselves. The desire for vengeance is a natural response to pain and suffering. However, for those of us suffering, this passage is encouraging us to pour out our pain to the Lord. While we should be filled with a righteous anger at the injustices and hatred of the white supremacist movement and ideology, this anger absolutely must not move us beyond seeking justice in a way that glorifies God.
We should call out evil by name, protest, ask our leaders to publically denounce the evil of groups like the KKK, stand up for democracy and human dignity, and seek changes to our nation and government. Throughout history God has used his people to directly confront injustice and sin. For example, John the Baptist called the Pharisees a “brood of vipers” and called them to repentance for their sins (Mathew 3:7). However, in all our efforts, we must never be motivated by a desire to hurt those who hurt us or seek to inflict pain. At that point we move beyond speaking the truth in love into vengeance, which is God’s territory.
I spent a lot of time in Proverbs and Revelations this week and was so encouraged by what I read! The Lord “tears apart the house of the proud” (Proverbs 15:25) and “the one who sows injustice will reap disaster” (Proverbs 22:8a). God has prepared a punishment more awful than I can imagine for those who delight in wickedness. The day of the Lord is coming!!
Until that day, you and I are to bless our enemies. We are to overcome evil with good. We are to plead the cause of the orphan, the widow, and the fatherless. We are to seek justice for those who have no voice, for the oppressed. We are to fight evil in all its forms, including white supremacy. And we are to eagerly await the day when God will punish the wicked for their sins, reward the righteous for their faith, and make all things new. Come quickly Lord Jesus!!
“Speak up for those who have no voice,
For the justice of all who are dispossessed
Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.”
Proverbs 31:8-9