Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children
Of the world.
Jesus died for all the children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus died for all the children
Of the world.
Jesus rose for all the children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus rose for all the children
Of the world.
I seems like only yesterday that I was singing this song in Sunday school, hand-in-hand with all the others kids in my class. We sang the song, we believed the words, we were united under the grace and love of God. Our innocence gave us no room to think differently, no room to judge someone because of the color of their skin, and no room to think myself any higher or lower than someone of a different ethnicity. We were just all God’s children, made precious in his sight—until one day the world said we weren’t.
I feel like growing up in Southern California made me a little ignorant to the realities of racism and bigotry that fuels the yearning for racial supremacy—well, really ignorant. I had friends who were black, Mexican, Asian, Indian, Native American and, yes, Caucasian. I didn’t know any different. The melting pot that was my Californian suburb kept me pretty sheltered from the hatred that was still going on in the world. I figured racism was a just thing of the past, something you study in History class, and only see in movies or really rural towns in the South. I didn’t actually believe there were people in this world who were outspoken racists. That just seemed silly. If anything, I figured the small amount of them who existed kept their beliefs hidden behind closed doors and at secret meetings.
It wasn’t until I moved to Memphis, Tennessee, that all my assumptions about racism changed. The KKK just so happened to be hosting a rally the same day I got into town, and at that very moment, racism wasn’t just an idea or foreign happening anymore; it was taking place right in my own backyard. I couldn’t believe it. It was eye-opening. I felt the pit of my stomach turn. I was blindsided by the fact that not everyone had parents like mine, ones who taught me to never judge someone by the color of their skin or where they’re from, but to instead love all people the same way Christ loved the church; without partiality (Romans 2:11). Why? Because like I had learned when I was younger, we were all God’s children and made precious in his sight.
Little did I know this wasn’t out of the norm for the south, let alone our entire country if I were to open my eyes a bit. If I’m transparent, I think the concept of racism was something I didn’t want to believe, so I purposely shut myself out from seeing it even if it was in plain sight. I was scared to admit that there were people in this world who would hate others because of their skin color. I was afraid to admit that our country hadn’t fully moved on from the dreadful past of enslaving African-Americans for personal gain.
My experience of living in Memphis, Tennessee, changed my life completely, and I no longer wanted to hide from the reality of racial discrimination but instead leaning into it, wanting to learn more about its origin, and how I could help be a voice toward finding reconciliation. The only problem was I didn’t know where to start. I was a bit scared. I didn’t know what I was allowed to say or not allowed to say, or whether or my voice would be taken seriously if anything was said at all. All I knew was this; Jesus stood against injustice, and it was time for me to man up do the same regardless if I was taken seriously. It’s the right thing to do. It’s what Jesus would have done. We’re called to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12.31″ data-version=”esv” data-purpose=”bible-reference”>Mark 12:31).
If I’m honest, I think I’m just fed up with people not acknowledging the fact that racism is an obvious issue in our country; especially those who have influence within Christian culture but remain silent because they don’t want to be seen as controversial—specifically pastors.T rust me, I was that guy for a long time, but that’s changed dramatically. Racism isn’t controversial, it’s just wrong. It’s unbiblical. It seems that many of us have forgotten that the Acts 2 church was multi-ethnic. And not to mention, Jesus wasn’t white.
I’m not going to do things perfectly, but I’m still going to try. Why? Because I’d rather be deemed controversial than let my silence be conveyed as purposeful ignorance as it pertains to the racial discrimination and affliction that terrorizes our country.
“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We as Christians are called to stand up against injustice no matter where it’s from or what it looks like. And one of the most purposely ignorant things we can do as humans would be to ignore the reality of racism in our country. The local church should be forerunners in the journey toward reconciliation, and examples as to how we are to love one another without limitation.
I’ve heard the phrase “God doesn’t see color” time and time again in conversations surrounding race; specifically from white people trying to bandage up some of the damage caused by hate-fueled rhetoric and actions against people of color. And while I understand the intent of this phrase is to ensue unity and equality through all ethnicities, I believe it to fail in doing this on both ends of the coin. God isn’t colorblind. He knows my brothers and sisters of color. He knows every hair on our heads and the pigment on our skin. Every shade. He sees it. He loves it. He created it. To say that God doesn’t see color is to say that God doesn’t see what makes his creation so beautiful; we’re unique, wonderfully made, and made precious in his sight.
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children
Of the world.
Jesus died for all the children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus died for all the children
Of the world.
Jesus rose for all the children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow
Black and white
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus rose for all the children
Of the world.
This article originally appeared here.
