A firm foundation

Anchoring the journey to racial justice

BIBLICAL KEYS FOR SOLUTIONS

To Deal With The Fear, Hurt, Anger And Hopelessness Exposed By Racial Unrest

WHILE MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT IN YOUR CHURCH

KEY #1: THEY WERE CRUSHED

Peter's Pentecost Message helped his listeners understand their personal role in crucifying Jesus. 3000 of them willingly admitted their complicity. Acts 2: 37a The Passion Translation (TPT)

KEY #2: THEY WERE DEEPLY MOVED

Once admitting the part they played (directly or indirectly), the people allowed themselves to feel the full spectrum of emotions: Guilt, Sorrow, Compassion... Acts 2: 37b The Passion Translation (TPT)

KEY #3: THEY BUILT THEIR AWARENESS

Asking "What do we need to do?" is the first step toward real change. Awareness is where education and repentance intersect and true transformation begins. Acts 2: 37c The Passion Translation (TPT)

KEY #4 THEY TOOK HOLD OF THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is one thing to be offered a gift and another thing to receive it. Once the people accepted the facts of Peter's sermon, in response they also needed make a change and demonstrate true commitment. Acts 2: 38 - 41 The Passion Translation (TPT)

KEY #5 THEY BUILT RELATIONSHIPS

With soul, heart, mind, spirit, and body engaged, the believers grew in true community marked by mutuality, shared experience and Divine favour. Acts 2: 42 - 47 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Pentecost is Not an Event...It is a Lifestyle! www.mydivineappointment.ca

SINCE THE UNPRECEDENTED international response triggered by George floyd’s murder in the United States, Canadian eyes are opening to the anti-Black racism that’s alive and well in our own communities and churches. It has been especially unnerving for white mainstream Christians, many of whom have little or no knowledge of the historical Black experience in the Canadian Church, never mind its impact on “lay empowerment, leadership development and the spiritual dignity essential to those who unite together as the Body of Christ.”1

In the current climate, the Canadian Church’s response has varied. We’ve noted the flurry of catch-up activity seen on denominational levels, demonstrated by the issuing of statements and making of quick tweaks to policies that have sustained white privilege for centuries. On the other hand, many local churches tiptoe around the pain of Black congregants in order to maintain a level of silence that is deafening and yet familiar. (Martin Luther king Jr. identified the complicity of collective white Christian silence when he said: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”)

The weight of “white guilt” has bubbled up and many Christians of all racial backgrounds are defaulting to a posture that shelves the hard conversations we need to have about the sin of racism, opting instead for a watered-down brand of chats on racial reconciliation.

In the end, what prevails is a posture of flight, fight or freeze that’s damaging to our Gospel witness in a world that so desperately needs the answer to all things that we have in Jesus Christ our Lord.

So, what is the way forward for the people of God as we seek to deal with the fear, hurt, anger and hopelessness exposed by racial unrest?

We start the journey by looking racism squarely in the face and then in the power of the Spirit, laying the foundation for a growth journey. Here are some pointers as we move forward.

First, call out racism for what it is.

“Racism = Racial Prejudice (Unfounded Beliefs + Irrational fear) + Institutional Power.”2 Racial Equity Tools says it clearly: “Racism is different from racial prejudice, hatred or discrimination. Racism involves one group having the power to carry out systematic discrimination through the institutional policies and practices of the society, and by shaping the cultural beliefs and values that support those racist policies and practices.”3

Ontario’s Human Rights Commission states, “Despite the fact that Canada has made much progress, unfortunately racism and racial discrimination remain a persistent reality in Canadian society.”4

Second, be vigilant. Racism can be intentional, clear and direct, or it can be expressed in more subtle ways so that even the one expressing it may not be aware. It operates at many levels: individual, interpersonal, institutional, and structural. Whether covert or overt, racism harms everyone and outrages God (Deuteronomy 10:17-19).

So thirdly, wrestle against the principalities, powers, rulers, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). Seek Spirit-filled solutions on a personal level so that you can be used of God to dismantle the structures that have been created within our churches to maintain anti-Black racism and other kinds of oppression.

Once you are able to embrace a working definition of racism and confess the ways in which you’ve benefitted from racist structures, you can start the real work. As with all things, the Word of God serves as a guide.

Through the precious Holy Spirit, we have all we need in Christ Jesus to push back the enemy. I choose to believe that if we make a decision to really live together as sisters and brothers in the Lord, we can work together for change. This is not a dream; it is a Gospel demand! 

1 Quoted from, The Black Church in Canada, https://www. mcmaster.ca/mjtm/1-5.htm 2 This definition is adapted from Terry Keleher, Applied Research

Center, and Racial Equity Tools by OneTILT For more information see https://racc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/An-

Introduction-to-Racial-Equity-Assessment-Tools.pdf 3 https://www.racialequitytools.org/glossary 4 http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/racial-discrimination-race-andracism-fact-sheet

by Rev. Denise Gillard, MDiv

First ordained with the CBOQ, Denise leads Partners in Missions and Outreach International, and is senior pastor at Kingdom City Church. As part of Baptist Women’s commitment to the ongoing work of racial justice in Canada, we sat down with Denise in January to listen and learn—all part of our Conversations About Race program. Go to our Facebook group to watch that chat.

Denise welcomes further conversation and is ready to work with your group or church on how to pursue racial justice and equity. Contact her at dgillard@mydivineappointment.ca. Learn more at mydivineappointment.ca.