Loving the Other

By Leslie Moore

“Don’t be upset if you want to play with everyone and everyone doesn’t want to play with you. Just go find new people to play with.” It was 1998 when I begged my parents to take me out of my all Black, Christian private school to start my zoned, public elementary school education. Up until then, I didn’t understand their earlier statement. My parents were very hesitant to move me, not only because my learning needs were being catered to in a challenging and loving environment, but also because the Christian school was family.

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Houston, Texas to a middle-class family, as the second and last child, and the only girl. My mother was very religious, and we were in church multiple times a week: Sunday service was oftentimes more than just one service, and there was Wednesday night Bible study, mid-week choir rehearsal, usher board meetings, and the list goes on. Each summer was filled with traveling across the country to spend a week and a half with our church aff iliation, worship as a group, and participate in the Bible Quiz. That’s right— there was a Bible Quiz and it was a pretty big deal to defend your geographic location. My father, aff ectionately known as Papa, was not as religious and never understood the small church setting, so he found a megachurch that was a lot faster paced than our old-school small church. My brother and I were involved in both growing up. Needless to say, whether we wanted to know God or not, we didn’t have a choice.

In the Black church experience, the issue of race was and has always been a topic laced into a sermon or just a topic of discussion. My baby boomer parents only knew from experience to be cautious with white people because they had seen so much racial tension. My mother, born and raised in Brandon, Mississippi, was among the first group of Black students to integrate her high school. She was the first Black cheerleader and continued to break barriers on the basketball team. Papa was born and raised in Buff alo, New York; and although we were taught in grade school that the north was much better in terms of race relations than the south, his stories didn’t seem much diff erent. And because of their experiences, my parents thought it was important to shield my brother and I from the harsh reality that many of us in the Black community face every single day.

Now, being a parent myself, my husband and I are determined to help this country be better for ourselves, and more importantly, for our daughter. It first starts by showing Christ to everyone through unconditional love.

In Matt. 22:37-39 NLT “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” This means loving people who are diff erent from you, who have a diff erent point of view than you, and yes, even loving the people who hate those with a diff erent skin color. Our job is to still love unconditionally.

It’s also imperative for us to create diverse environments, such as building multiethnic churches so messages of God’s love and unity can be shared from a Christian perspective. In our society, it is easy and natural to stay in what feels comfortable. It takes work to insert yourself in certain settings, but this is where change can truly happen. Building relationships with individuals that may not have the same understanding as you is integral. Hearts, minds, and communities can change because of one person, but that change is most likely going to come through relationships. It’s extremely hard to hate someone when you walk through life with them. You gain greater understanding when you hear their experiences and see their humanity for yourself, rather than depending on secondhand information or media sources.

“It’s extremely hard to hate someone when you walk through life with them.”

Unfortunately, life still happens. We can’t always live inside the bubble or safety of our church walls. Race and racism are still discussed constantly in many homes. As Christians, we understand that hatred and injustices exist because SIN exists. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NIV). We have to talk about racism as sin AND remember that sinners are deserving of God’s love. Because didn’t God die for the ungodly (Romans 5:6)? “… God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV). Furthermore, we must talk to our children about embracing people who are diff erent from them, which will encourage them to have empathy. And at the same time pray for humility, as my Pastor Dr. Derwin Gray puts it in his book The Good Life: “It takes humility to admit your racism or prejudice; [and] humility has the power to heal racial divides – if we allow it.”

And yet change is still needed. Who wouldn’t want to be part of changing the world? As a Black, 31-year-old woman living in 2020, still having to protest the same things my parents, and grandparents, and generations before protested is disappointing. My maternal grandfather marched right along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the exact same thing that I have been marching for since my freshman year of college.

People are hurting and as Christians we cannot overlook the brokenhearted, for “[t]he LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV). Nor can we turn a blind eye past the most recent tragedies involving Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, Elijah McClain and the countless other black men and women who died before them. As Christians, we must continue to be salt and light and exhibit the love of God in times such as these. My husband, Anthony, put this into perspective a few weeks ago and shared, “We don’t condemn people when it takes them longer to come to Christ; we just jump in, help, teach, and welcome them in becoming Christians. We should treat people the same who are now jumping in and being catalysts for change.” Remember, as Christians, we must be intentional in loving the other and realizing one another’s humanity. The Imago Dei or Image of God is reflected in every single person – no matter their race or ethnicity. Genesis 1:27 states “so God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”

Further when we become Christians, we are seen as brothers and sisters in Christ, for “[t]here is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NIV). This does not erase our diff erences but allows us to love others just the way they are…just the way Christ loves them.

My two favorite people on earth call me Lez and Mum but you can call me Leslie. I am an energetic, talkative wife to the best husband ever Anthony Moore and Mommy to the sweetest but sassiest little 18 month old lady Arley Moore. I was born and raised in Missouri City, Texas but now reside in Charlotte, North Carolina. My most enjoyable pastimes are traveling, meeting people, talking about diff erent cultures, religions, and food. I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends who are truly family, and dreaming of million dollar model homes. I attend Transformation Church in Indian Land, SC. Follow me on Instagram @l.a.j.moore

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