“Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.”
Luke 18:40-41, 43
Thank God for ‘White Allies’. Seriously. The task of convincing a nation of white people, who have never known that their being white was weaponized against people like me, is tedious and honestly, very unfruitful at times. While there are so many white folks who choose to adopt the spirit of ‘Luke 9:23-25’ there are many who do not know they are ignorant and in need of a reformation of values. ‘White Allies’ are tangible and real examples that white people can go through a reformation that leads to lasting change.
Yet, there are other kinds of white people who, not only being ignorant, weaponize that very thing that has led to so much pain and death: Arrogance.
Now we all have points of pride in our lives. I especially do. Let me lose a game of Madden to my pastor friend, Daniel, and I will go silent and find the smallest glitch in the game to complain about instead of addressing the thing served me that (rare) fresh ‘L’: My Skills.
So I know what it is like to let pride take you away from addressing the actual problem. It is uncomfortable for any of us to admit that we are the root of any issue in our society, a relationship or a friendship. But in order for us to have healthy communities we must be willing to put on the aroma of Christ and humbly ask for forgiveness, and help, when we are wrong.
That is *not* the spirit of ‘White America’ concerning racism and systemic oppression. It is quite the opposite. When there are moments of Black progress in America, ‘White America’ responds with swift, dangerous and damaging acts of violence (See: Tulsa, Redwood, Seneca Village, the Obama Presidency, etc).
As a Black man, who is a devoted Christian, it is very difficult to engage in this work, on a second-by-second basis, because the overwhelming consensus of white people who believe that I am: divisive, angry, unbiblical, a bully, etc. Pick one.
Yet, most white people (I know you’re reading this) who disagree with me simply say nothing. They kept their comments to themselves, ‘like’ a Facebook or Instagram comment of a white person publicly disagreeing with me, and then engage with my writing, podcast or videos at home with a loved with and deconstruct what I am saying in private. All of that is fine.
Yet, this letter is to highlight the scripture above. Jesus asked the man, “What do you want me to do for you?” I’ve always found this story to be interesting because of how Jesus worded his question. “What do you want me to do for you?” leaves the options open-ended to the person in need of God’s help. It is almost as if Jesus is saying, “There are many things I COULD help you with but what solution are you looking for right now?”
The man responds, “I want to see.” and so Jesus opens his eyes, IMMEDIATELY, and light begins to pour into his once barren eyes. A whole new world is open to him and instead of refusing it, he accepts it. The sight was so wonderful that it led him to begin praising God for the miracle AND (I imagine) because of the beauty of what could now see.
White America, I believe that Jesus has been asking you, “What do you want me to do for you?” in regards to the blindness of racism but too often you’ve not wanted to see. Seemingly because of what it would require you to acknowledge that you are in some way complicit with the disenfranchising of black men and women in the United States.
White Christians, this is where the courage comes in. It’s takes true bravery to acknowledge racism and to do the hard work of dislodging it from your own living and thinking.
Yet, Jesus says that he is able to make you see. Immediately. I am writing this letter, not so much as an encouragement, as a reminder.
A reminder that God is able.
A reminder that peace is accompanied by justice.
A reminder that anything that interferes with us knowing God and celebrating Him is an idol and must be cast down to the pit of hell. Racism is that thing that must be cast down.
We are all made in the image of God. Anything that interferes with us acknowledging that is sin.
I hope that you as you seek Jesus today and he ask you, “What can I do for you?” that you keep in mind there are black men and women hanging from trees in 2020 America. Anti-Racism, for the White Christian, is an act of repentance that will lead to the eradication of white supremacy and racism.
But it requires you to be able to see.
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