Children of God

Some days, there’s nothing that really stands out or speaks to me when I read my Bible. Other days, like today, the words on the page completely captivate my heart. The entirety of the first few verses in Hebrews 13 say, “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.³ Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

I love every point made in these instructions, but the last sentence commanded my thoughts. I stopped what I was doing and meditated on the words God gave us. We live in a world riddled with judgemental people. There’s a great lack of compassion and consideration for others – especially those not like you. Different skin colors, different cultures, different incomes and different upbringings. We’re so averse to anything different than what we know, we end up pushing others away and causing further division.

A repeated phrase in our household is “We’re All God’s Children.” I want my kids to know that all life originated from the same man and woman, and it was God’s purposeful creation. No one is better or worse than anyone else, no matter how different. Our differences are what make us unique, and they should be embraced.

To take this thought a little further, I want to expand on an issue I think about a lot. I grew up in a middle/upper class town in the Deep South. There is not much diversity here and especially in the school system I went through, we were not encouraged to embrace those who are different than we may be. I understand that it’s easy for people of a certain class association to get comfortable. You embrace your success, your financial increases, and your abundant opportunities with a sense of entitlement. Because you’re taught that you are supposed to have these things. You expect to go to college, get the job you apply for, and have help to get started on your climb to the top. In my opinion, your priorities become skewed and your life focus is primarily on yourself.

I want to challenge our society to view other’s struggles as our own. This is God’s instruction, not my speculation. Many white people tend to view the term “White Privilege” as a formulated concept of exaggeration. I’ve seen my friends or family members voice their particular struggles and attempt to validate the concerns they have about life. This is not to say that white people don’t experience hard times, but please keep your perspective open to the fact that others have it much, much worse than you ever possibly could. As a Caucasian citizen in the United States, you are privileged beyond belief.

If you can go to the store without being targeted or unjustly killed for your skin tone, you are privileged. If you don’t have to raise your children to be cautious of the police because they are trained to fear you and won’t hesitate to shoot you, you are privileged. If the elderly lady at the park smiles when she passes you instead of clutching her purse, you are privileged. If your public school has adequate funding and well-trained teachers and abundant supplies, you are privileged. If your neighborhood has clean water, uncontaminated soil and active public services, you are privileged. If you don’t have to educate your family about actual events in history that are purposefully left out of textbooks because they were written by someone with a different skin color, you are privileged. If you don’t have to protest and fight for inherent rights that all citizens are legally entitled to, you are privileged.

I am a Caucasian female. My children’s father is a beautiful mix of ethnicity – African American, Native American, and Caucasian. I teach my children that there is no such thing as ‘White People.’ White is not a race. The only race is the human race. The correct reference would be Swedish, German, French, etc. as determined by their ancestral origination. Just like there is no such thing as ‘Black People.’ Black is not a race. The correct reference would be Ethiopian, Gabonese, Haitian, etc. as determined by their ancestral origination. People are not White or Black. They are God’s Child. These are blanket terms created to divide people so they can be conquered. And unless you are a full blood Native American, you did not originate from the United States.

We are a mixing pot of immigrants from around the world. This is the beauty of our country – historically, you could travel from any oppressed or economically undeveloped country and make a new life in the United States. Also a historical fact, European settlers stole Africans from their motherland and forced them to labor without pay for hundreds of years. These slave owners believed their slaves were beneath them. They separated families without concern, raped the women/mothers/grandmothers/daughters and forced the men to submit to their physical and mental domination. The descendants of these slave owners are going to have the same inherent beliefs as the previous generations. Time may have healed some wounds and opened some minds, but I do believe many young people are still being raised by figures of authority who teach them they are better because of their skin color. Slavery may be illegal, but systemic racism is real and very active in our current society. The school to prison pipeline was created intentionally and the myriad of associated tactics to target young African American children and families is overwhelmingly sickening. Netflix offers a lot of insightful documentaries that will educate you on these topics and shed light on areas where change is imminent.

I believe we need to teach Caucasian people about the very real struggles of African American people. We need to not be afraid of those who don’t look like us, but rather embrace them. Ask questions, listen to their experiences and learn from them. Just because slavery has ended doesn’t mean all men are treated equally. I am naturally quiet and non-confrontational. It’s easy for me to sit back and watch events take place without speaking up. I’ve had to convict my own heart and understand that if I’m not part of the solution, I’m part of the problem. I pray that God use my words to reach those who need to hear this. Follow Paul’s instruction in Hebrews and remember those who are mistreated as if YOU are the one being mistreated. That means we can’t sit back and accept things because that’s just the way they are. Change starts with you. Even if you only encourage one other person to open their mind and be more accepting of others, it’s worth it.

Parents – we need to be a steadfast example for our children. They watch everything we do and learn from us even when we’re not aware. Participate in efforts to improve equality. Talk to your family and your friends about issues that are happening currently in our nation. Educate yourself so you can spread that knowledge to others. I still have a lot to learn, and definitely don’t claim to be an expert on this subject. I can only draw from the experiences I’ve had and the situations that God has allowed me to witness. I know that my kids will face opposition and have to deal with people who judge them or belittle them. I want them to be prepared and equipped to spread God’s love. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that white people are better than black people, or black people should have to deal with oppression while white people enjoy comfortable lives.

I also understand that racism can go both ways. There are African Americans who have strong hate for Caucasians, or raise their kids to stay away from white people. I just want to help facilitate a narrative for change. Every human being has a soul, and a spirit. Our bodies are just a shell to cover what is within. The color of our skin is not the color of our heart. We all bleed the same blood and we all answer to the same God of the Universe.

There will always being people who are resistant to change. Who refuse to hear other perspectives and fight against any ideas that challenge what they’ve been taught. But I believe we should be constantly changing. Constantly growing, evolving, expanding our mind and our hearts. This is our journey on earth. We are not made to be stagnant. We are made to flourish and bloom. Let’s lead the way toward acceptance, compassion and understanding. The ancient teachings are full of wisdom – don’t brush them off. Reach out to others and fight for equality. To God be the glory forever.