Recently, the LA Clipper’s owner Donald Sterling was caught on tape saying racist remarks.  After reading the reports on CNN & Fox News, along with hearing the audiotape on YouTube (still under review), I was grieved.

Anytime I hear a report on racism, I cringe!  Sadly, racism is still a very real evil on our society.  I grew up in a household that was accepting of all races.  Some of my best friends in middle school, high school, and today are black.  By God’s grace, I can honestly say I’ve never struggled with racism.

After reading the reports on Sterling, I couldn’t help but think how powerful the Gospel of Jesus Christ is regarding this topic! The Gospel confronts racism head-on. Jesus instructs true followers to love their neighbors (includes everyone) as themselves – no matter the color of their skin (Matt. 22:39).  In this sense, Christianity is inclusive.  Every tribe, every color, and every nationality is welcomed into the presence of Jesus and should be welcomed into the presence of the Christian.  Not only should they feel welcomed, but the Christian is also called to love them.  It’s a command from the very Son of God and is to be taken seriously for anyone who calls themselves a Christian.

After reading some of the YouTube comments from the audiotape, I wanted to take things a step further.  It was terrible enough to listen to some of the phone conversation from Sterling, but to be honest, it was just as bad reading many of the hateful comments from people who responded.  A simple scroll through some YouTube comments and you’ll see what I’m talking about.  It’s OK to be angry at racism; however, we should not spew hateful remarks towards other individuals.

Concerning the doctrine of the Image of God, another reason why I love the Christian worldview is the Bible teaches all men and woman are created as equals in His image.  Due to this fact alone, all men and women should be respected and treated in a respectful manner, regardless of their actions, beliefs, skin color, etc.  Were the things Sterling said wrong?  Absolutely! Can we be angry about those remarks?  Absolutely!  However, if you go beyond this and unforgivingly spew hateful comments towards that man – what makes you different from him?  The truth is, we all have faults.  Jesus not only commands us to love our neighbors, but takes it a step further:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.  For He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have” (Matt. 5:43-46)…

The beautiful thing about Christianity is that Jesus frees us to love and forgive those who have wronged us.  This was not just some good moral teaching from Christ; He backed it up with His blood.  The Bible says that while we were yet sinners, Christ came and died for us (Rom. 5:8).  Jesus came to be the substitution for humanity’s sins.  It’s His forgiveness that frees me to be able to call what Sterling said wrong, oppose what he said, call for justice, but then go a step further and forgive him from my heart.  Not only this, but I have actually been challenged to pray for him.  I’m praying that God would truly remove every form of racism from his heart.  We should be honest about what happened – it was wrong and should not be tolerated.  Yet, we should go a step further:  forgive Sterling from our hearts and praying that God would change his heart.  In the process of praying for those we do not want to forgive, you might be surprised what He does with your heart!

What about you?  Do you have racism in your heart?  If you do, I encourage you to take it to Jesus.  Ask Him what He thinks and feels about people who are from a different nationality than you.  He loves them deeply, just as He loves you!  We should never condone sinful actions.  We stand against them and call for justice just like Martin Luther King.  Christ frees us to forgive and love our enemies.  He frees us to pray that the God of all mercies would free them from every hint of racism.  Will you pray with me for Sterling?  And if not, examine your heart.  Ask yourself why you cannot.  If Christ chooses to forgive you for everything you’ve ever done, then should we not do the same to others?  We should and can, thanks to His sacrificial death on the cross!