Systemic Racism and the Church – By Rev. Michael Giese, STM

I recently read an article titled: “How Critical Race Theory Captured the Church” by Giles Udy1. This article leads with a quote by Archbishop of the Church of England, Justin Welby, who stated: “I’m ashamed of our history and I’m ashamed of our failure. There is no doubt when we look at our own Church that we are still deeply institutionally racist.”

This is quite an accusation against Christ’s Church. The response by the Church of England’s Anti-racism Taskforce was equally as bold: “Theology of the heart of the church is its body of belief.” Therefore: “the objective [of the church] must be “transforming the theological landscape”.

This conclusion is deeply disturbing. While it may be useful for the Church to examine its traditions and church culture, the first thing that the Church of England concluded was it must “transform” its belief in God.

So according to that view, what view must we transform into (or away from)? The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod takes a view that while they are aware of the problem of racism, they live in the Right-hand Kingdom and are not part of the Left-hand Kingdom’s problems (2-Kingdom Doctrine) in accordance with John 15:19.2 The two largest Lutheran church bodies who have been working on transformation are the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, who introduced integration policies beginning in 19473 and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s 2019 “Anti-Racism Pledge”4. These are two examples of how those two church bodies are serious in addressing racism within and outside of the Body of Christ.
1 Udy, Giles How Critical Race Theory Captured the Church © April 21, 2021; https://unherd.com/2021/04/how-critical-race-theory-captured-the-church/
2 Topical Q & A: Critical Race Theory; as found at: Critical Race Theory – WELS
3 Racism and the Church – overcoming the Idolatry: A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; © February 1994, as found at: https://files.lcms.org/wl/?id=2ZSjBpgjY39Eo1lH1vqCgI79YUGmfrve
4 As found at: https://elca.org/racialjusticepledge
But is systemic racism, the hate of minorities and people of color, something that people can overcome? Elementary speaking, racism is hate and goes against Jesus’ second great Commandment (Love your neighbor as yourself – Matthew 22:39) Our Lord’s “Theology of the Cross” makes it clear that this commandment doesn’t help; instead it stands in our way to salvation. We cannot keep this commandment perfectly. We need a Messiah to save us from our sin. Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

In addition, theologian Lenae Rasmussen reminded me recently that we are all one in the body of Christ – therefore there is no place for divisive hate – in referencing Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth where he urged them to: “… become reunited with Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:20b)

Secularists will tell us that all the world needs to do is create a utopia based on love. In addition, a minority of Christians will make the claim that while the sin of hate exists, they are not the problem – therefore it’s not their problem. We know better. Hate exists in our world and we live in it. Hate will not be overcome on this side of Jesus’ second coming. Therefore, it is by faith and the help of the Holy Spirit that we ask God to help us not to hate.

So what does the Church “transform” into? Nothing. Transformation is not an option. The Bride of Christ does not have the option to change her clothing to be more appealing to the world – and still remain the Christ’s bride. God’s Law still accuses and we are not given permission, by God, to lessen that accusation. We continue to trust that God is in control of His creation and our hope is not in the end of hate itself; instead, our hope is in Jesus’ blood and our salvation in the world to come.

For more in-depth information on this topic, check out this Lutheran Core article by Bret Jenkins: “The Christian Alternative to Critical Race Theory” (http://lutherancore.website/2020/09/11/the-christian-alternative-to-critical-race-theory/)