Through the years many have asked me questions about how to approach racial topics.
Growing up biracial in the South and now raising multicultural children of my own have
given me various experiences to navigate and explore cultural topics. As a child I was
taught to believe that people were created in the image of God regardless of their skin
color, race or culture. That was my normal. As I matured, I began to see that not
everyone was comfortable with people that are different from them.
We have come very far regarding racism over the generations, but I think we can all
agree that we still have some work to do. I believe if we put an emphasis on the next
generation and teaching and living out a united stance regarding culture and race, we
will see a considerable shift in racism. Most of us learned about race from our families
and other people of influence in our lives when we were young. If we can influence the
thinking on the playground, we can shift the nation in days ahead.
So, what does this mean for Christians that are parents, leaders, and influencers of the
next generation? Here are a few practicals that might help:
1. Read the Bible: I know this sounds simple but Christians never graduate from
needing to read and understand the Scriptures. We need to understand God’s desire for
unity in the church. We can do nothing apart from Him. Understanding that unity was
God’s idea and not ours is a great starting point! The Scriptures point us towards what
He wants and then the church partners with God. We won’t know what to do without
reading His Word. Include your children in this; show them Scriptures about unity and
God’s unending love for all people. This will make great impact on them as they grow
and mature into adulthood. Give kids a Biblical view on culture and it will follow them
into adulthood.
2. Pray: The church needs to pray. Again, this seems elementary but we complicate
some things unnecessarily. All throughout Scripture, we see men and women of God
pray for future generations. When we pray now, we are praying not only for our sons
and daughters but also for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s generation. I
pray that my kids and grandkids can’t really comprehend what racism is. That they
would live in a nation where it is a thing of the past and that the church will be leading
the way in that reality. Prayer can simply be asking for God’s help. Again, no need to
complicate this. We need the Holy Spirit to help and empower us to walk in humility and
love people of different cultures. Invite your children to pray with you for your family, for
themselves and for others specifically related to race and learning to love who God is.
3. Cultivate relationship: Relationship is essential to community. Take stock of your life
and the people in it. Ask the Lord if you are truly reaching out to those that are different
from you. Most of us don’t, simply because it can feel awkward and because it feels
safer to be around those that are like us. If we want to see racism end, we simply
have to start being ok with being uncomfortable. Reach out, ask someone to coffee or dinner, have a play date, and be intentional about building friendships with those from
different cultures. The next generation needs our leadership in this. As young ones see
adults reaching out, they will follow suit. Multicultural friendships, churches,
neighborhoods, and families will be the normal.
4. Celebrate cultural diversity: It is possible for the church to be one and still be unique
in our makeup. God is a Creator and a Designer. He made different colors, foods,
smells, languages, music, etc., for us to enjoy. I like to encourage friends and family to
learn about other cultures and begin incorporating different things into their home,
schools, and churches alongside their children. Making a new dish to serve at dinner,
having multicultural books in your children’s ministry and at home to read, including
different cultures on your leadership and worship teams are all ways to help the next
generation not only normalize but celebrate God’s design of different colors and
cultures. When we do this, we learn to love and we become a part of one another,
ultimately leading us into unity.
5. Stand up for justice: Racism is unbiblical and not from the heart of God.
Unfortunately, it is still alive today. The young generation needs to see us championing
God’s ways. This is how we correct and instruct a generation. There will be times that
we must raise our voice on behalf of those that are being oppressed. We need to teach
our kids to not just look away when someone is being treated wrongly but to stand up
for justice in whatever way God is asking us to.
Leading the next generation in humility and righteousness is no easy task. Many feel
overwhelmed by the idea of racism and don’t know how to change things. There is
much you can do: look at your sphere of influence, your family, read your Bible, pray,
cultivate relationships, celebrate God’s design of diversity, and stand up for justice.
These small steps are shifting and changing things in the next generation that will help
end racism for good so we can be the unified church that Jesus prayed for.
