Recently, I bought my wife a Peloton. This year she’ll celebrate a milestone Birthday (35), and its our joy to have her as our rock, friend, wife, and mommy. So we celebrated her with a new bike.
As the Peloton team delivered the bike, I became curious, “What exactly is a peloton?” Don’t judge me, I really had no clue. John, the installation tech, shared that Peloton is derived from the French word that means group or formation. It’s where we get the word platoon, as well. It speaks to the formation in which a group of cyclists form to travel well together. He went on to explain that the formation of cyclists matters because they travel further and more efficiently together. When a single cyclist travels alone, he is left to brave the full brunt of the wind. This leads to fatigue, diminished results. However, when a cyclist travels in a pack in a particular triangular sequence it reduces the draft or wind resistance.
This visual and concept was quite fascinating. Essentially, the cyclists are better together. They can travel further, faster, and more efficiently. I believe it must be the same for believers.
Together, we are stronger. Together, we are better. Together, we can change the story! When we organize, galvanize, and join our strengths; we will go farther faster and more efficiently. We really are better together.
If you follow our emails or social feed, we shared that 87% of White christians and 84% of Black christians can sense the racial tension. While this survey didn’t speak to our Hispanic and Asian siblings, undoubtedly they sense it too. We sense that there is a pain, a languishing wound really, that is unheard, unhealed, and unresolved. Our racial past has carried over into the present, and continues to wreak havoc. THIS MUST CHANGE!
To quote the prophetess Beyonce Knowles, “okay ladies now let’s get in formation.” We must join the story of God to change the experience of people.
We must root out racism. Here’s how: TOGETHER! We must join our strengths, identify the race problem(s), strategize toward solutions, and mobilize for action. Together, we can and will change the story.
Let us never forget that we are the body of Christ. One body. What affects one affects all.
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
We are being formed into a holy temple, a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. The pursuit of holiness and cruciformity are prerequisites for Him to dwell among us.
We too must reckon with the idea that we are the family of God. As believers we are kinfolk.
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:12)
We must go after this together. When we go together, we have each other to lean on for insight and comfort. When we go together, we can brave adversity and fatigue.
When we go together, we have the benefit and strength of community.
Reconcilers, we must band together to root out racism. We must take responsibility for the problem, join our resources, and gather in relationship for the greater mission of shalom and flourishing for all image bearers.
We really are better together. Because together, we can change the story.
Keep following OneRace as we continue to spell out the problem and impact of racism, calling us toward solutions, and celebrating our collective impact.
Let’s change the story, together. Stay tuned.
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Josh Clemons
Josh Clemons is privileged to serve as the Executive Director for OneRace Movement. He has built a reputation as a lover of God, builder of people, and a reconciler of cultures. Serving as both an author, professor and leading a racial reconciliation movement, Josh shares his brilliance, wisdom, and practical instruction impacting audiences in both religious and secular communities. Presently, Josh is pursuing his Ph.D. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He loves living in Atlanta with his wife Lakisha and two sons, Langston Grant and Duke Ellington.
