In the beginning, two humans. Created by God, they gaze at one another. With wonder. With Joy, Curiosity, Excitement and Enchantment. We see this enacted repeatedly when people fall in love. That wonder. The “you and me” becoming an “us.” Self and Other, with grace and harmony.

Self and Other are essential for relationships. Yet sin taints this, turning Self against the Other. And so, discord and mistrust creep into Paradise. As Paradise is lost, history tells the story of races and communities set against each other. Racism permeates the Earth, through all of time.

Some of our feelings towards ethnic minorities arise from our history of slavery and colonialism. That dynamic of superior Self and inferior Other had long-lasting consequences for the Western mind. It entrenched an insidious, un-Biblical view of humanity – a heresy of inequality. It has left its mark on all of us. And we in the church have internalised it, unawares.

It is tempting to define racism by its extremes – the violence and hatred fuelled by far-right politics, erupting on our streets. Moreover, because we are compassionate, and condemn violence, we believe we are not racist.

However, if we judge ourselves by the measure of violence or malice, we miss the covert racist attitudes, the unconscious, unquestioned assumptions. The Oxford English Dictionary defines racism as “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism;” Assuming that members of other races are less capable, less deserving – that is racism too. As in the secular world, so it is within our churches. A Christian Indian academic talked of the “nice racism” in church: politeness with indifference, welcome with discrimination, kindness camouflaging exclusion, and civility-cloaking injustice.

Ethnic minorities are often silent, invisible people. In church, we minister to them – it is usually that way round! Their calling to serve God and the Church with their gifts is sacrificed to the heresy of racism, and the conviction that they need our help, our wisdom, and our experience. Many ethnic minority Christians talk of being on the margins – worshipping visitors, even members, never equal co-workers.  Followers, not leaders…gifting unknown, unexamined, disregarded. When a lay worker speaks of the pain of disrespect from the church she serves – that is the sin of racism in the Church.

Racism is a many-headed hydra. A contagion in our world. In the face of the local manifestations of the global disease of racism, we must ask ourselves how we should be living as God’s people.

As the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12v2, we Christians should “not conform to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of our minds.”

God’s radical call to love the stranger spans Old and New Testaments. Leviticus 19v34 calls God’s people to love “the alien as yourselves.” And Jesus speaks directly into our prejudices and attitudes to ethnic others: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”

This is one of the two greatest commandments. It is mandatory; it is not advice, or a suggestion. It allows no room for mere tolerance. It permits no indifference. It is not a mere absence of violence.

Jesus imbues the words “Love” and “Neighbour” with a new meaning by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. This is not a heartwarming story of a helpful stranger — it is revolutionary.

Jesus tells the story, knowing the enmity of centuries between Samaritans and Jews. Jesus and His disciples just had an abrasive encounter in Samaria: the Samaritans refused them refuge and hospitality, knowing the dangers they faced. The disciples, incandescent with rage, had asked Jesus if they could call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans.

Jesus’ “neighbour,” is a Samaritan. The hated enemy extends the gift of loving care to a Jew. Not a passing kindness, but all that was needed. Jesus extends the meaning of “love” to sacrificial care, as for a kinsman. And the neighbour is the enemy, the hated outsider. Jesus redeems the dynamic of Self and Other, and calls for the Other to be as yourSelf.

A Christian woman told me about a young ethnic minority boy she took into their home. He became like her son. When his family arrived later, she also took them in. She extended her house, learned their language and helped the children with their education. She loved the family as her own. The radical love of a neighbour.

So, how should we live?

We respect everyone, believer or not, as created in God’s image – as Creation teaches us. We love the Other, our neighbour – as Christ commands us. We offer respect and caring love to the outsiders. We repent of our sinful attitudes of superiority. We see the other. We listen. In humility, we learn from them. We challenge injustice – even within the Church. We build the body of Christ, the Kingdom that reflects the love of our Lord.

What is our vision? That of Revelation 21 where, at the end of time, God’s people are… gathered into a new Heaven and new Earth. What a gathering …of unimaginable diversity from, every nation, skin colour, tribe, language and people, all gathering around His throne and worshiping.  Looking forward to that? Let us prepare now!

For further reading, see the recent ICC handbook: “From Every Nation.”

*Note: This is the second of two PS blogs on Racism. The first PS blog can be read here.

Rev Dr Maithrie White-Dundas is an ordained minister in the Church of Ireland and is married to Paul. She serves on the Board of Contemporary Christianity. Maithrie is a theologian, scholar and speaker. She writes fiction and poetry, and enjoys gardening music, dancing and comedy.

Please note that the statements and views expressed in this article of those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Contemporary Christianity.