SYSTEMIC RACISM
By Bishop Cornelius Duncan
Monticello, KY. (GWN) – Looking closer into systemic racism we find elements of hatred deeply rooted in the fabric of US politics, economics, laws, law enforcement, government, and in all other aspects of society. Unfortunately, a double standard of human values exists on both sides, and in the minds of many Americans who overlook equality in all of God’s creation. The disadvantage of racism cannot only be seen among whites or white supremacy groups, but non-white or Black Americans, as well. More clearly, of course, when violence occurs within their own culture as in the case of the Tyre Nichols’ beating. This crime and other incidents that cause Black Officers to commit violent crimes against other innocent Black men must not be tolerated.
In a recent study of Black-on-black murders in 2016 statistics show an overwhelming number of blacks killed by other blacks, in a staggering number of 2,570. A number much less than white-on-black homicides. Perhaps Believers need to clearly understand wisdom in the scriptures of Matthew 7:1-5, it says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hyprocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
As well, In Matthew 5:21-26 Jesus amplified the meaning of the sixth commandment “thou shall not kill.” He revealed that to commit murder is more than killing someone, it means having an angry and unforgiving attitude towards them. The apostle John also elaborates on this by writing that to hate someone is the same as murdering them.
Believers must stand firm on the promises of God and love they neighbor as thyself. And then, in 1 John 4:11 it says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” A person who exhibits hate for others but claims to know God is lying. It says in 1 John 4:20-21 that “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
The wrongs of others is better taken to the scales of justice rather than to the violence of evil. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
No matter where you are in life never allow other people to dictate your actions. Love is a sacrifice.
Related Article: Tyre Nichols bodycam shows ‘systemic racism’ in non-White people, Black activists say | Fox News