Racial Unity

"I pray…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

— Jesus, John 17:21

Our country continues to be divided over the issue of race, and as the Elders of Trinity West Seattle, we are concerned that the division which is in the world might seep into the church as well. In an effort to preserve the unity that Jesus Christ has died to purchase for us, we have set out to clarify what we believe the bible is clear on as it pertains to race (Ephesians 1:10, 2:13-14, Ephesians 4:1-6). It is on this unity that we stand with one another and Christians everywhere, and it is for the preservation of this unity that we have written this statement.

The Image of God

We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28) regardless of race, gender, nationality, or religious creed. In this, God has equally bestowed on all people inherent dignity, honor, and purpose. No matter our ethnicity or skin color, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We believe this is true even after the Fall of humanity and that God will hold all human beings accountable for ways we mistreat anyone and fail to view them with the dignity, value and purpose God has given them (Genesis 4, Genesis 9:5-7).

The Sin of Racism

"Racism is a philosophy based on a contempt for life. It is the arrogant assertion that one race is the center of value and object of devotion, before which other races must kneel in submission." - Martin Luther King Jr.

The root of racism is sin. Our sin separates us from God and one another. Our sin causes harm and brokenness, the consequences of which perpetuates division by race even where active racism has ceased to occur. Therefore, racism is a sin that tends to be very pervasive. Racism can be understood in four ways: as cultural, with the need for repair; as institutional, with the need for reform; as relational, with the need for reconciliation; or personal, with the need for repentance*.

One obvious example of the sin of racism in our country is in the historic devaluing of black lives through slavery, Jim Crow laws, segregation, and a myriad of societal laws, biases and prejudices that have hidden beneath the surface of the systems we all participate in every day. Therefore, we unequivocally affirm the intrinsic value of black lives. This is not to diminish the equal value of people from any other ethnic background or skin color, but to stand in solidarity with the black peoples of this country due to the dignity God has placed on them**. Still, racism in America is not exclusive against black people; all races have been victims of racism from some other group. The sin of racism in our history as a nation still has residual adverse effects on inter-racial relations to this day and points to our need for gospel healing and change.

The Death of Racism: The Gospel

The Gospel of Jesus Christ ends divisions between human beings based on race, gender, and nationality (Ephesians 2:11-3:21). We believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ breaks down the wall of division between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female – that we might be one, reconciled by the cross of Christ (Ephesians 2:14-16; cf. Galatians 3:28 & 1 Peter 2:9). The basis of our reconciliation across ethnic and racial divides is our reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. In God’s future, all things in heaven and on earth will be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ: people from every culture, class, country, and color will gain an eternal inheritance as one multi-ethnic people, united and beautiful in God’s sight (Ephesians 3:6; Revelation 7:9-10). Reconciliation over racism is not a political issue. It is a gospel issue.

Therefore, while we are thankful for the Church’s involvement in the Abolitionist and Civil Rights movements, we also acknowledge, lament, and repent of the Church’s complicity in racism in America. We seek God’s healing, reconciling, and redemptive work in us and through us. We stand against racism, racial injustice, and systemic oppression in our midst and commit ourselves to the integration of racial justice and reconciliation in the life of our church.

God’s Multi-Ethnic Mission

We believe Jesus has commissioned every Christian to “go make disciples of all nations,” which means that discipleship is designed to be cross-cultural and include every ethnicity (Greek, “ethnos,” meaning ethnicity; cf., Matthew 28:19). Christianity is a global religion and by its very nature is meant to bring about the unity and peace we all long for. We lament the fact that despite the great commission, the racial segregation of churches is a deeply rooted part of our country’s history, and more than that, is still prevalent today.

Sociologists project that by 2042, the US will be more than 50% non-white. Today, nationally, the evangelical church is already 50% non-white. Yet, most schools are 6 times more diverse than local churches. Students in those schools are being taught how to live in an increasingly multi-ethnic society, but sadly, this education is lacking or non-existent in churches***. As a whole, the church remains voluntarily racially segregated. 

But as Jesus’ vision for his church takes root in the local church, we believe each church will look ethnically more like the community in which it exists (e.g., the Church at Antioch in Acts 11:19-30, 13:1; cf., Galatians 2:11-21). Seattle is a multi-ethnic city. However, at Trinity we will only reflect the community in which we live if we intentionally seek to be people who practice impartiality (James 2:1-9) and build humble relationships with those who are not like us. Therefore, we will seek the Holy Spirit and take the initiative to create an inviting, hospitable environment for all people, loving each other as Christ has loved us (1 John 4:7-21). Our hope is that over time, our church will reflect the multi-cultural, multi-class, multi-ethnic picture we see in our community and in the New Testament church (Acts 2:5-11, Revelation 7:9-12).

Racial Reconciliation and Justice Goals

Because we are unified in Christ and want his “kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as in heaven," because we are called to love as God has loved us, we must allow our convictions to lead to action. This leads to our goals for racial reconciliation and justice. 

1. Prayer. We lament racial brokenness and sin in the world and in the church, we repent for our participation or passivity in its persistence, and we cry out to God for the unity of His church and for the leaders in our society. We believe that God works in us and by us through the power of prayer. 

2. Equip the church to be people of God’s peace and redemptive justice in both worldview and practice. Meaning, we want to shape the church’s perspective on these issues from the Bible and help them discern how to take that out to the world where they have spheres of influence and power. We want to encourage repentance where it is needed and a heart of humility and ongoing learning. 

3. Partner with other churches who are not like us. Build relationships. Listen and learn, especially from those of different cultures and ethnicities from ours. Worship together. Share pulpits. Maintain unity amid diversity in both informal and formal contexts. 

4. Service and outreach. We want to meet practical needs and build relationships in the community with people who are different from us in ethnicity, class, or culture. We believe that the gospel is a message for humans that has human implications. Jesus Christ is Lord, so the church is called to proclaim the message in word and deed, bringing the light of Christ to bear in the world.

5. Celebrate unity amid diversity. Where we already enjoy participation of a variety of peoples, highlight it and celebrate it: people from every culture, class, country, and color.

Through these five goals we believe God will provide more opportunities for racial reconciliation and justice and we’re excited to see where he leads us.