by Darnell Whitfield

After hearing the President of the United States this past Monday speaking about the tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia, I have come to the conclusion that we are in a terrible state.

We all know that racism exists and has existed throughout the world’s history. When you look at the Holy Bible and see the interactions of the Jewish people and the gentile nations that surrounded them, we see that there was a separation of gentile and Jew.

Jesus communicating with the Samaritan woman at the well is profound because it shows that Jesus cared about the fallen state of man and not the race of a person.

Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind, not just His nationality, the Jewish people, of which is in stark contrast to the beliefs of the American church, which used the Bible to keep slaves in the mindset that they were the property of a man.

Now here it is the 21st century and we are still grappling with the idea that one race is superior to another, and this is totally false.

In the Constitution of the United States, it states that “all men were created equal.” They [the writers] may have had their minds made up that all Caucasians were equal; however, God in His infinite wisdom and power had them to write the words that all men were created equal because we are.

Every black, white, brown, red or yellow man was created equal!

Correct me if I am wrong, but we all bleed red blood, we all breathe through our noses and mouths, we all intake food and drink to give us energy and dispel the burnt energy.

God created MAN, and the only reason that we are so many colors is that man had to adapt to his surroundings, people in cool or cold temperatures skin became lighter, and the harsh, intense heat of the sun produced people with darker skin.

I grew up in a section of Newport News, Virginia, where people of differing races and religions abounded. Were there racists where I grew up? Of course there were.

My mother taught me that there are people in the world that don’t like a person because of their color, religion and views, but I was to carry myself with dignity, and she let me know that if I am not respected then I don’t have to give them respect.

Let us understand that sin is the catalyst for hate.

True Christians don’t hate. Men, women and children of God love each other.

We are in the similitude of our Heavenly Father, who is recorded in the Bible, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

God so loved the world, and so we are to love each other as He loves us.

We have only this planet to live on called earth, and we must learn to coexist on it.

The reason we hate one another is because we don’t love ourselves, even though we think that we do.

If we, black Christians, white Christians, Asian Christians, Latino Christians — all Christians — would stand together in unity, humbling ourselves in prayer, taking action against hatred and destruction and making sure that God speaks to the world through us, it wouldn’t matter what the president says, because God trumps the White House and triumphs over sin in every aspect.

Ephesians 5:8-17 states the following, “8 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

My friends, God’s will is love, so wake up from your sinful sleep and arise in love.

May God richly bless you all!

DARNELL WHITFIELD is senior pastor of Diamond Grove Baptist Church in Franklin. Contact him at 742-1343 or revwhitfield@me.com.