Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism

by Drew G. I. Hart

Divine power isn’t beating earthly rulers and authorities at their own tyrannical game; rather, God undermines and subverts their power in a way that to us looks very much like earthly weakness.

Somehow, American society has allowed the idea to prevail that it takes mean people to perpetuate white supremacy. We have bought into the idea that our friendliness is evidence that we couldn’t have adopted subtle antiblack ideologies so common in dominant culture.

This means that white Christians must renounce the desire to control other people’s lives and must reject the innocent savior complex, which sees everyone but oneself as in need of transformation. When deliverance and intervention is needed, the church looks to God.

There is one person who is a champion for the poor and oppressed, and his name is Jesus. He doesn’t take kindly to those who trample over the vulnerable.