George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery

George Floyd was taken into custody outside a store and killed because he might have matched the description of someone with a warrant. Ahmaud was taken at gunpoint while running by two men and shot because he might have matched the appearance of someone with a warrant. Police officers and former police officers killed George and Ahmaud because they were black. Police officers and retired police officers killed George and Ahmaud because they were black.

It sickens me how these acts lead millions of men, women, and children to live in fear because of their skin color.

After writing, I plan to go for a run and later pick up some things at a local store. If I had black skin, the stories of George and Ahmaud would put fear in my mind, and anger. I would be righteously angry that acts of explicit racism still happen at the hands of police officers.

Christianity and racism must not coexist!

Jesus commanded believers to love God with their heart, soul, and mind and to love their neighbors as themselves. This command leaves no room for racism. This command calls us to extend the same assumptions to others that we make about ourselves. This command calls us to see every human being as made precious in the image of God.

The Bible teaches that we are also born with a sinful nature. Part of this is seeing ourselves as better than others. Part of this is choosing not to love people that are different than us. Part of this is assuming someone is defined by skin instead of their heart.

We, as Christians, must relentlessly repent of sin in our hearts. We must challenge the assumptions we make about people based solely on their appearance. We must repent of racism in our hearts. We must stand up for justice whenever we see a place where injustice reigns.

Conclusion
Christians cannot be silent in the face of stories like George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. These stories represent narratives that are taking place across our culture. We must recognize the injustice inherent to these stories and protest that injustice. We must challenge and repent of our racism. We must learn to love God with all we have and love our neighbor as ourselves.