Viewpoints: How can faith communities help ease racial tensions?

Viewpoints is a SpokaneFāVS feature where our writers respond to a weekly question. Readers are invited to participate by posting in the comment section below.

Racial tensions are high across the U.S. right now. A Gallup poll reported earlier this year that 35 percent of Americans are “worried a great deal” about race relations. That number has more than doubled in two years. We put the issue to our writers:

How can faith communities help ease racial tensions?

Elizabeth Backstrom: The church can’t remain silent

Faith communities are powerful sources of social and political capital in our country, and in many countries. We can use this power for good or to disrupt and divide. On the question of race relations, the church cannot afford to remain silent. I believe we must choose to take the sometimes risky step of standing with our brothers and sisters from all races and walks of life, and to stand up for them when they are being oppressed. This can look different for each of us. It can be just listening and acknowledging their issue is real, even if we haven’t experienced it.

This sounds simple but so many folks say this does not happen. It can also be joining protests, calling for changes in legislation, or standing up for people in a situation where they are being bullied. Either way, I believe each of us is called to examine our own attitudes. It is said that no one knows any racists. We never want to see our own blind spots or shortcomings, but we all have them. What are our own biases, and how does this influence the way we treat others?

Eric Blauer: We can do these 4 things

1. Move into a neighborhood where the challenges we are mourning become our experiences more than issues we hear or read about or watch.

2. Make friends or reach out to people of various colors, backgrounds and beliefs.

3. Realize that everyone has a ‘blindspot’ when navigating these matters, so be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.” (James 1:19)

4. Religious communities need to understand, teach and reinforce American values and self-understanding.

Here’s the list of topics I have taught about in our church over the last month:

Understanding the differences between pluralism & tolerance:
Understand the differences between conviction, conscience, compromise & custom
Defining biblical boundaries without compromising biblical values.
Upholding biblical truth in the middle of cultural change
American Christians should practice piety before politics
American Christians should demonstrate care before criticism
American Christians should practice justice before judgement
American Christians should cherish the gift of separation of church & state
American Christians need to understand the difference between a Republic and a Democracy
American Christians are called to the ministry of Prophet, Priest & King

St. Augustine said: “You know what God asks us to do? He asks us to be the city of God within the city of man and to love on the city of man and seek its good.”

Readers, we want to hear from you too, but remind you keep the FāVS comment policy in mind: Seek out answers, move the discussion forward, assume the best in others — treat others as you would like to be treated.