In our current time of racial tension, some are calling upon white Christians to repent of our racist heritage. But what about white Christians who are not in the least bit racist? Should they repent?
I would suggest that many of us have been guilty of racial prejudice at some point, even if we were not outright racist. But for the sake of argument, should white Christians repent of the racist actions and attitudes of other white Christians?
The Bible has a lot to say about repentance and some of it may make us uncomfortable.
Please, my Lord—you are the great and awesome God, the one who keeps the covenant, and truly faithful to all who love him and keep his commands: We have sinned and done wrong. We have brought guilt on ourselves and rebelled, ignoring your commands and your laws. We haven’t listened to your servants, the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our leaders, our parents, and to all the land’s people. (Daniel 9:4-6)
In this passage, Daniel prays a powerful prayer, one that begins with repentance. But the book of Daniel portrays Daniel as a righteous man that was faithful in every area. None of the things he repents of seem to reflect how he is described in the book.
I confess the sins of the people of Israel, which we have committed against you. Both I and my family have sinned. We have wronged you greatly. We haven’t kept the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. (Nehemiah 1:6-7)
In this passage, Nehemiah prays a similar prayer to Daniel. Like Daniel, Nehemiah is portrayed as a righteous man but he still joins with his people in repentance.
John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. (Mark 1:4-9)
Some might say that Daniel and Nehemiah, as righteous as they were, were still sinners. It was appropriate for them to repent.
But what about Jesus? He was definitely without sin. John the Baptist offered a baptism of repentance. It is clear that this was central to that baptism. And yet Jesus was baptized!
I believe that Jesus was doing to a great extent, what Daniel and Nehemiah did before him. Jesus was standing in solidarity with his people in repentance. It was a community mindset.
I believe those who think it is unfair to repent of something they have not specifically done, are seeing thing through a purely individualistic lens. But biblically, we repent with our community.
So is it appropriate for white Christians repent of the racist sins of other white Christians? Yes! This doesn’t mean that we have to be ashamed of being white, but we do acknowledge that we need to stand together in repentance. It is all about community.
Steve, you wrote, “but biblically we repent with our community.” My question now is, without sounding pharisaical, who is my vommunity? My church family, my denominational family, my nationsl family?
I see Nehemiah tepenting with his ethnic family, Gods’ people, who were repenting as a determined people group.
Now my question is, should Christians repent of sins committed by those who are not in accord with that repentanc, and would that repentance be effectual?