Ep. 311 Racism Is Not a Plausible Answer to the Atlanta Murders

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Shows Main Idea – “Every evil event perpetrated by a white person on a non-white person is racism.” Do you believe that statement? If you do, you’ll need to prove it, which you can’t. The individual who makes outsized statements about racism has a wrong view about the causation of evil. If you stamp all evil perpetrated by a white person on a non-white person as racism, you’re misinterpreting and miscommunicating the narrative, which will circumvent problem-solving. The Atlanta murder story is a case in point.

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Show Notes

You may want to read:

• The New Unpardonable Sin: Racism
• What Is Reactive and Reflective Racism?
• Rick’s Daugther Interviews Him about Racism

State of the Culture

• Typically, an act of racism—culturally interpreted and applied—is when a white person does something evil to a non-white person.
• In Rochester, NY, this past week, two black kids set on fire and killed a white man, but it was not considered an act of racism, and there was a mandate for those reporting on this crime not to tell the race of the killers.
• All sin generates from the heart, and there is no way to know the intent of anyone’s heart without future investigation.
• If you can look at an evil event and attribute motive based on the act, with no other information, you’re near God-like status—almost omniscient.
• To propagate a racist message without knowing all the facts is evil. For some, it is ignorance because they do not know how to address matters of the heart.
• The gentleman in Atlanta has stated that he is a sex addict, which is the most plausible initial way to think about the motive for his evil act.

Analytical Scripture

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1).

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them (Romans 2:14-15).

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell (Matthew 5:30).

A Plausible Diagnosis

1. The man admitted he is addicted to sex (Galatians 6:1).
2. The man knew where to satisfy his sex addiction.
3. The man had an internal morality that taught right from wrong (Romans 2:14-15).
4. The man was introduced to religion (John 3:7).
5. The man was a perverted moralist who knew he must cut off the temptation (Matthew 5:30).

How to Respond

• It is irresponsible and ignorant to present a premature message that does not align with the most current truth.
• If proven inaccurate, you will complicate legitimate racism by creating race fatigue.
• When you hear of an evil deed, here are the steps before reacting:

1. Stop
2. Reflect
3. Gather
4. Process
5. Speak

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger (James 1:19).

• Racism is real. For example,
  • Some black people dislike non-black people.
  • Some Indians dislike non-Indians.
  • Some white people dislike non-white people.
  • Etc.
• When evil happens, color should not be the first thing that comes to mind. Our initial thoughts should be that one image-bearer perpetrated an evil act against another image-bearer.
  • If the color of the person involved is the first thing that comes to your mind, you might be a racist. Minimally, you’re not thinking correctly.
• The wisest approach is to hate sin and do all you can to be part of the redemptive efforts to avoid it while speaking against it.

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).