As racism unfolded in front of the public eye over the past week, many of us were outraged at Donald Sterling’s* verbal sentiments. In the progressive society and culture we live in, you would think that we have moved past these barriers. You would believe that there would be more solidarity.
Reality Check!
Has racism or bigotry ever gone away? Is it pervasive throughout the NBA, NFL and other organizations? Yes, Yes and Yes. It may feel like an isolated case because Sterling got busted and his private conversation went viral.
Would it be safe to say that racism, bigotry, and prejudice are all on the same plane when it comes to heinous and evil attitudes? They are attitudes that when demonstrated, we often become disgusted. They are attitudes that when demonstrated, our blood boils and our innate desire is to stand up, speak out against such sin. We want to defend and fight back the tide of hatred. My question though is who is left to stand and fight back when we are all guilty?
When the public became aware of the vile things Sterling spewed out, we were asking for his head. How could someone be filled with so much hatred? Sterling expressed the contents of his heart which was nothing more than his thoughts and feelings towards a particular race. I ask again, how are we any different? What are the contents of our hearts?
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34
It is human nature to judge people who are not like us. We might proclaim that we would never be as racist as Donald Sterling, and yet, we often have zero tolerance for people that worship differently, have a different lifestyle or even share a different political view.
Some of us show up to church every week with a smile on our faces but our hearts are black with prejudice. If a homeless person smelling of body odor and liquor walked through the church doors, how many of us would take the time to look after them? Let’s be honest, 9 times out of 10 we would look the other way. We may even have the subconscious thought “I’m glad I’m not like them” or “They only came here so they could get money to buy more booze or drugs.” While the latter may be true, who are we to be prejudiced towards those human beings, God’s children. Who are we, not to even extend a warm brotherly greeting or, heaven forbid, even invite them to lunch?
While Christ was on earth he was in the thick of a melting pot of social, political, religious, and lifestyle circles. From the hated tax collector or Samaritan to the Prostitute. From the pious rabbi to the demoniacs in chains, Jesus had not one ounce of racism, prejudice, or bias to any of those classes of people. How was one individual able to equally love all these people? How was he able to show the same compassion for the hated Romans as he did for his disciples?
My proposal is that we take a hard look at our hearts. Are our hearts charged with prejudice towards someone? How do we ever expect to build relationships, when we can’t get past someone’s lifestyle choice or political view? How are we going to ever reflect Christ’s character to the world when there is an element of Donald Sterling in all our hearts? If there was ever a time for an unbiased heart, it is now.
* Donald Sterling is the current owner of NBA professional team, Los Angeles Clippers
