Adding one, simple, single letter to the word race powerfully changes it to what our relationships as churches to other churches and believers to all believers ought to be, and to what Christianity offers that is not present in culture or society.  That word–—get ready for it, Christians–—that word is Grace.  Who would have thought that adding the letter “G” (“g”) to race would powerfully change it to what God intended for us all?

Our alphabet contains 26 simple letters.  We don’t generally consider one letter carrying more power than any other letter.  Yet one individual, simple letter can radically or even powerfully change a string of letters making up a word.  For instance, adding the letter “A” (“a”) to some words alters them from one meaning to the very opposite. Adding the letter “a” to either, that is, atheism and asexual, radically change them from belief in god and sexual to “no god” and “nonsexual,” both the very opposite of their meanings minus the added one-letter prefix.

Such a change is radical, but not necessarily powerful.  But this article is not about the alphabet, letters, or prefixes.  It’s about an issue dividing our country and society as well as perhaps not a few Christians.  That issue is race.

Despite Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasizing judging “content of character” over “color of skin,” it appears the latter for many is winning out over “content of character.” That measure is applied in diverse racial directions. And there is a growing profusion of racism accusations.  There also appear a growing number of race-related hoaxes.  Political candidates and parties are accused of racism, athletic coaches are accused of racism, comedians are accused of racism, and TV newscasters are accused of racism.  When it comes to the Church and Christians, both denominations and individuals have also been accused of racism.

This is not to deny that racism exists or that some of the above are indeed guilty of racist remarks, racist practices, or racist attitudes.  Yet to deny improvements that have taken place or accomplished is to deny facts and truths.  The exponential upsurge in inter-racial marriages and relationships and the growing population of bi-racial or multi-racial children represent a decrease in racism or racist relationships. There are other positive indicators such as the growth of racial diversity of local and national political leaders.

When it comes to the Church and Christians, perhaps it is helpful to remember both historically and culturally, people tend to go where they are comfortable with people who resemble them physically and culturally.  During great immigration influxes from Europe, there were many churches based on ethnicity, such as German, Polish, Italian, churches.  Today in St. Louis where I live, there are Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, African American, and basically white-based churches.  I say the latter because European differentiation has greatly faded over the years.  This is just to suggest cultural comfort and not racism is/was the basis for ethnic churches.  No race is  monolithic; all tend to break down by ethnicity

Sitting recently in a pew and my pastor preaching on grace, the idea and concept for this article came to me.  No, I wasn’t ignoring him; his emphasis came to bear on an issue causing undue concern for many Christians and churches–—a concern contributing to a measure of division where division should not exist.   The issue of race–—even among believers–—is robbing many of something so much greater than our racial physical or cultural differences.  This is the thought that came during that powerful sermon: Adding one, simple, single letter to the word race powerfully changes it to what our relationships as churches to other churches and believers to all believers ought to be, and to what Christianity offers that is not present in culture or society.   That word–—get ready for it, Christians–—that word is Grace.  Who would have thought that adding the letter “G” (“g”) to race would powerfully change it to what God intended for us all? 

As Christians who believe God’s divine revelation, we know we are all under and guilty of sin.  The sin of racism is just one of those universal sins that affect all people and all races.  It should not be allowed, condoned, or practiced by any Christian or church.  And just as it and any sin are universal, God’s gift of grace to us is also universal–—available to all believers regardless of race.  Does that not impel and urge us to show such non-partial, non-racial grace to one another as well?  God, the Holy Spirit–—when not quenched–—gifts this issue of race with one humble letter, “G” (“g”) enabling us to love and accept impartially every believer regardless of race.  When we apply grace to one another, we focus on what we have in common, how God through Christ has transformed us all, and we can’t and don’t accuse whole races of people for the sins that some practice or perceived attitudes that some possess.  In other words, we refuse and resist to stereotype any race or people–—especially members of God’s and our family.

Let’s thank God for a simple, individual letter that added to a word that today causes havoc by some is transformed into a gift we give one another.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God” (1 Peter 4: 10).

Helen Louise Herndon is a member of Central Presbyterian Church (EPC) in St. Louis, Missouri. She is freelance writer and served as a missionary to the Arab/Muslim world in France and North Africa.