What the Gospel Says About Racism

Race 2

It is our duty as Christians to boldly and relentlessly proclaim the truth of the Gospel and align our lives with the Gospel. In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul lovingly rebuked Peter and others for their racism and prejudice. Their behavior and hearts were “not acting in line with the truth of the Gospel.”- Galatians 2:14 This Gospel is that Jesus came to abolish sin. He came to unite all of humanity through His blood and to create a new people that can love one another from complete genuineness of heart and deep brotherly affection (Ephesians 4 & 5). The Gospel helps us see that because of Christ, every soul, person, and being is valuable. Because of Christ, we can love people that physically may not look like us, speak like us, grow up like us, be the same age as us, speak the same language as us, or have the same experiences as us. Because of Christ, real LOVE, not hate, can prevail. How? Because in Christ we are ALL CHILDREN OF GOD, THROUGH FAITH (Faith demonstrated through repentance and obedience by water baptism for remission of sin, Romans 6:1-6). MY CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US IS TO ALWAYS SEEK TO ACT, SPEAK, AND LOVE IN LINE WITH THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL. For the Gospel is the solution to SIN, even the sin of RACISM

My Story

People may see my caramel and light brown skin and wonder my historical background and story. Here’s the truth. I have several blood lines running through my veins.  My great grandmothers and great grandfathers were on both sides of the fence, or I should say, plantation. Many of my grandmothers were raped by the slave owners. Which would make the slave owners, biologically my grandfathers. So, my blood line consists of those who owned the plantations, those who slaved inside the plantations, those who slaved outside on the plantations, and those who were killed on the plantations. Many of my ancestors were taken on boats from Africa and stripped of their dignity, while simultaneously my other ancestors were the ones who took them, stripped them, and enslaved them. If I’m honest, so many parts of my history and my story grieves me. However, I still embrace the reality, that I, Ashley Moneet Williams, have been affected by all my experiences, whether good or bad. They all have served a part in shaping me into the woman I am today.

I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, where I was surrounded by love and deep black culture. But, even at a young age, I was taught God and taught to love all people, even those who didn’t look like me. At age 11, my family and I moved overseas to London, England because of my dad’s job. While overseas, I was exposed to many different nations, cultures, and people made in the image of God. People such as, Italians, Germans, British, Spanish, Australians, Ghanaians, Nigerians, South Africans, Chinese, French and the list goes on and on. This exposure allowed me to see the complexity of humanity and how God made us all uniquely different, but still all beautiful. This exposure also helped me see just how real the sin of racism and prejudice is, not just in America, but worldwide. Through my experiences, I learned how to adapt, communicate, & relate to those who were physically and racially different from me. It wasn’t easy because of the societal injustices, prejudices, and mistreatments. However, God, through His great love and strength, helped me THEN and is still helping me NOW. 

I’m extremely humbled by my history and my experiences. But you know what? I’m even more humbled by “His-tory”/Christ Story. Because of Christ, I have a greater blood line flowing through me that supersedes any other blood line. I also have experienced a greater exposure than all my other exposures. I was exposed to Christ love and forgiveness through obedience to the Gospel, by water baptism (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-6). As a result, by faith, the blood of Christ runs through me, empowers me, and connects me to fellow heirs of God’s promise.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of His grace.”-Ephesians 1:7

In Christ, I am a new creature and because of Christ, I have a new mind, a new heart, and a new purpose (2 Cor 5:17). I don’t have to respond or act out of my flesh, but I can be empowered and led by His Spirit. I don’t have to leave room for hate within my heart because Christ love can occupy all the space in my heart. If I continue to allow the love of God to flow within me and through me, how can I allow racism or continual disdain toward anyone be a part of my life? It is my duty as a Christian, to show the world what love is, even when it’s hard, even when it hurts, and even if it’s not reciprocated. That’s exactly what Jesus did for me and for you.

The Power of the Gospel

EVERY human being created was made in the image of God. And every Christian, is an IMAGE BEARER of Christ’s love. Because of these truths, I understand that if I choose to allow racism, or prejudice rule my life, I am either mistreating someone in my spiritual family or I’m forgoing my gospel mission opportunity. If they are fellow heirs with me in God’s kingdom and I choose to be racist, I’m simply hating my fellow brother or sister.  And God says all those who practice hatred, will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:20-21). If I am mistreating someone because of their skin color or background and they are not a Christian, I am STILL committing the sin of hatred. How? Because, it is my duty to show them Christ and His love, in hopes that they may obey the gospel so their soul can be saved. What society says, promotes, or lives by, does not take precedence over God’s eternal command. We are to LOVE. It is not optional.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”-John 15:12

The Gospel Plea: “If we have not love, we have nothing.”

My exposure to Christ and His love has changed me forever and I want it to change you too. You see, the power to overcome racism does not lie within you, me, or this world, but it lies in the Gospel of Christ and His love. It is Christ that helps us love our brethren and fellow man. The Gospel message screams, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.”-Galatians 5:6. Christ sacrificed His life for all of humanity, and we should be willing to sacrifice for the Gospel of Christ. If we have not love, we have nothing. God made all the physical nations for a reason. He allowed us to have different skin complexions, hair, body shapes, voices, dialects, and languages all for a reason.

Even as a Christian, I acknowledge that in this world, I am an African-American woman and my history has shaped me in many ways. I also acknowledge that as an African-American woman there are still certain societal injustices and mistreatment that I have experienced and that SO many African-Americans unfortunately face. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see these injustices in our current society! These injustices are not in align with God’s word, God’s love, or God’s will. These injustices and the sin of racism should be addressed with love and godly wisdom. As a Christian, I don’t have to ignore my skin color, my history, the painful parts of my story, or the blatant sin of racism that is still occurring.  God does not expect me or anyone to ignore our stories. The key however, is allowing “our personal history and story” to show forth, “HIS-tory”, meaning God’s story to redeem mankind from sin. Our goal should be eternally focused. We should seek to use all of our experiences good, or bad, to show forth God’s GLORIOUS GOSPEL STORY.  

“He himself bore our sins in HIs body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

-1 Peter 2:24

I’ll end with this. One of the astounding joys of the Gospel, is that through it, God has created a new people that have been reconciled back to Him, by remission of sins, through Christ blood. It’s a people who are physically from different nations, but people who are a part of the same spiritual-eternal nation…THE KINGDOM OF GOD. It’s a people who stand and live in the freedom of Christ love. It’s a people who do not ignore the reality of societal pressures, historical or present injustices, but they do not allow these injustices stop them from living and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. It’s a people who realize that they do not “fight against flesh and blood but against principalities, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”-Eph 6:12. It’s a people who refuse to accept division and racism of any kind. It’s a people who make an effort every day to break down the barriers of sin and love humanity genuinely and deeply within. It’s a people who embrace brown brothers, white sisters, black grandmothers, and ALL people. It’s a people who understand we were all created by the same Maker, God Himself. It’s a people who refuse to allow their flesh, get in the way of the power of the Spirit and the unity the Spirit accomplishes. It’s a people who do not remain silent in today’s world about the sin of racism and the injustices and destruction that racism brings. It’s a people who choose to speak boldly, confidently, and lovingly about the solution…THE GOSPEL.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”-1 Peter 2:9

So, what does the Gospel say about racism? It says, that racism is SIN, and it’s sin that Christ hung on a tree and bled and died for. It says that CHRIST LOVE is and will forever be GREATER THAN Satan’s hate. The Gospel is relevant, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever! And as long as I have breath in my body, I will proclaim this truth. We have to stop the hate & racism and allow God’s love, that has been demonstrated through the Gospel, to truly prevail.

With love,

Ashley Moneet

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14 Responses

  1. Thank you for this message ! What’s going on right now has really been bothering me and I’ve been wanting to make a post on it as a Christian. Although it hurts and angers me to see what’s going on I know we need to be lights of the world . As a light I feel compelled to speak out and not sit quiet. This really encouraged me. Thank you !

    1. I’m so glad God used me to encourage you. I understand how you feel. It’s a very layered topic and one that raises raw and visceral emotions. As a Christian, we still have to speak God’s truth, even in times like this. That is what God has called us to do. We are ambassadors for Christ and we must use our lives and voices to be instruments of His love and not of Satan’s hate.

  2. Amen, sweet sister. I did not know your ‘story,’ and now appreciate you all the more!

  3. Beautiful.
    The Gospel still saves.
    Thank you for sharing your heart, your story and Gods love with us.
    This world is not our home.
    Our true citizenship is in heaven. 💗

  4. God’s word will accomplish its purpose🙌🏽Praying for your country🙏🏽, my God heal America. All the way from South Africa 🇿🇦 ❤️

    1. Amen & Amen! Thank you for taking the time to read. God blesses back to you & South Africa!

  5. How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
    who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
    who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”

    Ashley, my sister and fellow adopted child of God according to the promise,

    After our Lord Jesus prays for His disciples, he continues a prayer for those who will come in time, for our ancestors, for our brethren in the fields and in the high places, those who would hear and obey and trust in His promises. The prayer continues in verse 20 of John 17…

    “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
    22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
    24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
    25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

    Ashley, how beautiful it is that you honor the holy Lamb of God with your devotion and love. The story of your ancestors is indeed a humbling and reminds me satan has his sway upon the world. How lovingly that you seek to bring peace and restoration from sin that sears the heart of mankind. Racism and partiality is a against human dignity for we are all made in the image of God, and may I see this image of God in you and you in me. All people descend from Adam and from Eve, from the flesh we descend so we are of one another in the flesh. To those who put on Christ we are a new creature a new creation, oh how sin has taken it’s toll on my heart since the day I believed! But Still His mercies are new every moment and with the dawn, His patience in never ceasing. May we be one, for we believe, just as Jesus is one with the Father, may we be one with Them and in Them, so that the world may believe that Jehovah truly sent His son Jesus, the first born of many.

    We are just a piece of the puzzle, a glimmer of the light of Christ, but may we glint and gleam as he refines us day by day.

    He has loved us, so then likewise we love one another. Where is our image, what is our identity? I see a world lost and angry, on the verge of new beginnings and fresh conversations, this is the time for love, for sharing as you have so lovingly said in your writings, a sharing of the prince of Peace, Jesus the Christ, a time to share with boldness the love He has made known to us, that the love that is in us, may be transferred to a lost and dying generation.
    Bless you for standing in the gap, for shedding the light on the sin of partiality and racism in our time, seeing it as an issue of the heart. What this word, grace, springs forth I am not wise to know deeply, but may we give grace to not just our brothers and sisters in Christ, but to those who are outside of Him, that they may drink from the fountain freely, that is the blood of JESUS of Nazareth.

    From Galatians 3:22 & 26…
    so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
    So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

    We hold to the promise, all our hope and faith and love that He has overcome the world, and because of this we are one in Him.
    AWESOME. RADICAL.
    Peace & Harmony to you this day and may your boundaries be increased and your heart not be troubled.

    1. My dearest brother Drew,

      You encouraging and thoughtful words brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for taking the time to write and and remind me of God’s wonderful truth. I am so thankful for your example and your family’s example of love. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! God bless you my brother. May God’s love and joy continue to abound greatly in you!-Ash

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