Of all the things that I’m passionate about, this wasn’t even on my list because I had no idea it even existed. I always defined racists in my head as people who do not understand and have not experienced the love of God and hence are unable to love other people based on racial differences.
Little did I know that non-Caucasians face racism even in Christian circles. It’s appalling just to think about it.
I came across one of Christian artist, Jamie Grace’s posts on Instagram where she shared an instance where a white pastor said to her merch manager as she set up Jamie’s banner in his church’s lobby: “If I had known Jamie Grace was black, I definitely wouldn’t have brought her here…”
I was so shocked that I couldn’t stop thinking about it the whole day, hence my writing this post. What happened to the “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ?” verse in the Bible (Galatians 3:28)? Do we just read and preach it in church for show? Are we actually living out what we proclaim to believe or are we practicing selective obedience?
If the people of the world are being inhumanely racist and so are Christians in indiscriminate ways, then what’s the point?
Jesus gave us this command: “…Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another – John 13:34-35 (NIV). And racism my friends, has no place, not even an iota in love. Hence if you look at someone from a different background and you can’t love him/her as yourself and you call yourself a Christian, I’m afraid, you have some serious self-assessment to do.
My heartache about Jamie Grace’s story was compounded with my best friend’s father (who is a Reverend Minister and Executive President of the Ghana Baptist Convention) sharing his experiences during his time in the States studying for his masters and doctoral studies. Studying in a Christian university with Christians as lecturers where you’d safely assume that the ‘love of Christ would abound everywhere’ only to find some disrespecting and looking down on you because ‘you’re from Africa’ is sad and disgraceful.
We are not of the world so let’s not live and think like the world does. Christ came to die for us all; regardless of which side of planet earth you come from. Let’s love one another with the love of Christ; let’s show the shallow and crooked minds of the world how it is done and WHO love is – God.
Let’s do better, people; let’s be better.
© Josephine Amoako 2020
Joseyphina's World 
I am no stranger to white Christian racists. The encounter has really disturbed me. It’s been years but I am still affected by it. At first I was in denial. I thought to myself…it can’t be, we believe in the same Bible, the one that tells us to love one another just as Christ loves us. But I was wrong and I finally accepted it.
I’ll never understand racism, especially from Christians
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Wow…must have been very confusing. Sorry you experienced it. One day, the colour of our skin wouldn’t matter. Thanks for sharing your story, Hope.
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Same … I was actually disgusted by their thoughts
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If tribalism etc exist in the church, I am not surprised to know that there are Christian racist. You know what’s sad is that when you call out this foul dirty segregation in all its form, the perpetrators make it seem as though its in your head. Like you’re imagining it and you aren’t as rooted in Christ else you wouldn’t see such LOL.
I often say, people have a head knowledge of the word but the true question is Does the word live in them, in their heart. Do they feel the Holyspirit prick them when they act in such manner?
I understand better when the scriptures says that’s God will tell some people, I do not know you
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Hmm…perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. Just sad thinking about it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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hmm interesting thoughts
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Absolutely! In Christ eyes we are the same. We should all strive to be Christ-like.
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Amen! Thanks for reading, Stephen.
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You realize white supremacy in America is synonymous with evangelicals, what we call Islamophobia is actually racism
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Well I wouldn’t say white supremacy is synonymous to evangelicals though I won’t deny some some same people belong to such groups. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
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Recently I even started to feel racism in me because of certain white Christians I worked with, but later we had an open discussion on imperfections
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Ohk…that’s good.
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I am of the view that Christianity as we know it in this age and in our circles was racist. It will forever be possibly. The Advocate play too much with fiction and autobiographies. Read Equianno’s Travels probably the first biographical piece by a former slave, think of The Narratives of Fredrick Douglass and other Afro-American and Afro-Caribbean literatures and the presentation of race and christianity.
Close to our times, most of the films and pictures of Christ have no dark personas. The Christ hanged on those crosses are Caucasian. For me these are very subtle racial stamps to this religion
Anyway I am just this Advocate who have no sound thinking don’t believe me
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Lol….thanks for sharing your thoughts. Much appreciated
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How God must be displeased about this.
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What’s even more confusing is that the same that called us slaves back then introduced Christianity in Africa.
Just one day maybe when the world stops selective practice of Biblical preachings, then there won’t be racism or tribalism and the like. Thanks for sharing my dear.
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Well said, Livia.
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We really need to do better!
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May God help us.
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There are “white only Christian communities” in this day and age. I watched the documentary some time back and I was shocked. They justify by saying its biblical, they seem to have their own “bible” it’s really sad.
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Oh wow…their own Bible? Something’s off there
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It is disheartening, but it does exist. I, personally, believe that if we (as the Church) would just stick to being “disciples” of Christ as He called us to become, we would not be dealing with this. Paul spoke to the Galatians about people from the outside coming in and teaching things other than what is representative of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:6-7
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
We were called by Christ to become disciples and to make disciples of all nations. True disciples adhere to the teachings of their Master and do not promote anything otherwise.
Unfortunately, as Paul said, in Galatians 2:4, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage…”
We know that he was speaking of outsiders coming in and perverting the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom. In relation to the contemporary culture, when we begin to embrace something other than the truth, this opens the door for the enemy to sow seeds of discord and divisiveness (denominations, racism, etc.).
We have to return to the basic fundamentals of being a disciple of Christ. Once we become one as He and the Father are one, we will become discerning and wise to the enemy’s tactics (2 Cor. 2:11).
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Very true. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Much appreciated.
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😊
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The only thing with power to destroy the church is the Church itself.
Claiming Christianity and living it has become blurry today.
Unfortunately this still resounds in churches.
I love Jamie any day any time
“He said I couldn’t rap”
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Thankfully, no gates of hell will prevail against the church. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
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there were so many thoughts on your post that were really interesting josephina. keep provoking them and inspiring many others.
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Thank you, Sophia.
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Practice what you preach has become a selective notion. They choose to practice some aspects of gospel. It’s so sad
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We need God truly. Hating people because of their skin but claiming to love our neighbour.
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Absolutely despicable behaviour and truly heartbreaking! 💔
Thank you for sharing this. I think you have penned your thoughts together really well. We must all stand united together to put a stop against every single form of racism until it is completely eradicated. ❤️
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Thank you! May God help us all.
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Indeed let’s do better
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I had goosebumps reading this. I am a Christian and I feel that Christians should strive harder in doing better because now, instead of representing the name of the Lord Jesus, we are being characterized by our judgments, our bigotry, and our exclusivity. I am disheartened, I can’t wait for our labor to be prompted by love. Every pastor should by heart live by 1 Peter Chapter 5
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Yes, we should. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, Janis. Much appreciated.
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thank you for sharing this story. an eye opener to every christian and non-christians alike.
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Thanks for reading, RD.
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Wow… I’m really shocked. But then again, we need to do better as christians and stop being lazy and ignorant
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I experienced this for the first time on ig the lady told me to turn off the tv and put on music. Basically saying racism is not as bad as the Media makes it.
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Hmm…very unfortunate. Thanks for sharing your story, Kiki.
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Truth in love is something more people need to learn. Being able to see and understand the realities in our world is something that can shift the lives of so many people.
Thank you for sharing!
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Some will be lions in sheep’s clothing. Don’t be deceived. We are all known by the fruit we produce.
This one Pastor does not represent Jesus Christ in how he loves others, but maybe it is an area in his life God is working on. We don’t know fully what is in a person’s heart. We are all fallen and have made mistakes. I am sorry for actions I have taken that don’t represent the God who loves me and saved me. We are all a work in progress. We need to give grace to all we meet and forgive each other.
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That’s ver true. We all need grace. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
YOWZA, YOWZA, YOWZA TO THE LORD WHO IS NO RESPECTER (NOT BIASED TOWARD PARTICULAR) OF PERSONS!
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WELL-DONE, FELLOW BELIEVER!
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Thanks, Jonathan.
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U R welcome, Sis (in Christ) ! 😀
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If you do not love your brother regardless of his skin color, then your God is not Yahweh/Jehovah, it is Satan.
Satan appears as an angel of light in the sense that he is bright but not life giving. Christians need to learn this lesson. The Pharisees and Sadducees of the New Testament are the prime example.
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Hey Joseyphina! You should check out UnBlemished– especially our Racial Reconciliation series we are just starting! I would love to connect with you and maybe share part of your story on UnBlemished. If you are at all interested, please reach out via the connect page on our site and we can send more info! 🙂
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