GRACEPOINTE RESPONSE TO RACISM
The sin of racism is once again boiling up and poisoning our community with anger and hatred. This is a tactic of the enemy to divide us and take our eyes off of Jesus and His commands. In a world deeply broken by sin, we believe the underlying cause of racism is that we are failing to love one another (1 John 4:7-21). We stand in opposition to the enemy and stand firm on the Word of God and promises of our Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 1:27).
We are made in the image of God. Every human is beloved (Gen 1:26-27). He created us equally to be image bearers of God, one humanity, with unique and individual gifts and talents (1 Cor. 12:12, Ps 139:13). We believe in a God of justice and mercy (Ps 89:14) and that God has called us to speak up for the oppressed, to plead the cause of the weak, and to obediently strive for justice and racial reconciliation (Prov. 31:8-9). To be obedient to God, love our neighbor as ourselves, and to encourage reconciliation, we commit to an ongoing process of growing closer to God:
Searching our hearts for the sin of racism, favoritism, and grudge-holding against people who are different from us. We will offer our sinful natures up to God as a sacrifice, and allow him to put a new heart and a new spirit within us; (Col. 3:10-11)
Actively listening, mourning alongside, and working to help meet emotional, physical, and spiritual needs; (Rom. 12:9-21)
While the enemy revels in discord, we purposefully choose humility, peace, reconciliation, and unity; (1 Cor. 1:10; Gal 3:28)
Removing harmful language and barriers that were placed in our laws, legal documents, and governing policies that only serve to provide the enemy fuel to keep racism burning; (James 2: 8-9; Jer. 22:3; Isa 1:15-20)
We will continue to run the race loving one another just as God has loved us. God’s work is never done and we choose to strive to make His desire for justice, mercy, and love known until His return. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Cor 13: 4-7; 1 John 3:18-19). lives that our loyalty lies with Jesus and His Church: His beautiful Bride in all the colors, tribes, tongues and diversity He created it to be. (Rev. 7:9)
At GracePointe our vision is to eradicate hopelessness in Milwaukie and beyond with the relentless love of Jesus. We believe the only way to do that is to surrender our old self and put on our new identity that Christ Himself conquered death to give us. We are to embrace our heavenly citizenship and be aware in our daily lives that our loyalty lies with Jesus and His Church: His beautiful Bride in all the colors, tribes, tongues and diversity He created it to be. (Rev. 7:9)