Mission & Race

Missions history has a complicated relationship with race, and much ink has been spilled on missions history, colonialism, and associated definitions. To be sure, colonialism and missions are not synonymous, and we would do well to remember they are separate. And as race applies to skin color (which it does not always), we would equally do well to remember that 1) people within each race witnessed were on mission to those in their race or associated races, and 2) missions by definition requires some sense of cross-race witness, and 3) witness and missions are not necessarily dominated by a power dynamic, but rather, often by love, compassion, and the internal leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

Even as Christians have been ardent voices and leaders in viewing each race with human dignity and compassion (just one example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolitionism_in_the_United_Kingdom). There are also many Christians, who, driven by their cultural preferences use Scripture to justify their cultural practice. Racial disparity and conflict is at its most egregious when Biblical principle becomes subservient to religious culture, rather than the driver of it. (This is one reason why I'm not a proponent of church tradition + Scripture being on equal footing for truth. Tradition can go very wrong, and soon stances are taken in the name of Christ that have little to do with Christ, or worse, Scripture is eisegeted in the name of cultural comfort). There's so much to explore here, especially (and for many, surprisingly) how it was a modern worldview that gave rise to the "lesser than" view of other peoples due to their race. But I digress from the point of this post.

For missions to move forward in its relationship with race, it must rediscover principles from missions past. Here I suggest three that are key for living in a racially diverse world that is blended, segmented, and personalized:

1. A recognition of reality. 
Reality recognizes skin tone. It does not ignore it. Reality recognizes the sin enters into systems, and systems can be oppressive in ways it doesn't always perceive. Reality recognizes that everyone has the capacity for sin. Just because your race aligns you with a group by skin or culture does not mean you are aligned by heart. There are bad people everywhere. Reality recognizes personality conflicts. Just because you are from a group-oriented, shame culture does not mean people are not individuals. Reality sees cultural differences and struggles with those differences. It recognizes that some cultures get some things wrong. Just because a culture is sincere does not make a practice within that culture right.

All hope begins with reality. In the case of the missional message, all hope for redemption begins with the recognition of personal sin. The battle for reality is real and difficult.

2. A value on the individual.
Any recognition of reality sees the individual as unique. I recall a distraught young black woman reaching out in pain. "I'm too white for black folks and too black for white folks. Where do I fit in?" The missional value has (nearly always) been a value on the individual. We see the beauty of God's creation as unique and wonderful and with inherent worth. Our worth is not derived from group belonging. Missions historically also values the individual because missionaries often have to assess unique giftings and callings for carrying the mission forward. Both natural, God-created talents or capacities AND God's call on whom God chooses to call matter to the missionary. Finally, missions tends to value the individual because of the inherent understanding of discipleship. Missions isn't merely about people crossing the threshold of faith, but about them growing in faith. The process of spiritual maturity requires a uniquely individual lens. The Holy Spirit is at work uniquely in each individual. A value on the individual also doesn't dismiss trauma in individuals when race violence moves in unexpected directions.

3. A determination to love who God loves.
One of the reasons many of our altruistic movements have historically been driven by Christians on mission (healthcare, generosity to the poor, recognizing the need to come alongside of the widow, the orphan, the prisoner, loving the unborn, loving our neighbors, and loving our enemies), is because of the Biblical value to love who God loves. The racist, under Christ, has no choice but to view the "other" ethnic Christian as a "brother" or "sister." So first, we fall under the category of "same family" by the "same salvation in Jesus Christ." But second, there's a value of protecting those who don't believe in Christ, and of seeing others as having human dignity. This combination of human dignity, while recognizing that sin warps the way others treat people (example: war atrocities) has often led to an urgent response if not for peace, then for resolution. And the manner in which that resolution is sought matters to the Christian on mission. It is no accident that Martin Luther King, Jr. stressed the manner in juxtaposition to Malcom X. Both men were motivated not merely for change, but the foundational roots how that change was to take place was informed by different religious sources. The blood of the martyrs is very different than the blood of jihad. Furthermore, Christians of all races have died or suffered for Christ. It is yet another tie that binds us. Because we love who God loves, we have a better view of both the human race, as well as, of the family of God. The last book in the Bible describes people from every tongue, tribe, and nation united by their worship of God. I've yet to be in any ethnic context of Christians who believe that to be a bad thing.

I've traveled extensively and have had the privilege of being with many different ethnicities and races worshipping in many contexts. I've personally worshipped with people along the entire socioeconomic spectrum (very poor to very rich). I find the Church local and universal indescribably beautiful and profound, and also at times, complicated and frustrating. In the future, wherein race will continue be a way some choose to divide humanity, missions principles can help us bring understanding to a globalized world. The future is not about reducing humanity to "brown." It's about valuing people at each point on the color spectrum and cultural context.