No, I do not believe God is to blame for the confusion, chaos, sin, violence, hate, destruction, and difficulties in America or the world.  I believe He has allowed things to transpire because of the wickedness of the human heart and is seeking to bring us back to Him.  What I am going to say will probably get me kicked to the curb, attacked, vilified, and hated by some.  It will resonate with others who will shout a hearty, AMEN!  Some will think I have gone too far and others not far enough, but I am less concerned about what anyone thinks than I am the truth and what God thinks.  I don’t mean that to be as cold as it might sound because I care about people and America.

Mario Murillo wrote an article recently entitled, “Christians Repenting For Being White.”  I was intrigued by the title and saddened and challenged by the article.  Let me state plainly, “I believe that no human being should ever repent over the color of their skin!”  I read in Psalms 139:14 that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”  God created us.  If you do not believe in God or in Creation that will not resonate with you, but I need to ask, “How did you become the color you are?  Was it by choice or something beyond your control and that is the way you were born?”

I did not choose my parents before birth.  I did not choose my nationality before birth.  I did not choose my ethnicity nor the physical features I possess.  I believe that God decided those things and in His unique purpose and design made me.  Therefore, for me to ‘repent’ over his design would be to slap Him in the face and say, “God you blew it this time.”  The audacity of that is beyond my ability to comprehend and beyond my boldness to dare.  Along with the many other passages in the Bible, Revelation 1:8 declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come Almighty.”  HE IS THE ALMIGHTY, the ONE TRUE and LIVING GOD! 

I would never argue that there are no abuses by the police, but I would argue that not all those abuses are racial in nature.  There are bad eggs in every basket, group, organization, occupation, or segment of society.  That has existed since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden and will last until the final judgment is rendered and the devil and sin forever eradicated.  We are not there.  We are flawed human beings, but human beings we are and that means something powerful to me – WE ARE ALL OF THE SAME RACE!  That’s right, there is only one race and that race can be traced back to Adam and Eve in the Garden. 

I would no more repent of the color of my skin than I would seek a sex change operation.  Either would be, in my view, a slap in God’s face.  It would be paramount to saying to the Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth – “You are imperfect and made a mistake.”  That would be to fall into the trap of Adam and Eve and result in making self the center of our universe and the sovereign and relegating God to a lesser position.  It would be to dethrone God in our hearts, minds, and lives, and enthrone self.  You may think that a good idea, I do not.

When I meet with people of all ethnicities, I frequently attempt to get them to address the issue of skin pigmentation and ethnicity.  Why?  Not to stir up trouble and strife, that already exists.  I do it hoping to shift our focus from the peripheral to the real issue that can bring resolution, peace, contentment, and victory. 

When I stand before a crowd of mixed ethnicities and ask them what they see when they see me the responses are varied.  Most say, “An older white male with silver hair.”  I tell people that when I look at them, I see their skin pigmentation just as I see the green of the grass, the red of the rose, and the blue of the sky.  To deny that would be to deny the obvious.  I smell the fragrance of the rose and see the thorns.  However, when I look at people what I see in my heart of hearts is not skin pigmentation, size, shape, or gender, I see fellow creations of God.  I see eternal spirits who either know God or need God.  I see people! 

I confess, that attitude has not always existed in my heart, but it does today because I have adopted the view that God created us all and that Jesus died for all of us.  It is unthinkable for me to attempt to show solidarity with any group regardless of ethnic, religious, or political positions that allow evil and criminal behavior.  The actions of the police in the George Floyd death, do not appear justifiable.  That is something that the court and a trial by peers must decide.  Rioting, looting, threatening to burn down the country is not any less reprehensible. 

I believe that “Black Lives Matter”, but then I believe that “White Lives Matter” and “Brown Lives Matter”.  Yes, I am going to say the offensive, “All Lives Matter” because they matter to God.  I also state adamantly that two wrongs never make a right and committing acts of violence, terrorism and crime do not resolve any issues.  The issue is not skin color it is the attitude of the heart.  It is the existence and dominance of hate. 

I am incensed when anyone suggests that I should repent for being white and would be equally incensed if anyone should suggest that a person should repent for being black.  I agree with Mario that to say that racism comes from the color of one’s skin, it itself racist and the worst kind of racism.  It is the attitude and the heart. 

In Colossians 1:16 we are informed, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him.”  In Galatians 3:28 we hear, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male or female, for you are all one in Christ.”  If that is God’s view, then adopting a position that divides us by skin pigmentation and ethnicity is an affront to Him. 

Would it offend you if someone said, “All blacks are thugs?”  It should!  Then why does it not offend you when someone says, “All the police are racist and malevolent dregs of society or that all whites are racist?”  Stereotyping any group of people or ethnicity is to engage in reprehensible racism that cannot be allowed to stand.  If I were part of the KKK, Black Racist Movements, Nazism, or other clearly vile groups, I would have something to repent of.  I am not, never have been, and never will be. 

As Christians, we have much to repent of including our complacency and apathy toward abortion.  I believe that the Church has, too frequently, been more interested in presenting an artificial gospel that seeks to appease and establish mini kingdoms than seeking a life-transforming experience with God.  There has been more focus on numbers rather than transformations. 

My experience with God was life-changing.  I was headed to destruction and a life of debauchery where hate could reign in my heart.  I was living a life that sought my interests with little regard for the needs of others.  I was living a life that was filled with misery, depression, rejection and had a quick trigger to retaliate.  That changed when I came to Jesus.  Did it all change immediately?  I wish I could say that it did, but I would discover the root of sin still deep beneath the surface and those old feelings and tendencies sought to surface.  It took the Holy Spirit, the Love of God, and an enormous supply of Grace for me to overcome, but overcome I have and overcoming I am. 

America, our real problem is not Democrat or Republican per se.  Our real problem is not black or white skin pigmentation.  Our real problem is not abuse by some individuals within various sectors of society.  Oh, those are issues, but the real problem is the heart!  If we continue to view life through the grid of ‘ethnicity’ or ‘skin pigmentation’ stereotyping and engendering fear, hate, bias, and distrust we will self-destruct.

Let me state my view in this way and you do with it what you will.  “I believe that we are all created in the Image of God and there is only one race of people on planet earth, humans.  I believe that God wants everyone to be saved and those of us who have received His Grace is commissioned to take His message to the world, in love.  I believe that God made and makes no mistakes.  If you are white, black, brown, or any skin tone realize that is how He made you and He has a purpose for you in that ethnic group.  You just might be His bridge of Love.  We either stop looking at others through the lens of ethnicity or we will destroy ourselves.”

If I harm you, I should and will repent.  If you harm me, I will forgive you.  The only force that can save us is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I repent of my sin, not God’s creation!

God bless you and God bless America!