On being good

As you might have realized over the past week, talking about racism, and bias, and privilege is uncomfortable. As I sit with my own discomfort, I'm wondering if part of the reason it is uncomfortable is because we are accustomed to viewing racism as incompatible with being a "good" person.

Racism, in our view, looks like racial slurs or jokes, beliefs about the superiority of white people, and hate-filled actions and attitudes directed at people of color. It's why we so quickly jump to the defensive when accusations of racism arise - "I'm not racist, I have a Black friend!" or "I don't see color; I just treat everyone the same." We can't possibly be racist, because we're good people! We go to church, we try to help others when we can, we're kind and friendly - that's what good people do! 

This might also be uncomfortable to hear, but I think we spend too much time, in general, focused on our goodness. The truth is, both the sting and the balm of our faith is that it's not about being good.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

If we could secure our salvation simply by being good, we would have no need of Jesus, and no need of the cross. Perhaps we like to think that if we could rack up points based on good deeds, we'd find ourselves in pretty good standing with God. But, as the Apostle Paul writes, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This is the sting of the Law - we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves, not by being good or anything else we do. The promise and balm of the Gospel is this: we do not need to strive after goodness as a means to our salvation because we have been justified by God's grace as a gift. 

The reality is that anti-racism is also not about being good. Systemic racism is much bigger than individual thoughts and feelings. You don't harass or endanger people because of the color of their skin? Great! But much more important than the thoughts and feelings and character of individuals is the reality that racism and structures of white supremacy are embedded in the very foundations of our country. We have been socialized and steeped in it, and it shows up in our systems of laws, criminal justice, employment, education, and more. 

Goodness will not save us, but Jesus has. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

While we perhaps focus too much on being good, there is still a place for doing good. Our good works, done on behalf of our neighbor, are a response to all that God has done. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we work against racism and strive for justice and peace through prayer, community organizing, relationships, conversations, and thoughtful voting and lobbying. Ultimately, we remember that we have hope because of God's goodness, not our own, and for this we give thanks.

Bonus resources: 

• Next Wednesday, June 17, marks the fifth anniversary of the murders of 9 members of Emanuel AME in Charleston, South Carolina, and has been established as a day of repentance in the ELCA. An online ELCA prayer service will be led by Presiding Bishop Eaton and leaders from around the church.
• For a concise and helpful explanation of systemic racism and its effects, watch this video.
• Harvard University has developed an Implicit Associations Test (IAT), which is a way of measuring implicit (internalized, unconscious) biases we hold about a variety of topics (race, sexuality, disability, etc.). It's an eye-opening exercise!