GPBC Blog

By Scott Nordlund --

What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?- Micah 6:8

The Bible Project produced a helpful video about justice, righteousness, and how Jesus works through us to restore the oppressed. Although there is no mention of racism specifically, the message is powerful and timely. Please take a few minutes to watch it: Justice-The Bible Project

We know Jesus abhors injustice of any kind, and, as the church, we are called to proclaim his kingdom to the world by demonstrating love, compassion, generosity and justice to everyone. There are a lot of meaningful ways to do this such as feeding the poor, advocating for the needy and oppressed, and shining a spotlight on the injustice of racism through public protest. But it doesn't stop there.

In addition to outward activity for justice, we need to continue inviting the Spirit to convict us of any racism, discrimination or partiality still festering within. We also need the Lord's help to grow our awareness of the people and injustices we tend to overlook. Sins of discrimination are especially hard to admit, aren't they? No one wants to be known as a racist, and yet racism persists. We truly are a renewed and ever-renewing people, so we trust in Jesus for his good work to be completed in us.

Now that brings us to the most powerful way to help bring about lasting and profound justice in Portland. We can introduce people to Jesus! Only through Jesus will heaven and earth unite in the hearts of our neighbors, and many more will begin living out the love of God. 

But why does it sometimes seem so much harder to share the gospel than to advocate for justice in other ways? I don't like admitting it, but the answer for me is that I practice a form of discrimination in sharing (or not sharing) the gospel. I'm not aware of a hurdle within me based on race, but I know I have discriminated in other ways. I'm overly selective about entering into a new relationship, especially one that involves sharing the gospel. Sometimes, I don't want to start a conversation about Jesus because I feel insecure or "out of my comfort zone.” Other times, I simply wish to avoid an awkward interaction. Tragically, all of this means many people who need Jesus won't hear about him from me.

Maybe you have similar struggles? If so, you certainly are not the first to wrestle with discrimination when it comes to sharing the good news of Jesus. Even the Apostle Peter withheld the gospel from Gentiles until God confronted him in a vision.

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." - Acts 10:34-35

After such a declaration, you might expect that would be the end of racism for Peter, but a new setting exposed he had more to overcome. When Peter visited Paul in Antioch, he dined regularly with Gentiles, but later separated himself from them when other Jewish believers arrived. Paul says he confronted Cephas (Peter) to his face about this (Galatians 2:11-14). Hopefully, the stories of Peter's sin can help us overcome the shame of facing any injustice we are harboring in our hearts.

Later in Galatians, Paul expresses some of the beautiful community created when people "put on" Christ. I long to see this oneness community spread across our city.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:27-28

Remember, we have great news to share. God loves people, and he is eager to transform them from the inside out. Ask the Lord to search your heart and root out any discrimination, so you can go about living the love of Jesus and sharing the gospel with everyone God gives you.