“Racism in any form is a grave sin against God and man. Mankind is made in the image and likeness of God. Racism stands vehemently against this truth by attempting to subjugate, suppress and destroy His image in humankind. Like all sin, racism is destructive, divisive, and ultimately demonic. It is never benign, respectable, or acceptable. Because the Church of Jesus Christ has been complicit in the sin of racism, the Church must now repent of racism and take a stand against all of its forms and expressions. Racism has no place in our lives, families, churches, government, or nation. Each culture and ethnicity is made in God’s image, all stemming from Adam and Eve, and therefore bearing inestimable, God-given value. We recognize that religion has been used as a means to affirm and support racist ideologies. Today, as the Church of Jesus Christ, we repent of racism and reject any ‘religious movement’ that embraces it. The church of Jesus Christ must express the values of love, unity, empathy, and forgiveness, which are critical components of the Kingdom of God.”(From the Preamble to the Atlanta Covenant)1
“Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?” (Malachi 2:10; NKJV)
Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:
- Read The Atlanta Covenant. If you agree with it, sign it.
- Intercede for Christians who have linked racism and religion together – justifying the separation of the races in church services and only inviting members of their own race to work together in citywide projects and activities.
- Identificationally repent of racial division in the political and governmental arenas where we have lined up behind candidates because they share our race. Or where we have supported legislation because it is promoted to benefit one racial group over another.
- Worship God for the beauty of diversity He has created as expressed through every tongue and tribe and nation!
A prayer you can pray:
Lord, thank you for impressing upon some Believers the need for The Atlanta Covenant. How wonderful to have a document that everyone in the Body of Christ can agree on. How sad that it is needed. Forgive us, Your Church, Your representation in the earth, for justifying “the most racially divided hour in America” – our church services. There is much division in the church and to divide along racial lines is unbecoming to the beauty of the Bride of Christ. I can’t say to the hand, “I have no need of you.” I can’t say to the heart, “I have no need of you.” However, every time I refuse to work with ethnically different members of the Body, that’s exactly what I’m doing. I am cutting off a needed part to reach my community with the Gospel. Everytime I vote for my own race, instead of the one who will usher in righteousness and justice, I am aligning with racism. Every time I express my uneducated opinion about proposed legislation that appears to benefit one people group over my own, I create injustice. Oh God, help us! Jesus, Your Bride is beautiful exactly as You created her! Each one has a part in expanding Your Kingdom and in reaching this nation! I receive them all! Amen.
Today’s decree:
“Racism in any form is a grave sin against God and man.”2 We will not tolerate it in America or participate in it!
1 Learn more about the Atlanta Covenant here.
2 Excerpted from The Atlanta Covenant.