Racial Unity

Our heart at The C3 Church is for everyone to know that they are loved, they belong, and to feel that they’re included.

We’re always seeking to educate ourselves in the Cross of Jesus Christ: the statements it makes and the answers it gives, of one human race, all equally guilty of sin, equally loved by God, and equally made righteous by faith in Him. The Gospel must inform everything we do; it must critique every decision we make and challenge every action we take.

There is only one race that has within it many ethnicities – the human race. There is only one ultimate answer to eradicate racism and that is the transformation of the human heart through the Gospel.

This same Gospel forms us into one new man. The Church of Jesus Christ really is the hope of the world.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. - 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

We don’t fight this evil scourge of racism with human weapons:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. - Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

What more can we do? There are many things we can do and as we listen to God, we know the Holy Spirit will lead us as individuals and as a church family to respond. But the first and best thing we can all do is pray—both individually and together.

Theologically, we are aligned with the Assembly of God’s paper: A Theological Response to Racism and Injustice

From this paper, we are actively working on their suggested Ten-Step Road Map to do the following:

1. Acknowledgement: To make an acknowledgment of the issue of racial injustice and its systemic and institutional nature.
2. Audit: To have an honest look at ourselves and our churches and where we are in relation to the issue of racial injustice.
3. Conversation: To facilitate a series of conversations – creating the spaces for open, honest and frank conversation. Listening to the voice of the black community, starting with those in our sphere.
4. Education: Bridging the knowledge gap. What is it like to be a black person in the UK today? Understanding the historical context. The damage to the psyche of black people by sustained and systemic racism.
5. Speaking Up: Using our platforms to speak out against the evil of racism. This would be speaking out into the larger society but also speaking out into our own churches and organisations.
6. Advocacy: Using our influence and reach to be advocates for racial equality. It is the changes in structures that can deal a death blow to racism.
7. Representative Leadership: Creating systems, structures and processes that encourage representative leadership in our churches and organisations.
8. Practical action: Developing short, medium and long term plans for action.
9. Prayer: Encouraging prayer as a group and within our churches over the issue of racial injustice.
10. Prophetic: Discerning God’s mind clearly and ensuring that our actions and narratives are driven by this and centred very clearly on Jesus and rooted firmly in the Word of God.

There’s one thing that’s certain: this Gospel of the Kingdom always produces a community of people who demonstrate, for all to see, what unity and love are meant to look like under God’s control. This gospel community is powerful; it makes a statement to our world and the evil forces that look on.

All one in Christ Jesus,

Steve and Angie