We have all watched as our nation has torn itself apart following the tragic and unnecessary death of George Floyd on May 25th. The emotions such scenes evoke are strong and often conflicting and complicated. But, the evil that sparked the events is not complicated.

In the history of the church in America, Christians have often stayed silent in the face of injustice, allowing evil to rule, even when it caused great harm to both our fellow man and our witness as ambassadors of Christ. With those past failures in mind, the Elders of City Church Melissa feel it necessary to forcefully call out a sin that has haunted our nation from its inception and the more subtle expressions that weaken our witness to our city even now.

Racism is a grievous sin, resulting in systemic oppression. It is demonic, and we, as the body of Christ, are called to stand against it. While equal treatment and justice are American values that we proclaim, too often they are not experienced by all of our fellow citizens.

We also call out the broader sin of pride, of which racism is maybe the most overtly evil expression. Specifically, we condemn the kind of pride that expresses itself through partiality, as a kind of tribalism elevating those who are “like me,” and denigrating and devaluing those who are not (James 2:1-13).

This tribalism is so insidious in part because it is comfortable and subtle, and so it goes undiagnosed. But like a cancer, it silently infects our whole body and changes the way we view and interact with others – others who, like us, bear the image of God.

The first pages of the Bible establish firmly that all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26–28). This is true for every person in every place with every hue of pigmentation in their skin, whatever their experience, background, or even spiritual disposition.

We recognize that as we call out this sin that damages not only the body of Christ in general but our local family of God in Melissa specifically, we understand that it is not enough merely to name this sin. Each of us needs to examine ourselves and repent. None of us are immune.

We also commit to pray and work for the good and welfare of our city (Jeremiah 29:7) and nation, for all people. To speak up for the voiceless (Proverbs 31:8–9). To do good works motivated by the gospel (Titus 2:11–13). To confront injustice (Isaiah 1:17). We plead, “Lord, may your kingdom come, and your will be done here [in Melissa] as it is in heaven.”

The call to love our neighbor has no contingencies (Mark 12:30–31). Race, religion, political affiliation, or any of our perceptions of a person’s worthiness for dignity and love have no bearing to cancel that call (Luke 10:29–37). We are called to serve one another, absorbing personal wounds, to bind up the wounds and restore those suffering injustice—since therein lies the presence and work of a Savior who suffered the ultimate injustice. And by his wounds, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Even as we’ve witnessed that violence begets violence in cities across the nation, we pray the Spirit of God will bring peace and move God’s people to be peacemakers rather than merely peacekeepers (Matthew 5:9).

We believe the Church is the greatest hope to show what unity can look like in the midst of ever-deepening divides (Ephesians 2:11–22). City Church can serve as an incredible center of faith, broadcasting true power through a broken Savior that brings about real redemption and unity. And yet, we recognize that, too often, we are caught up in politicized narratives, forgetting our allegiance to our one true king, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we repent for seeking the comfort of alignment with a worldly power that compromises our Christian witness and the prophetic voice of God’s people. We call City Church Melissa to band together in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace, to confront and battle injustice, and to cry out together for those whose voices are too weary to be raised. This is not a side battle; this is part of our calling to battle sin and death. It is part of taking up our cross and following Jesus—against which the gates of Hades cannot overcome.

But, we must be willing to first let the Spirit convict and then cleanse us from this sin if we are going to be part of the solution – the salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) – that can bring hope and unity to this dark and dying world.