Uncommon Courtesy

There has been a lot of buzz lately about race.  It seems like there always is.  Between that woman in Washington who was pretending to be a different race, to the shootings in South Carolina, to the ongoing debate about displaying the confederate flag; the subject of race in American society is a wound that never heals.  When we elected a black president, there were those who spoke as if the problems of race were behind us.  That was, of course, ridiculous.  In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul talks about the thorn in his flesh.  Racism is America's thorn.

Over the years, I have come to the opinion that I really know nothing about racism in America.  I am a middle-aged, middle-class white man.  Our society is pretty much formatted to work out for me.  I can't say that I knowingly have prejudice against those of other races or cultures, but it honestly comes up so infrequently, who knows.  I do think that we need to do a better job of listening to the opinions of others.  Courtesy, manners, respect, these things cost us nothing and can go a long way.

I think that we need to acknowledge how little our opinions count in some of these issues.  When a rich white guy is telling Native Americans that the name "Redskins" isn't offensive, he's wrong.  When white politicians in South Carolina tell black people that flying the Confederate flag and naming things after Civil War generals isn't offensive, they're wrong.  We don't get to decide what offends our neighbors.  Good manners involves making those around you feel at ease.  If they find it offensive, and you know it, you should go out of your way not to do it.  That is what courtesy is all about.

Watch this clip from Pastor Lowell.

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus  tells us that we need to rise above our prejudices and help those around us.  We are called to love our neighbors, even when our neighbors look different, speak different and have different values than our own.  After all Jesus died for them too.