Does race belong here?  Does it belong with me?  How does it claim membership with my body and its purpose?  What makes its status legal?  When did race come to me and should there have been a border there, a no trespassing sign, a watchman on the wall?   What does race have to learn or pledge, how does it become naturalized in order to become a citizen, a member of the sometimes united members of me? 

Race is a part of our social understanding of America and racism is as American as apple or perhaps, sweet potato pie.  But, is it me? Is it you? Does race make you who you are?  Should race continue to be a part of our self- understanding?  Does it help us to know ourselves better or the ways in which we will be perceived and the meanings of our lives misconstrued?  Is it self- understanding or knowledge of a social misunderstanding?  Is it the means by which we come into being and self- awareness or is our understanding of race gained the moment we have been mistreated because of the social coloring of our skin?  I would argue that one’s identity and the experience of racism are different.

Yes, I am an American but I am also a Christian.  One identity is rooted in a land and another in the unconditional love of God.  My identity as a Christian is not limited to geography, culture or social traditions as I am a Christian whereever I may be and I can become a Christian no matter where I am (in most countries).  And I must say that being a Christian far surpasses that of being an American as the ideals of America have yet to be actualized.  America has yet to make good on its promises but Christ died for us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5.8).

As Christians, should we incorporate our experience with race and racism into our interpretation and application of Scripture?  In our attempt to locate ourselves in Scripture, we often subject the power of God to the presence of race.  Race makes it difficult for the kingdom of heaven to be seen as it is quickly given the status of ruler; but, that is only in America.  Race has no power and it is of no effect in God’s plan of salvation for us.  Consequently, we should not allow our experience with racism to influence our identity as Christians. 

Of course, there are those of us who have incorporated the experience of suffering into our understanding of God and Jesus Christ.  But, this is not a part of the life that Jesus Christ has called us to but the life that a sin-ravaged society has subjected us to.  America serves the god of race while we serve the God of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel. We are racial beings in America but we are human and spiritual beings to God.  We must not let our American experience overshadow our Christian identity.  We must not allow the seemingly overwhelming presence of race and racism in American society to cause us to allow race to take over the meaning of being the Body of Christ. 

We are citizens of heaven first and must guard our identity as Christians.  Race is a god and a citizen of this world and we must be mindful of this in our dealings with it.  We must question its presence at every turn, not incorporating it into our doctrine and not inviting it to speak in our pulpits or participate in our worship experiences.  Race is not a part of us as believers; it is a part of the world in which we live.  It is how we are formed as Americans; it is not how we are shaped as Christians.