| Racism is a forager of human souls. Racism like | | | | 17:9-10). Pray for God's help and guidance. If you |
| any other evil comes only to steal, to kill and to | | | | are Christian, ask God's Holy Spirit (Romans |
| destroy our human soul (John 10:10). It hunts | | | | 8:26-27) to tell you what prejudices that you may |
| down, possesses and haunts its perpetrators, | | | | harbor that stem from racial bias or other |
| human targets or wounded souls. Only willing and | | | | preconceived notions or judgment (Proverbs |
| receptive human souls can become recruits of a | | | | 20:27). |
| spirit of racism. The door to your heart has to be | | | | 3. Repent, that is to change and make the |
| open before you can receive a mindset of the | | | | decision to dispel prejudiced or racist thoughts |
| tradition of racism. The Bible clearly tells us that | | | | whenever they dare to crop up in your mind. |
| we must resist the devil [evil] and he will flee | | | | Choose not to judge people based on any racial |
| from us (James 4:7). Many Christians can testify | | | | prejudice that society or anyone presents to you. |
| to this because we have in one way or another | | | | Think of how painful it may be to you if someone |
| either resisted temptation and overcame or fell to | | | | judged you based on your own race or any other |
| it and made a huge mistake that we regretted. | | | | preconceived notion. So, apply the universal |
| Even non-Christians can relate to this, as every | | | | principle that says, do to others as you wish |
| person is tempted daily and either chooses to | | | | them to do to you. |
| overcome the temptation and do what is right, or | | | | 4. Do not be hypocritical about your repentance. |
| elects to do what is wrong. | | | | True repentance means actual change from your |
| Perhaps, for some, accepting and perpetrating | | | | previous negative ways to positive ways. Do not |
| racism has its benefits within the society, | | | | say that you have no prejudiced thoughts and |
| especially in environments where economic | | | | yet you act in a racist manner. |
| dominance favors a racist culture. In other words, | | | | 5. Quietly, begin to make amends for your |
| some individuals feel like they need to support a | | | | previous prejudiced or racist thoughts, words or |
| system, whether it is fair or unfair that favors | | | | actions by reaching out to people's hearts and |
| them economically. For humans there is always | | | | choosing not to judge them by their skin color, |
| the driver by social adaptation for | | | | race, ethnicity, religion or even nationality. |
| self-preservation. Therefore, racism within any | | | | 6. Forgive yourself for your own prejudiced or |
| society goes beyond just discrimination based on | | | | racist attitudes and forgive others for theirs as |
| race or ethnicity. There is also the fear and | | | | well. Forgiveness releases you from the |
| insecurity of losing the economic control or | | | | stronghold of accusing others all the time and |
| dominance that fuels the minds of those who | | | | from condemning yourself. |
| foster racism. | | | | 7. Do not be discouraged when people seem |
| Unfortunately, any society that is accepting of | | | | suspicious of your genuine expression of a spirit |
| racism, whether overtly or covertly, invites in a | | | | of reconciliation. The most important thing is your |
| very powerful negative spirit of dislike, hostility, | | | | true motive and intent. If your heart is right then |
| hate, or separation and continuous division among | | | | it really does not matter what others think. |
| its people of different races or ethnicity. Such a | | | | 8. Do not seek to be accepted by others, rather |
| society remains on the surface as one, but | | | | seek to accept others, regardless of their race, |
| underneath it are numerous pockets of division | | | | ethnicity or nationality. |
| fueled by racial prejudice. As Christians or even | | | | 9. Whenever you have the opportunity, talk to |
| non-Christians, there are positive steps that we | | | | others about the foolishness in racism and use |
| as individuals can take to overcome the spirit of | | | | your own experiences with racism or positive |
| racism. | | | | change to show them that one does not have to |
| 1. Acknowledge that all human beings are born | | | | accept the spirit of racism or any society's |
| equal and in the image of an excellent God | | | | tradition of racial prejudice. If you are a Christian, |
| (Genesis 1:27). For those who are not Christians, | | | | remember how God showed Apostle Peter in a |
| the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human | | | | vision that he should stop being prejudiced (Acts |
| Rights (Articles 1-30), Article 1 states that, "All | | | | 10:9-15, 28-34) and how Peter shared with others |
| human beings are born free and equal in dignity | | | | this experience that changed his life (Acts |
| and rights." By acknowledging the equal humanity | | | | 10:27-29). |
| of all people, you take the first step to shutting | | | | 10. Daily applaud God's beaming rays of victory |
| the door of your heart to the spirit of racism. | | | | over racism in your own life through prayer and |
| 2. Start with an honest self-examination. Search | | | | offering forgiveness to others and to yourself. |
| within your heart for your own prejudices (James | | | | |