We Are…
by Efrem Smith
My heart is heavy and grieving over the images showing the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in the state of Georgia.
I want to focus on the word “images” for a moment.
You and I—regardless of ethnicity, gender, economic status, or first language—are “images” of God. We are made in the image of God, beloved by God, gifted by God, and have access to living out a great purpose for God. We have the opportunity to live as God’s vehicles of truth, transformation, love, compassion, reconciliation, and justice.
Though all this is true, we live in a world of brokenness, injustice, division, oppression, and hatred. There are natural and spiritual evil forces working against the images of God so that they may not live out the fullness of who they are in God. Of course, there are people who never fulfill their true purpose because of their own choices and the consequences that follow them, but this truth doesn’t negate the reality of the natural and spiritual forces of evil.
Racism is one of those evil forces that invades the image of God upon non-white people in our world. Racism is prejudice plus power utilized in systems, structures, institutions, ideologies, and theologies to oppress people groups based on the color of their skin.
Racism is not just something I am able to define—it’s something that I have experienced personally and observed through the discrimination that my own parents and grandparents had to endure. They all lived through the Jim Crow system. My Father never experienced integrated schools growing up and personally felt the sting of “white only” signs and institutions.
I was born in 1969, so I represent the first generation of African-Americans who were able to take advantage of both the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts in this nation. But even with my being born into the era of integration, I have been pulled over by the police multiple times for no other reason than my skin color.
A police officer once stopped in front of my house as I was standing in my own driveway and asked me what I was doing in the neighborhood. My answer was a saddened, yet respectful, “because I live here.” I have walked by cars to hear the sound of the car doors lock. I have been called the “N” word. This is not meant to paint a negative light upon all police officers or white people in any way. I’m simply sharing what I have, unfortunately, experienced. I know what it’s like to been seen as a threat. The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act alone has not fully dismantled the evil of racial profiling and prejudice. I am very aware of the issues of race and racism. My heart’s desire is that my white brothers and sisters would be just as aware, just as grieved, and just as motivated to speak out.
I am very aware of the issues of race and racism. My heart’s desire is that my white brothers and sisters would be just as aware, just as grieved, and just as motivated to speak out.
I’ve grown so weary of watching videos of unarmed African-Americans dying violently while armed white men go into schools and churches, take multiple lives, and are peacefully arrested. And then there’s Ahmaud Arbery. While jogging, he was pursued, cut off, and shot to death. Because of the color of his skin alone, he was not seen as one made in the image of God, but as a threat to a community—his community. As Christians, we are called to reconciliation, righteousness, compassion, and justice. We are God’s solution to division, injustice, prejudice, and racism. We are made in the image of God and we were made for this moment. I encourage you to rise as God’s reconcilers.
About the Author
Efrem Smith is a pastor, consultant, speaker, and author. He is passionate about life transformation, multi-ethnic development, thriving churches, and community development. As a product of the African-American Church, he also serves as a collaborative catalyst for African-American Church Planting, Disciple Making, and Urban Empowerment Movements.
Efrem was the founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN, He served as the Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. He also served as the President of World Impact, an urban missions organization. Currently, Efrem is the Co-lead Pastor of Bayside Church Midtown, a thriving and multi-ethnic community in Sacramento, California. He is also Co-Owner of Influential LLC, a speaking, consulting, and coaching ministry. Efrem is also a Catalyst for African-American Networks for City to City North America. Efrem is the author of Raising Up Young Heroes, The Hip Hop Church, Jump, The Post-Black and Post-White Church, and Killing Us Softly.
He is married to Donecia, and they have two daughters, Jaeda and Mireya.
