Matthew 18 gives clear instructions for dealing with conflict in the Church. Here we have guidance from Jesus himself. If a member sins against you, go to that person yourself. If he or she will not listen, bring someone else and try again. If that doesn’t work, tell the whole church, and if that doesn’t work, shun and exclude them; they are like a gentile and a tax collector.
We are good at what one commentator this week called, “acute decency.” We see images of families begin rescued from floods in Houston, small children and pets being carried through flood waters, and our hearts overflow. That commentator went on to say that we are good at acute decency, but we are not so good at long-term decency.
We must repent of white privilege to end racism. Racism in America will not end by the efforts of black or brown people alone.