Talking about black and white could mean three things, a discussion about the visual perception of colour, using it as a metaphor to state that there are no options “shades of gray” between two opposing positions, or more recently, referring to skin color and race issue. This post is not about the visual perception, but about the metaphor and skin colour.
There are black and white, day and night, good and bad, right and wrong, up and down, joy and sorrow, and the list goes on. Life is playing out in an arena of opposites. An arena in which we are participants of the contest, and at the same time also spectators, observing those around us.
Not unlike at a sports event, spectators of the “game” of life are cheering for one side or the other, at times with overflowing emotions and actions. Every spectator side has its own reasons for rooting for its chosen side. When it comes to life issues, these reasons are summed up as “world views”
There are many world views, but this post I will only compare the two most common in western society.
The humanistic, evolutional world view, believes that all life developed itself from primordial dust and slime, through various stages of selective transformation, to the complex organisms that exist right now, including human beings. This world view believes that humans can find answers to all their questions and predicaments within themselves.
The Biblical Christian world view, believes that a spiritual but personal God, with attributes beyond our understanding, created the universe and everything in it. God established everything with total foresight of every minute detail, from its beginning to its eventual end. God created the first humans, man and women as a crowning work of his creation. “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” Gen. 1:27 “and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” Gen.2:7, giving all people the ability to know and worship him. “God shows no favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” Acts 10:33-34 The Christian world view is that “Many are the plans of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” Proverb 19:21
There is much more that could be said about both world views, and eventually we may com back to it, but for now it is just important to know that my thinking and offered opinions are rooted in a Biblical world view, that sees the accounts of the Bible and modern science in harmony.
Western civilization developed during a time of relative calm in the “cultural arena” of life, Christianity was the dominant and driving force. More recently two trends took place simultaneously. The humanistic world view generated all kinds of offspring’s (humanistic theory, psychology, philosophy, ideologies) that left their spectator seats to teach their views, first at institutions of higher learning and eventually throughout the public school system and through advocacy groups, lobbying governments and anybody else that was willing to listen. At the same time the Christian population, became proud of “their own” achievements. They turned away from giving credit to the creator, leaving the arena to become mere spectators with ever decreasing enthusiasm.
This brings us to present state of our culture war.
Reading news generated by predominantly humanistic agencies, it sounds as if evolution and humanism is a proven fact and Christianity a myth-based belief.
However, as evolution is struggling to muster credible scientific support for its theory, the bible-based creation model gets bolstered with every new scientific discovery, and Christian thinkers are dominating philosophical debates.
True faith is believing in the absence of scientific proof that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16) However, seeing the biblical accounts in harmony with science should give non-believers additional food for thought.
Back to the opposing attributes listed at the beginning of this post.
As long as we live in a world of flawed, imperfect people, we will always come across various shades of grey. When looking for black or white, we will find claims of “rule bending” to obscure the difference of obedience and disobedience, talk of like and dislike to hide love or hate. The Christian world view holds that on Christ’s return all those obscurities will vanish. (1 Cor 13:10-12)
Given the present supercharged social justice topic, it is impossible to talk about black and white without evoking visions of racial unrest. Predominantly the issue sees people groups of colour pitted against the people groups of fairer skin. Skirting a discussion on the details and/or legitimacies of the grievances, there are two critical flaws in the discussion about prejudice and racism. Unless these flaws are addressed, there can be no equitable solution.
The problem at issue is not one of groups of people with different skin colours or ethnic backgrounds, but the condition of every individual’s heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) This truth applies to all people, regardless of colour, race or nationality. Unless the corrupt condition of the human heart is addressed, there will be no peace.
The Christian view is that only a submission to the God of the bible can solve the human heart problem. “If My people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14) This the only way to solve the racial black and white conflict.
Ultimately there will only be two types of people. “An assembly from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues (Revelation 7:9) that confess Jesus Christ as Lord” (Romans 10:9-13) and those that do not. This is a black and white issue that leaves no room for shades of gray (metaphorical speaking).
Until next time Horstt