Who among us has not vigorously considered the “racial tension” in our nation over the last three weeks? As we should. Some of us have begun to furrow new ground to plant new seed. Some of us seem to have dug deeper to reinforce old biased foundations. Overall, I think this has been a great time of social enlightenment. We have grown! I have grown. My life experience has taught me that next to giving and receiving love the greatest thrill in life is to learn something new, to grow. I do not know if this is a horticultural truth, but it appears to me that new growth produces the sweetest fruit. (The ending of strawberry season is my reference point.)
Thirty-five years ago, I had a similar experience but totally personal, it was me dealing with me. When the dust settled, I distinctly remember realizing a new depth of the meaning of “redemption.” I had known the theological definition and had preached sermons on the topic. Even deeper, I had experienced the theological meaning of the word when I was eleven years old. While I think my parents considered me a difficult kid, I was not an outrageous “sinner.” I did receive a radical change in life when I became a Christian, but I did not feel it.
Coming out of that thirty-something personal crisis, “redemption” is the word that came to describe the experience. That crisis was not just a spiritual event, it was the beginning of a transformational revolution. That revolution continues to transform me today. And I love it! I have been redeemed and I am being redeemed. It is seldom a “feel good” experience but it is always followed by refreshment.
The root of the English word redeemed is obviously “deem,” meaning to consider or judge. Its meaning is very close to the word “believe.” To “re-deem” then is to reconsider what I have been believing. It is the awakening to what I have been considering as truth, is not truth at all. That is hard to admit. No one likes to admit they are and have been wrong. Could it be this is where people have a hard time becoming a follower of Jesus Christ? They cannot accept that they are wrong, and He is right. They find solace in their comfort zone of being at least partially right or reasonably right. They, we, deem ourselves as having an acceptable level of rightness. In the end only what God deems as acceptable is acceptable.
Racism is the distance between what I deem as an acceptable person and what God deems as an acceptable person. To be redeemed then, is to rethink what I have been “deeming” and reject what is not acceptable to God, regardless how humiliating the experience might be to me. That is only the first half of being redeemed. The second half is to begin to align my “deeming” with God’s “deeming.” Racism will vanish when we see people the way God sees people. How does “God deem” people? That is what the Bible is all about. We are not free to pick and choose or modify what He says. Truly, there are points we cannot explain but there is enough easily understood to know He is our Redeemer. We adapt to His way or we continue to disobey. Such Biblical “redeeming” cleans the air of the toxic fumes of hate and fear, and the stagnate air of resentment. If we have problems with another person’s ethnicity or gender, we have a bigger problem with God. God will not miraculously remove racism until Jesus returns. He will, however, reveal it, and use us to remove the scourge.
This redemption is not limited to the issue of racism. It necessary to everything we “deem.” Nor, is this a new idea, the Apostle Paul talked about it, read Ephesians 5:15-17. Verse sixteen gives us a piece of great and timely advice, “…redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (NKJV)
Photo – mine
Baldwin Heirlooms 