Race?... Human!
JOHN PERKINS, 1930-2026
Friend of Humanity
I shouldn’t be so ornery. The medical questionnaire just wanted to know my race, and gave me the typical options: African American, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, White, or Other. On the line next to “Other” I scrawled, “HUMAN!”[1] I didn’t have my yellow highlighter with me, so the caps would have to do. It’s a lesson I learned from John Perkins, who learned it from the apostle Peter.
Love covers a multitude of sins.[2] Love takes no delight in exposing others’ faults and sins, but covers them in mercy. The “earnestness” of love comes from a word related to “stretching,” and sometimes loving others becomes a stretch indeed. “The love of the saints keeps stretching, in both depth and endurance…. It is the reach of God’s love that stretches our love…. Our love cannot, of course, pay the price of sin. Christ did that. But our love can imitate the mercy of God; our love can forgive, and forgiveness always pays a price.”[3]
John Perkins, World Magazine’s 2020 “Daniel of the Year,”[4] paid that price. During his childhood in Mississippi, a police officer senselessly shot and killed John’s older brother, and at age 39 the police brutally beat John for his civil rights activities. He spoke with prophetic wisdom and authority that the church must hear.
John’s take on racial conflict was both shocking and refreshing. He urged us to strive for “multiethnic” or “biblical” reconciliation rather than fixating on race. “There is no black race—and there is no white race. So the idea of ‘racial reconciliation’ is a false idea. It’s a lie. It implies that there is more than one race. The concept of the black race and the white race originated with the Enemy himself. All people, all kindred, all nations, all tongues. One blood.”
In the end, only a Gospel-driven mindset permeating the entire church will allow us to listen, to speak, and to learn from each other—yet still remain unified even when we profoundly disagree on certain issues. The stakes are high. As John Perkins says, “If we are going to help others understand who Jesus is, our own lives must reflect His character and love. It is at this precise moment that the watching world gets a glimpse of Him.” May we believe, and proclaim, and live out that Great News of our Savior, born in a manger, crucified, risen, and reigning. His name is Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered![5]
Now to the Lamb upon the throne
Be blessing, honor, glory, power
For the battle You have won
Hallelujah!
With every tribe and every tongue
We join the anthem of the angels
In the triumph of the Son
Hallelujah! Amen[6]
[1] The official version on my medical record is “Patient refuses to answer.” My recall of the details on the questionnaire might not be completely accurate, but it’s close to this account here.
[2] Peter quotes Proverbs 10:12, Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. Such “covering” often means dropping the matter entirely, but sometimes involves active engagement with a view toward repentance: Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses (27:5-6). This attitude should be toward all people.
[3] Edmund Clowney, The Message of 1 Peter: The Way of the Cross (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1988), p. 180.
[4] All quotes of Perkins are from the 11/21/20 issue. Full article at https://world.wng.org/2020/11/after_an_election_reconciliation. I met this godly man in the mid-1970s and recall his gentleness, humility, courage, love for his opponents, and his single-minded commitment to serve Christ no matter the cost. By word and example, he impacted many for service in Christ’s Kingdom.
[5] Matthew 1:21; Psalm 32:1; Romans 4:7
[6] Chorus of “Christus Victor,” Bryan Fowler, Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa; © 2024 Getty Music Hymns and Songs
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