Many of us might have not seen it brewing, some do not think still that it is a reason to be concerned, but there was a storm on Saturday when Nazis and white nationalists took to the streets to protest the removal of a statue of the general of an army that fought in favor of slavery and oppression. This was not the first time hatred expressed itself among us. This has happened for so long, this has happened among you, and it will continue to happen again. For those whose skin color seems to be the wrong one, this is not a new revelation. Non-whites are the victims of continuous selective storms, which have been a reality for them since they were born. And they have also known those same storms actually work in favor of white people. These are realities that are not up for debate, and the response of the church should not be either.

But see, we learn to ignore the storms because we think we can only make it at the expense of others. We think some have to go without so that we can get what we desire. Suddenly we are the ones causing the storm because it is through our hands that others are oppressed. For many who claim to be part of the church in the United States, the storms have been at their hands even after 150 years since slavery was abolished. Supremacy is equated with a religious tradition, patriotism is linked with the Christ, and entitlement is blended with beatitudes. In the end, the latter are nothing but empty images that are used to carry awful monstrosities. When we think our race is more important, the Christian faith cannot be claimed at the same time. When we put a nation above others, then Christ is not the one we follow. And when we claim that our victories over the bodies of those we have persecuted are signs of God’s blessings, we are not talking about the God of Jesus Christ. These are storms that the church is dealing with now.

While the storms lash out around us we hear the voice of Jesus say, “come.” In Matthew 14, the disciples were in the middle of the lake, struggling with the wind and the waves, when Jesus appeared to them and told them to not be afraid. “If that really is you,” Peter says, “then call me to go walk in the water towards you.” Jesus tells him to come, and though Peter at first is able to do so, he begins to doubt. The doubts of Peter turn into fear and he begins to sink in the water. “You of little faith,” Jesus says, “why did you doubt me?” Centuries of systematic oppression can seem impossible to defeat, and it is understandable. After all, when has that not been a reality in our lives? Like Peter, we know that Jesus can walk over water, but we are different, we have always sunk in the water when we stepped in it. Why would it be different now? We would prefer for Jesus not to call us anyway; that way we would not have to face what has always been impossible. The good news for us is that we get the bad news that Jesus is calling us to walk into that storm. Have faith that Christ is here, and now we can take courage.

Many people have shown the darkness in the United States by abusing their freedom to express their hatred; others have expanded that darkness by remaining silent. But the good news Christ has called us to announce is so real that it speaks to that darkness. Racism is not in the kingdom of God, though it has been among us for centuries; it is a corruption God has come to do away with. The storm is very real, and it may feel impossible to defeat. Oh, and it will hurt a lot when it strikes back at us. But Christ is still calling us to come. Christ has defeated the storm, Christ has done away with white supremacy, so the church must have faith and follow the true Christ. To live that is more than just seeing what we thought would always be impossible to do away with. To live the kingdom of God in us is to demand and bring about the reality that God has made and loved all humans, without preferences. That is the ultimate reality and because it has been promised to us, we have to then live that reality now. The church must act now and do away with the selfish desires we have adopted. In Christ we are not American or Un-American, we are not white or non-white, and we are not conservative or liberal. Those are not realities, only Christ is. So while many want to carry the mantle of white supremacy and oppression against people of color, may you carry the good news that Christ has come and defeated that empty and idiotic idea. Racism and white supremacy are not in the kingdom we wait for, and though we may often fear going into the storm, we must have faith. We must have faith because Christ has told us what is truly real.

The reality is that Christ lives; Christ will reign forever. Not white supremacy.