Make Us One

A Discussion for Women on Racial Reconciliation

By Adrianna Anderson

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.” Acts 17:26

Are we talking about race again? Yes, but maybe in a way you have never heard before. The topic of RACE has the propensity to evoke a variety of emotions, thoughts, and feelings in most of us. Cultural jargon from “CRT” to “woke” to “cancel culture” permeates our society and has caused division, angst, and conflict between people. This topic has divided those who once called themselves friends and enjoyed fellowship with one another. Sadly, the statistics on race relations have not improved dramatically over the last few generations. According to Lifeway Research, a survey amongst pastors said that churches should work to be racially diverse, but most are not on track to do so. Another study by Lifeway Research shows that Americans are at almost a 50/50 split on their optimism on race relations. So, with all this data and information, you may ask yourself, “why even bother?”

When looking to have conversations on topics of race, it can be challenging to know where to begin, and it can often feel weighty and complex. As Christians, we find the answers to all of life’s issues in the Word of God, and there is no exception when it comes to the topic of race. God’s Word has a lot to say about the subject of racial reconciliation but unfortunately, so does today’s culture. The voices in society today will tell you not to talk about race, to avoid the topic altogether, but God calls us not to hide from challenging issues but to deal with them in a Christlike manner. The question is, which voice will you listen to? Gods or the worlds? Scripture admonishes Christians to listen to God’s Word above all else and to measure everything against His standards of truth.

So, how did we get here, to this place and space in time? I would challenge you to think about issues along the lines of race differently: the cause of this cultural divide is sin. The sinful hearts of mankind over generations brought us to this divisive place.

Consider these fundamental truths when looking at this topic through a Biblical lens.

1. In the beginning, God created male and female in His image (Genesis 1:26-26).
2. Sin entered the world, and God issued punishments for sin (Genesis 3).
3. From here, everything became broken and marred, including our relationships with each other (Romans 5:12).
4. Jesus died willingly to pay for our sins (Romans 5:8).
5. Jesus came to reconcile us with God and each other (1 Timothy 2:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21).

Where do we begin? Consider these ten steps.

1. Search God’s Word for what He has to say about loving all people and the direct implications of this truth on the Great Commission and His command to make disciples of all nations.
2. Everyone you meet is an image-bearer with dignity, worth and value because God says they are. You can value everyone’s voice and opinion whether or not you agree with them.
3. Love overcomes evil. Remember, there is no need to argue with anyone about race. It’s okay to agree to disagree and still love people. Don’t fear addressing difficult issues but do so in a safe environment.
4. Culture and society do not dictate the truth on the topic of race. God’s Word does.
5. Educate yourself with biblically sound tools and resources on the topic of race.
6. Prayer is the single most important thing you can do when seeking to engage in the area of race. Ask The Lord to open your eyes to what His Word says about this topic.
7. Be honest about where you are on this topic. If you have never broached the issue of race or are somewhere in the middle, it’s okay to ask for help if you don’t know or understand something. It’s never too late to start.
8. Search Scripture: many verses and passages about unity and reconciliation are specific to the topic of race.
9. Reach out: This next point can feel uncomfortable for you, but it requires prayer and courage. Ask yourself if your circle of friends looks exactly like you. If they do, I would ask you to be open to getting to know other women who don’t look like you. You might think you can’t do that or aren’t ready to, but God desires you to reach out to all people, for He made all in His image and likeness. There is a deep joy in getting to know women who do not look like you. We can learn from each other, and we all have more in common than we don’t.
10. Perfection is not required. Any work you do on this topic is positive. God doesn’t require perfection, but He does want us to be willing. He will help us as we take steps to learn.

As I wrap up this time with you, I want to encourage you to remember the ‘why’ behind the work. The time we take to engage with those who look different from us matters in eternity. God loves people, and because He does, we should too. Our words, actions, and how we treat people different from us matter to God and impact others. Jesus’s final prayer on earth was that believers would be perfectly one, just as He and His Father are one, so that the world would believe in Him (John 17:1-26). My prayer continues to be, Lord Jesus, make us one.
Join me in making this your prayer and endeavor as you start (or continue) the work toward racial unity.

Adrianna Anderson is passionate about teaching, mentoring, counseling and equipping women to fulfill their role in God’s kingdom and seeing women in leadership positions. She has a deep love for missions, apologetics and biblical literacy. 

She has served and worked in various roles of leadership including women’s ministry and missions. She has ministered to women in prisons throughout Alabama, has served for many years with the ministry of Teen Challenge and is committed to sharing the gospel in many forums. She has written content for women that is currently used by Samford University’s Ministry Training Institute geared towards women in leadership. 

Adrianna a native New Yorker has been an executive for multiple organizations in corporate America. She is bilingual and enjoys running, writing, reading, Bible journaling and photography. Married at 21, she became a widow at the age of 24. Soon after, God called her to serve Him as a missionary to Mexico where she taught English in a Christian school and served the people of the local city. After returning from the mission field, God lovingly brought Gregory into her life and they have been married for 15 years. Gregory and Adrianna teach on the topic of racial unity and have consulted other churches on launching racial unity strategies and are deeply committed to the ministry of reconciliation in the body of Christ.