Below is a two-part response to the events of Aug. 13th, 2017 in Charlottesville, VA that were originally shared with True Vine Church Community in Philadelphia, PA:

Part One
As many of you know, horrific events unfolded and escalated into acts of terror in Charlottesville, VA this weekend.

In protest of the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, white nationalists, white supremacists and KKK members gathered in Charlottesville over the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon violence erupted between white supremacists protesters and counter-protesters. The violence escalated to the point of a man driving a speeding car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing 1 and injuring 19 before fleeing the scene.

This is the most recent manifestation of a deep division in our country.

As a Pastor, to comment on these events is not a political pulpit privilege, but a spiritual leadership responsibility.

Being a member of a diverse church means respecting the rights and opinions of others on social and political issues, even when we disagree with them. For instance, I can understand and appreciate why some people voted for Hillary Clinton, even though I did not. I can also understand and appreciate why some people voted for Donald Trump, even though I did not vote for him.

I can understand why some people support stronger gun laws, while others oppose them. I understand both sides of the debate on things like healthcare. I understand how a variety of opinions can be held on these issues by legitimate, Bible-believing, God-fearing Christians.

But I am drawing a line in the sand when it comes to racial superiority. When one group of people believes that they are superior to another group of people based on race there is no need to seek to understand their perspective. Racial superiority is not simply a "difference of opinion", it is clearly contrary to the Bible. There is no legitimacy to this viewpoint. It's validity is not worth considering.

While I respect and value the right to free speech of all Americans, even hate groups, I am called by God to pledge allegiance to First Commandment Responsibilities rather than First Amendment Rights.

The First or Greatest Commandment, as taught by Jesus is that:
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” - Matt. 22.38-40

It seems impossible to me to love God with all of my being and love my neighbor as myself while viewing them as inferior on the basis of race. White people alone were not made in the image of God, ALL PEOPLE are made in the image of God.

Racial superiority is incompatible with scripture and bears terrible results. With that in mind I would like to make it clear that no form of racial superiority will be tolerated in this church.

I am sensitive to the fact that every person has experiences and biases to work out over time by submitting them to Christ. The person who admittedly struggles with prejudice and racist attitudes and is actively trying to get free from them is welcome here. But the person who is unapologetically prejudiced toward another group on the basis of the myth of racial superiority is not welcome here. I love you, but if you're not willing to repent, you have to go.

When we become aware of fragments of racial superiority in our hearts, the Biblical response is repentance. As God brings to mind biases, prejudices and fears, repent of those attitudes and cooperate with the renewing of your mind.

I believe that in many ways our church has been called to lead in this area. I want to encourage you to use your voice, in the tone of love and rooted in scripture, to shed light on the sin of racial superiority. Talk to your kids about why it's evil. Mourn with the victims of it. Call attention to it when you encounter it. Pray against it.

I believe that many Americans have been lulled into a misconception that racism is dead. Clearly, it's not. Racism and bias are not limited to America, white people, or the 20th and 21st centuries. Racism has existed forever and could possibly go on to exist forever.

The issue that we must address is whether racism and bigotry will be tolerated here. I can assure you that on my watch it will not and I am imploring you to not only join me in this fight, but to join me in our First Commandment methods...to cultivate a deep and abiding love for God that results in a deep and compassionate love for all of our neighbors regardless of race. This is the method prescribed by Jesus. It has yet to be tried in earnest in America. I'm eager to see the power of this method released in our church, city and nation.

Part Two
Going out on a limb here...

To my fellow white people, right now some of us don't know what to make of this weekends events in Charlottesville, VA. Some of us are deeply grieved, some of us are confused and some of us are defensive.

Some of us have taken this opportunity to justify being defensive by claiming that "racism isn't just a white thing" and that you yourself have been the victim of prejudice or discrimination based on race. And you know what, I BELIEVE YOU!

I myself can name 5 or 6 times in my life that I have been demeaned or discriminated against based on my race. Which brings me to my first point; If you can count the number of times that you have been discriminated against and still have some fingers left over, I don't think you should compare that to another person who has lost count of the number of times that they've been discriminated against.

And that brings me to my second point, the small handful of times that I have been treated poorly because I am white made me feel terrible. It also made me think, "this must be what some people go through every day." Rather than using that rare occasion where someone treated you poorly as an opportunity to dismiss the lifelong struggle of another person or group of people, maybe you should use it as a chance to relate and empathize.

If I broke my wrist, I wouldn't go up to a person with no arm and say; "Hey man, I've been there, suck it up." If I'm at all decent, I would say, "My pain helps me relate and validate your pain."

Really I think a lot of this boils down to a willingness to relate to other people. If you are predisposed to relate well with others, you'll find common ground and the ability to empathize. If you're predisposed NOT to relate to others, you'll find a chance to find more reasons for division.