A Southern Pastor: How Do I Turn Over My White Privilege?

Isaiah 41:10

Don’t fear, because I am with you; don’t be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will surely help you; I will hold you with my righteous strong hand.

To be honest, I am at a loss for words. I don’t know what to write.

As a child growing up in a small southern town, there were certain things I was sure of. I didn’t even think about them; I just knew they were true.

  1. People in charge of our country would always work to do what was best.
  2. Doctors, firemen, and policemen were always to be trusted.

I realize now that I was experiencing white privilege, and I don’t know how to respond to the realization that I was so wrong.

I listen to people whom I love and respect otherwise, discuss voting for a man who obviously knows nothing about the constitution and represents pure ignorance, prejudice, incompetence, and hate. They actually plan on voting for someone who belittles women, attacks Muslims, and encourages hate crimes. I don’t know how to respond to that anymore.

Everyday we hear of more violence, mass shootings, police brutality, hate crimes, and suicide. What can I write about that? What’s wrong with the world? What can fix it?

Love.

It really is that damn simple, people. Just love. And if anyone or anything is NOT representing love, deny it, stand up against it, and fight it. No more silence. Silence supports hate. Love out loud.

Love. In all things, for all people, in all situations. Shout it, show it, and use it to provide cover for those being denied it.

Love.

I apologize to everyone who has been hurt by my white privilege. I apologize to everyone who has been hurt by my silence which has protected discrimination and hate for so long. I apologize to everyone who is being denied love.

One person at a time. One acknowledgement at a time. One voice, one stand, one act at a time, it is up to those of us who love to turn the hate in this world around.

May the grace of God be with the families of those who have recently lost loved ones to the violence of this world. And may the grace of God strengthen those of us who are being called to stand up and turn that violence around.

1 Corinthians 13:13
Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.

“We all are Omar Mateen” by MIGUEL DE LA TORRE | JUNE 14, 2016

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdwkYZOz95M]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjzrvRKv6Ks]

Melanie Tubbs is a professor, pastor, mother, Mimi, and true Arkansas woman. She lives with nine cats and one dog on a quiet hill in a rural county where she pastors a church and teaches history at the local university. Her slightly addictive personality comes out in shameful Netflix binges and a massive collection of books. Vegetarian cooking, reading mountains of books for her seminary classes, and crocheting for the churches prayer shawl ministry take up most of her free time, and sharing the love of Christ forms the direction of her life. May the Peace of Christ be with You.