In this five-part series, pastors Bryan Loritts and Matt Chandler use Paul’s words in Ephesians to address race, racism, and injustice. Through teaching and honest dialogues, Bryan and Matt will unpack the hard truths about America’s racial past and present and suggest a pathway forward of healing, justice, and hope for multiethnic harmony in the church.
Ephesians 2:11–16 carries a unique importance regarding an issue that has plagued American churches since the conception of America itself—racism. The doubt and frustration surrounding current conversations about race and ethnicity provoke questions like, “Why do we keep bringing racism up?” “Isn’t race just a social construct?” and “Isn’t there just one race—the human race?” However, our nation has come to a turning point where many Christians can no longer ignore racial tensions or use simplistic responses to deflect from the complexity of our country’s racial problem. As those who follow Jesus, Christians have the unique opportunity to enter into—rather than shy away from—conversations about race and reconciliation in light of the hope of the gospel.