Redlining People

Jesus gave command, “Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19), and go we must. But for some making disciples can become a stone of offense.

There is a term, “Redlining” was coined in the late 1960s by John McKnight, a sociologist and community activist referred to a practice that began with the National Housing Act of 1934, which established the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Plainly speaking is was a practice of denying, or charging more for, services such as banking, insurance, access to health care, or even supermarkets, or denying jobs to residents in particular geographic areas. The use of blacklists – used by redliners to keep track of groups, areas, and people that the discriminating party felt should be denied business or aid or other support. It refers to the practice of marking a red line on a map to delineate the area where banks would not invest; later the term was applied to discrimination against a particular group of people Blacks, Jews, Indian, Latinos, Asians etc.

For some Christians, this is a spiritual practice. Not in the sense that Christians draw redlines on maps to delineate areas where they won’t evangelize. But because they “feel” like they can’t talk to someone based on different backgrounds, different cultures, different education, even different skin color can for some be intimidating. Some examples of the you might relate to. You’re a Christian and you have an appointment with your doctor. You feel like talking to him or her about Jesus but you don’t. Why? Because you also feel intimidated, like they are “higher” up the scale than you because of their title, “Dr.”. Another example, you’re out doing door-to-door work and you come across a man who intimidates you because of his apparel and size. That is he is a very large man wearing black leather, tattoos all over, scraggly beard, and a chained wallet, i.e., a motorcycle gang look. So, you again feel intimidated and you pass him by and go to the next house. Many examples like this can be sighted including ones perceived attitude, skin color, and ethnicity.

For most Christians, this can happen without malice or intent. Many are just intimidated, because they don’t feel like they can reach the person, the feel inadequate for the task. This is true in many areas of life, work, play, and school. But when we, as Christians, don’t speak to others of Jesus because of this, we are sinning, and we are forgetting the command of Christ, and the power of God. Fact is, if you are a Christian, you know what must be done to be reconciled to God, so just say that, and remember that if you don’t you are guilty of allowing your shame to hinder another. Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel [a]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).

Note that this is a two part lesson, here we will open our eyes to the practice of redlining others because we don’t feel capable, and in the second lesson we’ll discuss the opposite where others redline Christians because of their beliefs.