In the past two weeks, the media has spotlighted a new social issue: Asian hate crimes. These are crimes against people of Asian descent for their hereditary characteristics. I fully accept the fact that there are people in this world who hate other people. Pick any physical contrast that exists, and someone will become violent over it somewhere, sometime: skinny, fat, short, tall, dark skin, light skin, somewhere-in-between skin, teeth, no teeth, crooked teeth, blind, deaf, mute, amputee, birth defect, etc. People who want to hate others find a reason to do so.
Do you want a unified, compassionate, and loving society? Do you want all divisions to disappear? If you do, then you share one of the goals of Jesus Christ. John 3:16 teaches that Jesus was given on the cross for the salvation of “the world.” He died for every person because He loves every person, and He has commanded all who follow Him to show that same love (John 15:12). Jesus died to bring all people together by bringing all people to God (Eph. 2:14-16).
Contrary to popular opinion, following Christ is not what divides people. Those who follow Christ are one with each other (cf. Rom. 12:15-18; Gal. 3:26-29; 1 Cor. 1:10; 12:25). Those who follow Christ value every person equally. Following Christ is what unites all people together.
No number of lawsuits or inflammatory news stories will bring about the unity that so many desperately desire. The only way to create a unified, compassionate, and loving society is to follow Jesus and obey His commands. Every other approach will only result in the alienation of another subsection of humanity. As you see the protests and hear the pleas for equal treatment, remember that through His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus created the only place where all enjoy true equality: the church (cf. Acts 2:44-47; Js. 2:1). You are welcome to enter (Acts 10:34-35, 48).
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