Asian Hate Crimes Intolerable
Evil is hideous. And in the outpouring of so many facets of it in the news we read about mass shootings at Atlanta spas. Eight people were killed. This is abominable. It is senseless evil. And in the attempt to understand such an egregious action investigators are sifting through the evidence to determine motive. In light of this tragedy emerging in a wave of Asian hate crimes, it only begs the question of it being a hate crime against Asians when six of the eight victims were Asian women.
The statistics reveal an increase in Asian hate crimes in the last year in light of the coronavirus. There have been 3796 incidents reported since March of last year. This amounts to 3 out of 5 Asians experiencing some incidence of a hate crime in the last year including violence, harrassment, discrimination and bullying. Even Jeremy Lin, a nine year NBA veteran was called ‘coronavirus’ on the court during a NBA G-league game. Furthermore, the statistics are only a partial glimpse of what is actually taking place in view of the Asian sentiment to stay quiet and do not report. The incidence of Asian hate crime is very underreported.
The Scripture is very clear on hate crimes against any person. It is diametrically opposed to the two greatest commandments in Matthew 22:36-40: 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
A hate crime, therefore, is not a mere infraction against a person but also an infraction against God. The theological weight of sin imports an inescapable gravity that crushes with infinite force. Sin against God is no small matter. And this makes the season of Lent so meaningful. We meditate on the very path that Jesus tread in order to defeat sin. How did Jesus do it? He was crushed. He paid the price for sin on the cross. He died, so that whoever believes in Him will live with a new heart. A new heart with an appetite to not sin and the very power of the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus.
This is why the church should be different. With the grievous news of tragic deaths in light of increasing Asian hate crimes, let us live out the gospel first in our community. How? Ephesians 4:2 says, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” Let us bear with one another in love. “Bear” means to endure something unpleasant or difficult on the behalf of someone else. And we bear with one another with humility, gentleness and patience. This is so important in light of how we all process grief differently. How do we make sense of Asian hate crimes? The very nature of racial dynamics presents a grenade ready to explode. We all process grief at different rates and at different perspectives. It is easy to become frustrated by what one does or does not see. Let us bear with one another in love as we point each other to Jesus and His gospel.
And in doing so we can be salt and light to a watching world. How else can we travel in a world fraught with so many sins? Even as we struggle with our own, there is hope in Jesus. He showed us in the gospel. Let us think along such things during this season of Lent. Let us grieve with those who are grieving. Let us bear with the burdens of others. Let us pray for the families who lost loved ones. Let us love the Lord with everything and love our neighbor as ourselves. Glory be to Christ in the highest!