When we lose our root in God and deny our obligation to Him, we turn our differences into our identity, rather than our joint likeness to God. The black man glories in his Black-ness, the white man boasts in his white skin. The gentleman boasts of his masculinity, and the lady takes pride in her feminine attributes. Instead of deriving our significance from the truth that we are humans created in God’s image and likeness, we find it in our colour or our gender. And then we oppose those who are different from us. Proceeding from the same Creator, our distinctions should spur collaboration and cooperation. However, we turn them into platforms for hate and strife.

We should recall the words of the 7th century Jewish prophet, Jeremiah:

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,

Let not the mighty man glory in his might,

Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

(Jer. 9:23-24)

Our identity lies in the God who made us and redeemed us.