Donald Sterling

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander (Matthew 15:18-19).” We all have witnessed the firestorm that has erupted in the wake of the racist comments made by Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA. He is on the verge of losing everything! What if somebody produced a secretly recorded audio tape of me? Let’s say that in that audio tape I was heard saying things like, “You can only trust a White person as far as you can throw them” or “The only good White person is a dead one.” How about if a Black person asked me my thoughts on them dating a White person and I said, “I wouldn’t like it.” Let us say that you were my child, you married a White person and heard me say, “I wish they’d married somebody Black.” What would you think of me, especially given how much I talk about Jesus Christ and God’s grace? I would probably spend the rest of my life trying to rebuild my reputation, trying to repair broken relationships, asking for forgiveness from those hurt by my words, trying to reconcile my faith with my actions, possibly losing my job, my friends and wondering how I could continue to be a witness for Jesus Christ given the “black eye” I just put on the Christian faith. Now, I have never said any of these things, but all these comments are true and have been made by Black people about Whites. These people are not bad people, but if I was to out those people it could change their lives. But, it seems that society only focuses on racist comments made towards Blacks by Whites. But, if we are honest, we all have said things in private about other races that we would not want to become public knowledge. But, what it shows is how dark our hearts truly are inside. We know it when we see it in others, as is the case with Sterling’s comments, but we struggle to admit our own similar failings. We all like to think that we are “good” people and love to play the “victim” so as to look “innocent.” But, in truth, we are often just as guilty as those whose sins are publicly displayed. 

Therefore, when comments like those of Sterling are made public, we should take a moment and analyze our own hearts and minds. We love to misuse Matthew 7:1-2, where it reads, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” We like to use it as some sort of proof that we should never judge anybody. However, what Jesus is saying is that we should be judge ourselves by the same standards we are using to judge others. Therefore, while we can collectively “judge” Donald Sterling for his comments, let us not forget that we too struggle with an unclean heart that produces our own evil thoughts and actions. The Bible says that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” It is not just the Donald Sterling’s of the world that have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, it is all of us. That is why our only hope is faith in Jesus Christ. As tough as it may be, people like Donald Sterling need our prayers that they will come to the point where they realize their need for salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus died for Donald Sterling just like He died for you and me. Therefore, next time you want to pile on somebody for their sin, remember that Jesus Christ took your sins away by dying on the cross for you. You have been shown mercy by God for your sins. Perhaps, it is time to show others mercy for their sins.