Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, one of three black members of the U.S. Senate, recently discussed faith and race relations with Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Crusades. The interview, recorded for Harvest’s church services last weekend, touched on the subject of police reform ahead of the Senate’s unveiling of the “Justice Act.”
The “Justice Act” is the most ambitious policing reform proposal in a generation, a direct response to the massive public protests over the death of George Floyd and other black Americans. Senate Republicans unveiled proposed changes to police procedures and accountability on Wednesday, countering Democratic policing legislation with a bill that stays clear of federal mandates. Many activists, praising Republicans, have asked why Democrats under President Obama did not attempt to pass similar legislation.
“I can be pro-law enforcement and pro-communities of color,” Scott said. “You can be both. God is not colorblind. He actually loves diversity. He embraces diversity, and we should too, and we should treat each other according to Matthew 22, verse 39. We should treat each other as we would want to be treated.”
Watch the interview:
Scott said that ultimately, his relationship with Christ is what motivates and strengthens him to continue the fight against racism. He and Laurie agreed that God must be invited into the conversation if society is to see lasting change
“So if we’re going to treat the subject right, we have to view it not from my view up, but from the Lord’s view down, and that’s the best way for us to make progress in this nation,” he said. “And unfortunately, most of us are picking sides. Choose the Lord’s side. And I don’t mean to be overly religious, because in my opinion, this is not about religion. This is about a personal relationship that transformed the way I see others, because it first transformed how I see myself. And if I will take that new transformed self, who, before I was saved, I was filled with iniquity, driven by sin, driven by my instinctual luxuries or lusts, so to speak.
“Now, as a born-again believer, I’m driven by the gospel of Jesus Christ, so I don’t look for a black solution or a white solution or a blue solution. I look for a God solution. And that means I have to start there, end there and in the middle, stay there.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice