ACSI Research Fellow Program

Jesus Set the Table 
 
Long before Black History Month or America existed, a precedent was set that defied the common “logic” of that day and has positively impacted many people’s minds and actions to this day. This precedent was set by none other than the one true God, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Savior of humanity, Jesus the Christ. During His eternity-shifting life on Earth, Jesus corrected the corrupt logic that it is acceptable for people to devalue one another. 
 
Before I proceed with my central point, let me amplify the truth that all humanity is priceless. How did we get this way? God, our Maker, has created us “very” well (Genesis 1:31; Psalm 139:14), “in His image” (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 5:1), and He personally became one of us (Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 2:14a), in order to sacrifice His life for us (Hebrews 2:14b; 2 Peter 3:9), and make eternal redemption possible (John 3:16-17; Romans 10:9-10). No human being has any more or any less value than any other human being. (Matthew 22:39; James 2:8-9) Now, back to the timeless precedent Jesus Christ has set. 
 
A persistent example of human mistreatment during Christ’s 1st century earthly era was Jewish people’s inhumane treatment of Samaritan (part Jewish, part non-Jewish) people. 
 
“...Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. …” 
– John 4:9, NLT 
 
So, how did Jesus Christ, the Jewish God-Man, interact with this sinful social norm? Like all other areas of His life, He did what pleased God the Father (John 8:28-29). God the Father is pleased when people are loved in a Christ-like manner (John 15:12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). So, how did Christ love Samaritan people? 
 

• Jesus (and His disciples) shared His life-saving gospel with Samaritan people. (Luke 9:52; John 4:1-42; Acts 8:5, 25) 
   

• Jesus commended the Christ-like actions of Samaritan people. (Luke 10:30-37; Luke 17:11-17) 
   

• Jesus dismissed hateful speech about Samaritan people. (John 8:48-51) 
    

Ultimately, Jesus announced and upheld the priceless value of Samaritan people. 
 
Why did Jesus go to such lengths to acknowledge and affirm this people group? In addition to loving them, I believe He wanted to send the message that no portion of humanity gets to set the narrative (especially an unloving narrative) for any other portion of humanity. In a book that is God’s Word (John 1:1-4; 2 Peter 1:20-21), written by Jewish men and exhaustively containing the history of Jewish people, Jesus decided to favorably feature a group of people who were despised by Jewish people. Here’s the irony. Samaritan people were Jewish people. They just weren’t considered to be Jewish “enough” in most Jewish people’s perspective. Nevertheless, Christ cherished their wholly God-designed humanity and created space for small portions of Samaritan history to be known, preserved, and valued through His flawless and timeless Word. Does this sound familiar? Jesus set a precedent for all people to celebrate the humanity and non-sinful activities of all people. 
 
Carter’s Christ-like Quest 
 
I’m glad Black History Month exists in America. It’s an annual, amplified opportunity for people in our society to practice what Jesus Christ practiced in the 1st century: affirming a people group that has been historically devalued, dehumanized, and despised. How did Black History Month come to be in America? The history of Black History Month began when a Virginia-born, late-19th century man’s dream became a reality. 
 
He was a son of former slaves who graduated from an all-Black school named after Frederick Douglass (in Huntington, West Virginia) in 1897. In 1903, he graduated from the American South’s first-ever co-educational and interracial school (Berea College in Berea, Kentucky). He later earned a master’s degree from the University of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) in 1908 before becoming the second Black American to receive a doctoral degree from Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts) in 1912. His name is Dr. Carter G. Woodson. 
 
During his adult life, Carter served as a church deacon and Sunday school teacher. He also worked as an elementary school teacher, high school principal, and college dean. As a Ph.D. of history, he developed a passion for researching and preserving historic artifacts related to the history of Black Americans. It was his idea to create “(Black) History Week” in 1926 (later earning him the nickname “The Father of Black History”). And he chose to place this special initiative during the second week of February (in honor of President Abraham Lincoln’s February 12th and Frederick Douglass’s February 14th birthdays). In 1970, a group of students from Kent State University extended this annual amplification of the history of Black Americans, and “Black History Month” was born. Helpful historic acknowledgments of this initiative occurred when President Gerald Ford publicly acknowledged Black History Month in 1976 and President Ronald Reagan signed the annual February observance of it into law in 1986. 
 
On February 7, 2026, the organized celebration of Black history in America turned 100 years old. The endurance of Black History Month in America is an achievement in and of itself. But what would Christ have us (all Christians) set out to achieve in relation to Black History Month? What did He set out to achieve in relation to Samaritans? Didn’t He tell stories of Samaritan-related Christian evangelism, service, and dignity? And can’t we do the same with Black American history? 
 
Christian Evangelism in Black American History 
 
Just as students of the Bible can learn about a Samaritan evangelist like “the woman at the well” (John 4), students of Black American history can learn of barrier-breaking Christian preachers like Harry Hosier and Richard Allen. 
 
Harry Hosier was an illiterate man who became a Christian evangelist. In relation to his preaching, he was described as “the greatest orator in America” by Benjamin Rush (Founding Father of the United States and signer of the Declaration of Independence). Opinions like this about Black Americans were unheard of during the 18th century. In 1794, a Black American named Richard Allen founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church denomination. Not out of a segregationist desire, but because Black Americans weren’t yet treated equally or permitted to serve as church leaders in any other American denomination. 
 
Both Harry Hosier and Richard Allen’s lives were positively impacted by a British American missionary named Francis Asbury. Francis directly influenced Harry’s preaching (the first Black American to preach to a White congregation) and presided over Richard’s ordination as a church leader (the second ordination of a Black American). 
 
Christ-like Service by Black Americans 
 
In the 1800s, a Black American woman named Harriet Tubman displayed exceptional grit and faith in God during her remarkable life on Earth. With God’s help, she personally escaped her unjust enslavement. Then, she returned to slaveholding territory more than a dozen times, rescuing approximately 70 people from slavery. 
 
She was nicknamed “Moses” by those who heard the inspiring stories of her rescue missions. Upon hearing about her amazing accomplishments, some slavecatchers assumed she was a male. She continued to defy the odds while serving in the United States Union Army, during which she helped liberate more than 700 enslaved people and is believed to be the first woman in U.S. history to lead an armed military operation. And for all she accomplished, who did Harriet choose to glorify? “Twant me. Twas the Lord. I always told Him, ‘I trust You. I don’t know where to go or what to do, but I expect You to lead me.’ And He always did.” 
 
Harriet’s mindset was shared by a Black American named Tony Dungy, who publicly and repeatedly made his devout Christianity known. On February 4, 2007 (the first week of Black History Month), he became the first Black American head coach to lead an NFL team to a championship (the Colts first championship since the team moved to Indianapolis). As proud as Tony was of these personal and team accomplishments, he was more proud of his Savior. He set out to “put the Lord first, even at the Super Bowl.” “Every decision I make in life, I’m going to make it through the lens of Jesus Christ. My own feelings, thoughts, and desires are going to be second.” Tony refers to Christ as his “Head Coach” and “the guide to ultimate victory.” 
 
Upholding Christ’s View of Black Americans 
 
After being the victim of a racially motivated assault, a 19th-century Black American, former slave, and pastor named Elisha W. Green went on the record in a courtroom and told a judge that he did not like being called the N-word. God doesn’t like unloving name-calling either. (Ephesians 4:29) 
 
In both the Pulitzer Prize-winning book and Oscar-winning movie titled “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Atticus Finch instructs his daughter Scout not to say the N-word. To have this widely revered White, fictional character condemn America’s most infamous racial slur was a helpful event in America’s long history of creating and weaponizing godless words against one another. May modern-day Christians responsibly lead society by condemning all forms of unloving speech. 
 
Jesus Christ is the most mistreated being in earthly history. He was called “Satan” and “demon-possessed” (the most blasphemous slurs) (Matthew 12:24; John 8:52). His name is constantly used as a curse word. He has been misrepresented and mocked countless times, not to mention the torturous treatment He received (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:47-50, 67-68; Matthew 27:26, 35) on that excruciating Good Friday (John 19:30-31, 42). Yet, He is always and only worthy of our highest praises, deepest love, and endless devotion. Contrary to the ways He has been mercilessly mistreated, Christ has declared all humanity to be worthy of receiving the highest form of love from one another (Leviticus 19:34; 1 John 4:7-12). 
 
Wouldn’t it be great if we all strived to give God what He wants and deserves? He wants us to love Him thoroughly (Mark 12:30). He wants us to love each other like He loves us (John 13:34). He wants us to love all humanity like we love ourselves (Galatians 5:14). He wants us to defy society’s ways when they despise His image bearers. He simply wants us to make better history (God-glorifying and people-refining history). 
 
After a century of celebrating Black history in America, let’s refrain from reviving racial rivalry. Instead, let’s pursue biblical unity. Let’s reflect wisely about the past and present. And let’s resolve to live Christ’s way (all of His ways) going forward. If we do things His way, who knows, maybe one day America will call one of its other months “Biblical Unity Month.” 
 
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” 
– Jeremiah 32:27