The Bible’s Take on Systemic Sin

Every February, Black History Month helps us reflect on how our nation’s racial past informs our present—to acknowledge the enduring effects of racial injustice and the need for systemic reform, both in society and in the church.

Systemic sin refers to the idea that human sinfulness is not just about wrong actions of individuals; communities, governments, nations, cultures, and other social institutions can also be sinful. As a result, the call to repentance and justice extends beyond personal morality and applies to broader systems. This means we don’t just have our own personal duty; our societies also carry a collective responsibility to combat racism.

As theologian José Ignacio González Faus writes, “When human beings sin, they create structures of sin, which, in turn, make human beings sin.” Insofar as laws can be sinful, Christians have a responsibility to oppose them and try to create just systems. This should not be controversial. Yet many of the same Christians who advocate for laws banning abortion or protecting free speech and religion simultaneously oppose talking about systemic sin.