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Which brings me back to Michael Richards. The actor's PR guy informed the media that Richards has already begun psychiatric counseling to manage his anger. I sincerely hope he's able to do that and move on with his life. But more than that, I hope he's able to get to the spiritual root of his problems and experience true restoration. The kind of nastiness that came out of his mouth will require more than high-powered spin-doctoring and surface-level therapy to expunge.

We may never be able to laugh at Kramer the same way again. But if he could somehow help us be more honest with ourselves about the insidious nature of racial sin and our need to address it in more substantive—and not just symbolic—ways, then perhaps a comedian's startling outburst could inspire a profound season of healing and truth.

Edward Gilbreath is an editor at large for Christianity Today magazine and the author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity (InterVarsity Press, 2006).

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Edward Gilbreath's book, Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity, is available at Christianbook.com and other retailers.

The video of Michael Richards's comedy club outburst (warning: lots of profanity and offensive language) is available on YouTube. He later apologized on Jesse Jackson's radio show and on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Other Christianity Today articles on race and reconciliation include:

Behold, the Global Church| It's time we figured out how to talk--and listen--to one another. (November 17, 2006)

Catching Up with a Dream| Evangelicals and Race 30 Years After the Death of Martin Luther King, Jr. By Edward Gilbreath (March 2, 1998)

CT Classic: Catching Up with a Dream (Part 2)| Church as Conscience (January 1, 2000)

CT Classic: Catching Up with a Dream (Part 3)| Just Not Getting It (January 1, 2000)

We Can Overcome| A CT forum examines the subtle nature of the church's racial division—and offers hope. (October 2, 2000)

Divided by Faith?| A recent study argues that American evangelicals cannot foster genuine racial reconciliation. Is our theology to blame? (October 2, 2000)

Matters of Opinion: Racial Reconciliation: After the Hugs, What?| The next step for racial reconciliation will be harder. February 3, 1997)

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