"In Christ there is no difference between Jew and Greek, slave and free person, male and female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus." --Galatians 3:28 NCV
This is not a proclamation that was understood by the Arkansas hospital administrator who refused to allow my 12-year-old brother to receive care from that facility. He had to be taken to the hospital for poor black folks, which resulted in his death because it was 80 miles away. It is quite likely that administrator considered himself to be a Christian and thought he was doing his duty by upholding the commitment to segregation. Though the cultural rules have changed now to some extent and such a scene might not occur in the 21st century, there is still too much suffering in America because of the racial polarization that continues to exist, and the church is one of the main places where it is most prevalent.
It hardly seems that Christians are a group of people who live with the understanding that Jesus brought in a new way of seeing and being as the Hebrew writer tells us, "Christ brings a new agreement from God to his people" (Hebrews 9:15 NCV). This agreement makes it possible "to come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this through faith in Christ" (Ephesians 3:12 NCV). These words make it very difficult to imagine how any Christian could seek a path that does not lead to reconciliation. But it is still true that the traditional hour of worship on Sunday at 11 a.m. continues to be highly segregated, and even in the case where there is a small number of members of color in many congregations, the power centers of the church continue to be controlled mostly by white men.
The same comittment to the status quo that was alive and well in the administrator at the hospital where my father took my brother continues to find those who are on that path. Instead of searching for the courage and faith that their Christian commitment calls them to seek so they can become willing to cross all of the borders of division that they encounter, they console themselves with assertions about the differences that they see in their sisters and brothers of color. When these thoughts are entertained long enough they become quite convincing, and it becomes easier and easier to resort to the old agreements of division and polarization than to embrace the truth that there is indeed a new agreement which has made us all one in God's eyes.
Historically, African Americans have made great strides toward trying to build bridges in the churches. Those efforts were met mostly with less-than-genuine enthusiasm in regards to bringing about long-term change because it takes more than pulpit swapping and a few shared potluck dinners or chruch picnics to build substantial bridges that can bear the weight of the historical divisions and lead to new beginnings for all. Racial reconciliation is not optional. It is God's intention to reconcile all of humanity and it is a good idea for modern day Christians to become more intentional about it if there is any real interest in following God and seeking God's will.
Paul told the Ephesians that "they come before God without fear," and these words can help anyone who is trying to pay attention to the call upon their life to build bridges. This work cannot be done without going before God. It is not easy to cross cultural and racial borders that have never been crossed before and to begin to forge new relationships across major differences. But the understanding of God's support in this matter will be the source of the courage that is needed to take such steps. It seems rather clear that white churches will stay white and black churches will stay black until there is a recommitment to the task of adhering to God's will for reconciliation. It will call for some sacrifices and they generally need to be made by whites who benefit the most from the privilege of the system and who need to express their willingness to take the first steps to show that they understand the new agreement and its call to reconciliation.
If the church cannot forge the path to racial reconciliation, it will not happen anywhere. This is the place where miracles occur. Whenever whites and blacks build a bridge of love, respect and true appreciation for one another, where genuine equity emerges, it is a miracle.
Perhaps you are reading this column and thinking about taking a first step on this journey to reconciliation. I encourage you to go ahead. Trust that the same faith and courage that got you to this point in your life will continue to hold you up as you attempt to follow the Lord, who has given you a spirit of love and power that will never leave you. Become the "change that you want to see."
What is hindering racial reconciliation in the church? - Desiring God
Racial Reconciliation | Christianity Today | A Magazine of ...
How Some White Evangelicals Hinder Racial Reconciliation (Race ...
Religion and Race: Can Megachurches Desegregate? - TIME
Race, Religion and Other Perilous Ground - NYTimes.com
Christianity : Pictures, Videos, Breaking News - Huffington Post
What would happen if people would sit in churches throughout the world for centuries with the image of an African American man as savior of the world before them? What would this do to the mind of the world's children? What would happen to the world's children put under a figure of a particular race presented, pitiable, and in pain "the Savior of all men?
Qur'ran, Surah 3, verse 64: " Say, Oh people of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but G-d, that we associate no partner with him, that we erect not from among ourselves lords and patrons other than G-d. If then they turn back, say ye "bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to G-d's will)."
Civilized nations should want that their religions be also civilized. False worship is the worst form of
oppression. We are no gods. We are only men, "mortals from the mortals, He (Allah) created." (Qur'an)
So the thing is, churches need money to stay afloat and how else other then money from members can they do that. I'm fine with that, but when they use tithing as a way to make you feel you have to in order to be with God, I'm not for that. Does a millionaire need to give 10%? I have seen how some pastors and preachers live and I'm thinking they have a couple wealthy followers who believe that.
I think the important thing is that if you believe in God or any higher power, then have that relationship ongoing, not just when you need something.
There are more reasons why I stay away from a church, but that's another story.
Racially and socio-economically.
This is not a proclamation that was understood by the Arkansas hospital administrator who refused to allow my 12-year-old brother to receive care from that facility."
I regret to inform you, Catherine, but not everybody is a Christian, and not everybody follows your "Jesus" the alleged "son of God". You are certainly welcome to believe as you see fit. The American Religion, after all, preaches a separation of Church and state. We are a secular country, filled with Darwinian seculars and are becoming more secular every day.
We believe in Father Darwin and the Survival of the Fittest, as the Eternal (and scientifically proven) Law of all Creation, and not in your "God created with world in 6 days" stuff.
You may wish that other members of the species would rather provide for the survival and advancement of your baby brother and not of their children, but such is the scientific reality of the world, of animals, and of humans, who are just another animal specieson the face of the earth.
Sadly, these faux christians often outshine the true christians (of which there are many) who not only embrace everyone as Christ did, they attempt to follow in His footsteps with outreach towards all who need it.
I think the Fundamentalist Movement has really put alot of people off of christianity because of their loud boisterous claims and involvement in politics. Those who slam christianity need to spend a day with a church who's members are true examples of Christ-I think they'd realize that just because one says he/she is a christian does not mean they are one!
I'm a member of an awesome church and as poor as it is, it quietly goes about helping as many as possible-literally giving the shirt off of its back to help those in need. Those people looking for a once a week social outing tend to not stay.
Both Christians and non-Christians, thinking they were doing what was right, were part of enslaving Black people, lynchings and resisting the Civil Rights movement. But both groups were also part of abolition, anti-lynching campaigns and the fight against segregation. For those who denied freedom to others, it doesn't really matter to me if they called themselves Christians or not.
The flip side of this coin is that the vast majority of Christians, Muslims, etc. are fairly reasonable people and can live side by side, and actually get along with each other.
In short, your statement could not be more wrong. It was the Anglo's who converted. The original Christians were anything but white.