Lessons I’m learning as a white man…
I thought today in commemoration of June 19th I would offer my final installment of this series.
Ultimately, the kind of change we want to see in the world will never come if it does not begin in The Church. I have to admit I grow a little weary of all the people who like to talk about this nation being founded on Christian principles. That argument has NEVER changed someone’s mind, ever. These are the things conservative evangelicals (I know because I am one) like to say in an effort to sure up our arguments about morality and values. Can we just dispense with asking ourselves what Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Washington believed? The questions is, “What do we believe?” And, “Are our beliefs consistent with Scripture?”
I would also suggest to you that “what we believe” is actually the easier question. The more difficult question is, “Are our beliefs instructing our actions?” Let me explain.
My observation is that the greatest source of conflict that exists today between churches in America that are predominantly and historically white AND churches in America that are predominantly and historically black/brown is more about politics than it is about race. The historically white church is offended by the historically black/brown church because the historically white church is also predominantly politically conservative. (I’m using we since I have been guilty of this mindset.) We are offended that the historically black church continues to support political candidates who are pro abortion, pro gay, do not unequivocally support Israel, are permissive of illegal immigration, and are threatening our second amendment rights. We believe they are responsible for the moral decline in America.
The historically black/brown church is offended by the historically white church because the historically black/brown church is predominantly politically liberal. (I’m using they as a distinction.) They are offended that the historically white church continues to support political candidates who refuse to dismantle systems that disadvantage people of color, have been slow to reform prisons, neglect people in poverty, have failed to properly address police brutality, are misogynistic, insensitive to immigrants, and reject reasonable gun control measures. They believe we are responsible for the moral decline in America.
If you are white and have historically voted republican and you claim to believe in Jesus and the Scriptures and don’t feel a moral dilemma at the polls when you vote, you have a problem. You have a gap between what you believe and how you act.
If you are black/brown and have historically voted democrat and you claim to believe in Jesus and the Scriptures and don’t feel a moral dilemma at the polls when you vote, you have a problem. You have a gap between what you believe and how you act.
You realize that if we could come together, no candidate in America would ever be elected without our combined support. I’ll tell you what both dominant political parties fear, that the historically white church and the historically black/brown church come together. Remember, both of those lists above matter to God and if you think “your” list more important than “their” list you might want to actually start reading the Bible you claim to believe. I’m praying for a political movement that brings together both platforms.
I watched a video recently that is being posted by several friends where Mr. Voddie Baucham talks about racial reconciliation and asks the question is Scripture enough for us, shouldn’t it be? Yes, if we are talking about racial reconciliation among white, black, and brown Christians. The Bible is all we need to come together. I was quite surprised though a man of his education did not understand that racial conciliation and social justice are however very different. Social justice is about dismantling secular systems that oppress people of color and privilege those of us who are white. For this, Scripture is not enough. I don’t say to my friend who is a Christian and a lawyer, "Hey, you don’t need to study, just read the Bible.” I don’t say to a Christian social worker, “Hey you don’t need an education, just read the Bible.” Mr. Voddie Bauchman does this cause of present day reform a great disservice suggesting that Scripture is all we need to effect change in secular systems that govern both religious and non-religious people.
So I say again, ultimately, the kind of change we want to see in the world will never come if it does not begin in The Church. And the reconciling that needs to happen between the white church and the black/brown church needs nothing more that Scripture to guide us forward and the Holy Spirit to motivate us forward. But if together we are then going to reform secular systems, we will need to be well informed, well educated, and well prepared to dismantle and rebuild secular systems that must govern both religious and non-religious people.
Lessons I’m learning as a white man…