“You’re too concerned with Black stuff. You know, there’s a whole church of people here and we can’t just be concerned with Black issues.”
“Why does that even matter? As long as we’re singing about Jesus, it shouldn’t matter.” “I feel like only White churches are being asked to change.” “You’re a sellout.” “You only care about winning the respect of White people.” “You’ll get your wake-up call eventually. Those White folks will let you know what they really think about you.” “Why aren’t you in a Black church? The statements above are among the things I’ve heard in my time among Christians in Black churches. I’ve been called a self-hater and a sellout by people who look like me when I have voiced convictions that are perhaps different than that of most Black folks. I never was called a heretic because of this but only a sellout because I stood not against the Bible, but against something in the Black status quo as it were. The statements above are among the things I’ve heard in my time among Christians in White churches. It didn’t matter how many hospital visits I did or meaningful ministry efforts we accomplished together. It mattered not how faithfully and lovingly I cared for the church. When I dare to raise questions about race issues, things often seem to come to a full stop. I never was called a heretic because of this but only a cultural marxist or social justice warrior because I stood not against the Bible, but against something in the conservative White evangelical status-quo as it were. I’m grateful for my time among the many cultures of the body of Christ that I’ve experienced. I know that I’m a better Christian for having loved and experienced life with people who have had life experiences different from my own. Seeing other perspectives has helped me be ok with realizing how biased and limited my own perspective can be. This is a limitation that we all share. We believers should know this. We are a people bound by a common faith and a biblical heritage, a heritage that should trump every other allegiance. Our biblical heritage should guide us to truth and truth doesn’t change based on the perspective or history of the individual. I have a perspective and you may have a perspective but God’s perspective is the one that matters and is of eternal consequence. Real Talk I’m not speaking to the partisan and polarized among us. This isn’t for the ones looking to win a debate or exact revenge on their enemies. If you just want to shut the mouth of the person in your small group class who disagrees with you then you probably should stop reading here. This is for those of us who actually long to see reconciliation and healing between cultures and ethnicities in the body of Christ. This is for those who would like to communicate better cross-culturally but perhaps haven’t taken the time to listen to an opposing viewpoint or give the issue much thought. This is some of what I have observed in my time of doing theology in Black and White. I will do my best to give these voice without my own editorialization. What (Some) Well-Meaning White Evangelicals Think Right or wrong, White people are tired of being called racists. They are exhausted of having to go so far just to be seen as being at a place that they are at least ambivalent about race. Many of the Whites that I know who are actually and genuinely very sympathetic to race issues are fatigued with having to figure out what they can say and what they cannot say around other ethnicities. It is as if they are racist until proven otherwise. Right or wrong, Whites are largely confused or offended about terms like ‘White privilege.’ They may even understand the concept but they know deep down that every failing of minorities and every triumph by Whites can’t be explained solely by this phenomenon. They feel that their struggles and impediments to success are overlooked and ignored while others often seem to be given a pass or an excuse for their dysfunction. It often seems that being a White Anglo Saxon Protestant (WASP) means that anyone and everyone can say and do anything to you and nobody will come to your defense—especially if you’re a WASP male. While some Whites don’t realize it, many do realize that they have a culture and they feel this culture is under assault from all sides as retribution for the sins of yesteryear. This list isn’t exhaustive nor do I make any claims that this thinking is right or wrong. It just is what it is. What (Some) Well-Meaning Black Evangelicals Think Black Evangelicals are tired of being gaslighted by being made to believe that racial issues are a figment of their imaginations and a thing of the past. They are exhausted of having to qualify every complaint of racial insensitivity with conclusive physical evidence. Many Blacks who do try to survive and thrive in White evangelical spaces are tired of the charge of being cultural Marxists and social justice warriors when they voice legitimate concerns with certain policies, procedures or established norms and standards. Right or wrong, Blacks are generally pretty clear on the fact that White privilege exists. That is, there is a dominant culture in America and whatever it is, it isn’t Black. They may debate as to what the manifestations of this privilege is but they know that there is something to this phenomenon. They know that whatever Blackness is, they can’t exercise it freely in White conservative evangelical spaces. A world of new mores, philosophies, songs, strategies and style awaits Black people who leave the safety of the culture of the Black church and Black spaces. Being Black in the confines of dominant culture means you must take steps to prove that you’re not a threat or an enemy to the dominant culture before you can even be heard. This is why Blacks almost by default often employ code-switching as a means of survival and best practice when working and living in dominant culture. This list isn’t exhaustive nor do I make any claims that this thinking is right or wrong. It just is what it is.
So How Do Evangelicals Reconcile?
These answers won’t be satisfying for many but I’m confident that this truth is our only hope: We will never get true reconciliation by trying to put someone else on the cross. We’re going to have to get on that cross ourselves. We’re going to have to put our cultural and socio-political tribes on the cross too. When we do, the other side may still spitefully use and abuse you but you will have righteousness on your side. Furthermore, this act of Biblical courage may inspire your brothers in Christ to pick up their cross and follow you as you follow the example of Christ. This is the Gospel. We don’t deserve Christ’s patience and love but he gives it anyway. Your sociopolitical opponents may not deserve your patience and love but you should give it anyway. We can’t do our theology from ivory towers of superiority or ebony bunkers of self defense. We’re going to have to leave our comfortable structures of confirmation bias and safety and make ourselves vulnerable to people who see things from a different perspective than us. We have a biblical mandate to live this way. We evangelicals need to care about being together more than we care about being right. One thing I’ve noticed in the dust-ups between evangelicals on race issues is that we don’t care to follow the truth wherever it leads. We tend to cherry-pick scripture and highlight the areas that are most important to us and our sociopolitical and cultural tribes. After this, we take on the same attributes of the world and our polarized American culture. We feel that if somebody else wins something then it means that we must lose something. We act as if the other side isn’t worth redeeming. The Gospel teaches us that Christ gave all so we can have all. He didn’t do it because we deserved it. He did it because we are His beloved. He has called us to be the church. When we stand before Him one day, He won’t be slapping high fives with the White Republicans. He won’t be giving the Black Democrats dap. He’ll be looking for His bride and He will be more than enough for any of us. He’s more than enough now. Our allegiance and fidelity to Him are what matter. We must lay down our tribal needs to be right and in doing so, inspire our brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But
1 Comment
Delandis Beck
4/9/2019 08:27:53 pm
Excellent read, well articulated truth.
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AuthorHerbert is a believer in Jesus Christ who is overwhelmed by the riches of the Gospel, the husband of April and the father of Cadence, Imani and Angel. He also serves as the Lead Pastor for the Chets Creek Church North Campus in Jacksonville, Florida. He has been serving in full time ministry for more than six years and was a public school music educator for twelve years prior to that. He loves deep philosophical conversation, barbecue and golf even though he stinks at it. Check out GospelBlue Productions as we grow! Archives
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