Racism in the American Church
One of my pastor friends is white. He voted for John McCain. He did not vote for John McCain because he is white. He voted for John McCain because he believed that John McCain was the candidate who most closely represented his core values. And yet after Barak Obama won the election, my friend did something within his congregation which I believe every leader within the Body of Christ (that is, the church) ought to do as well. He declared that the election is over and it is time to get behind OUR president-elect and pray for his success. This pastor leads a very diverse congregation and many of the black members in his congregation deeply appreciated his leadership on such a passionate and very sensitive subject.
Some of my friends who are black pastors voted for Barak Obama. I know them well enough to know that it was more than just because he was black. However, I also believe that Barak Obama clearly does not hold some of their deeply held core values. We’ve had some very deep conversations regarding how we view this election. The one thing we can agree on is that the election of Barak Obama has exposed something very ugly within the Body of Christ: Racism.
Racism is defined as “Discrimination (making a distinction) based on race (ethnicity)”. As a black pastor (and no, I am not telling you for whom I voted ), I have told other black folks that when white folks criticize Barak Obama, more often than not, it is due to ideology and not racism. I pointed out to one pastor friend that the religious right would have attacked Senator John Kerry, who is white, when he ran for president four years ago on the very same views Obama supports. We need to be careful not to be so passionate about a black man in the White House that when anybody criticizes him, they’re accused of being racist.
But the stuff I hear and read about Barak Obama that is coming from some of our white brethren seems to be both ridiculous and racist. An article in this week’s (11/24) issue of Newsweek magazine sums up the madness: Is Barak Obama the Antichrist? In addition to this, other Christians have compared him to Hitler. Some question whether or not Obama is a Christian, even though Obama clearly stated that he received Jesus Christ as his savior. George W. Bush declared he’s a Christian, and yet these same people do not question his salvation experience.
I believe that God is using this election to force us as the churches in America—whether we are white, black, brown, yellow, or whatever other colors you might want to add—to deal with our racist attitudes, which persist but have not been adequately addressed. I really believe we must pray that God would help us to adequately address one of the greatest challenges that hinder real revival and spiritual renewal for our country. Of course, I invite your thoughts.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit bring Your Church together and make us one, as You, the Father, and the Son are one (John 17:21-23).
sending...
This indeed is a very big issue and I am glad we are finally dealing with it. First I would like to say this was a very difficult election in regards to my personal beliefs on the two issues that identify me as a Christian: abortion and gay marriage. I do not have the data however I spoke to my sociology professor whom is white and she let me know that for the most part the Republican Party will always come into churches especially black ones and say how they are against and pretty much move on because they know those are the two main issues Christians are against. This time around my brain had to focus on not only abortion and gay marriage but other issues as well. This time I asked myself ok well what about the poor there are so many scriptures that instruct us the body of Christ and bible reading people in how to deal with poor people? Obama made it clear that he was trying to help everyone not just a middle class society or the very elite. What about the sick? We all know how Jesus felt about them. Healthcare issues which for one was a big personal issue to me. The second debate McCain who I respect so ignorantly stated that Healthcare is a responsibility while Obama said it is a right and it should be. America is a backwards nation in this regard and there a lot of sick people in this county. I mean white or black people need healthcare. France, Sweden, Switzerland all have Universal Healthcare and we are just a mess when it comes to that. I could go on and on. We talk about new things, new seasons, new beginnings and to see McCain in the White House would be watching something Old, done already and I personally could not do that. The shock for a lot of people is that a huge percentage thought it was cute to see a bi-racial man who looks black attempt to win. Some didn’t believe that he would really make it but he did. He stayed steady, hopeful, faithful, made a few boo boos but kept going and HE WON. Are these not the same attributes we are told to do Sunday after Sunday. The reality is if some of us Christians would follow the PRINCIPLES of President-Elect Obama in our own walk we would be a lot further than what we are. He is not the anti-christ because the anti-christ will not be that obvious. And we must read our Word because the anti-christ will be doing things in HIS own name kind of just like satan with that I crap. Obama uses and used the word WE ok. I have to go because I am getting mad because people always have something stupid to say. Anyway it is time as CHRISTIANS that we stayed prepared for battle by praying, fasting I mean will we turn our plates down for our president. Will we show up to political meetings and debates even if isn’t for abortion and gay marriage. It is time for the church to step up. I will start with me.
God Bless you for your enlightened insight I hope that you are doing well since our time at Harvard. I was researching watchnight sermons and came upon your websight.
Best wishes to your wife.
daryl
As much I this response may seem late let me do it anyway.
I am a Deacon at Grand Anse Baptist Church (Grenada). I love John Mac Authur and John Piper. They are level headed men of God.Not to mention their gifts and etc. May God continue to bless them.
As to do with Obama,more and more I reflected on the election,it became painfully obvious,that Obama was not the right man for this office. I believe his (Christian) moral values are wrong as indicated in the type of things he endorse. I will leave this there.
Had I being an American, I would have voted for Obama. I believed he was the man.I believed that God showed the world that the status quo could be change by the twinkling of an eye.
Yet I wanted Obama to win election ,firstly because he was black.That the honest truth.The second reason was because he is a man.
So when my white Pastor friend told me Obama is not good for America, I responded racist.I felt this Pastor didn’t want him there base on race and not on moral and Christian values.
But as time went on ,I saw things and seeing things in him that is disturbing.In my opinion he has let down the Christian community. Just like Oprah did.Imagine I name my daughter after Oprah.Thank God that Oprah is not her first name.
I am frustrated over Obama and Oprah in particular.My rationale: Here are two of the most influential people in the world (who are black)wasting an excellent opportunity to prove to the world that blacks can be level headed ,blacks can do it right,blacks can be purposeful for God and blacks are not ethnic minority or Black Americans in America, but are Americans like any other Americans, but they are ignorant of these facts.How sad.
I do not support abortion or gay marriage,nor do I believe the Bible does.
In ministry I still experience racism as a black person and it hurts, but I am dealing with it.Incidentally,I am Baptist and Baptist, although denounced racism ,still struggle with it a lot.
God Bless You ,Bishop Brian.