Our small, rural church started by removing the flags from the Sanctury and lost members and working to build a thicker theology within a core of members to reach into our Latino neighbors. Some are participating in racial righteousness programs through our denomination, too.
First time, long time (ish). I don't know if there can be an end to the Large White "church" (lwc) until we (lwc [of which I am born, raised and a current member]) repent our separating those made in the image of God by human image; and that most notably of the image of skin color. His image bearers are diverse, and we relegated that diversity to two groups; those with "white" skin and those without. In doing so we committed an egregious blasphemy, and while we (the white church) generally maintain that "issues" exist, we regularly divorce our current groups or ideologies from any consideration ,let alone responsibility, of the remnants of that wickedness at work in our midst and definitely not in our own hearts. We simply (in our most open forums; esp Sunday morning) WILL not buy that we might be personally part of the problem (as you well know). I believe the only way to truly repent is to sell our white churches, give the money to churches of color and go follow Jesus. And we will not do that, until we are willing to give spiritual leadership and authority to our brothers and sisters of color. As those under oppression are the ones, Christ teaches, are the most important in The Kingdom, we do well to find those believers and follow their faith. From Abraham, to the Apostles to Mother Moses, God has never been very impressed with organized Judeo-Christian religion. He works through people of faith, not knowledge. True, faith can, and in my experience does, lead to more knowledge, but the only real knowledge I need to meet God in the marketplace is that of His will for me today and the Power to carry it out. Until we consider our faction-requiring business model, the evil that factions create will continue to mar the white church. And while pride and greed hamper all sectors of organized Christian religion, the loudest and most notable of the last 400+ years is pride of self that the collective white church maintains in our supposed higher knowledge of God; paraded throughout American culture and Christian society world-wide, in our pretty facilities, many "christian" universities, books, blogs and Ph. D's, that we are the carriers of "god's knowledge" (the offspring of wicked church forefathers since the Gospels were written in defense against them, gnostic indeed). We simply will not consider that all of our good doing might be like filthy rags... But everyone else knows better. Without those called by His name (and white christians love to be "called by His name"), indeed "Christ"ian, repentance, there can be no healing of our land. Im working on it, but as a man on the inside, I have to report; it is not a well-received message in white evangelical churches (as, again, you well know). "Repent what!!!" my fathers cry in red-faced rage, and we head off on Monday morning to go buy more ammunition to protect us from the "evil" to come. How often the evil is in our own house. Lord, help us. Help me. ODAAT.
I'm white. I've seen the parable from the inside. I was part of the mindset that said, "How do we attract more racial diversity?" The unspoken part was "into our white space". One day, I believe God told me it was my responsibility to be the minority in a black space. My "problem statement" shifted from how do I influence others, to how might I be influenced? I had to learn what it meant to be black and Christian in America. Reading black voices like Tisby, Butler, McCaulley, Gray, Cone, Douglas, King and listening to other on-going conversations like Pass the Mic and Cole Arthur Riley's Black Liturgies has reshaped me. That was almost 4 years ago and I love my new church. All that to say, I was moved to just leave the Large White Church because the Large White Church wasn't going to move.
Our small, rural church started by removing the flags from the Sanctury and lost members and working to build a thicker theology within a core of members to reach into our Latino neighbors. Some are participating in racial righteousness programs through our denomination, too.
Wow. Parables communicate in a unique and highly effective way. This turbo-charges my understanding and insight into what is going on.
This is the truth. Thank you for speaking the truth.
First time, long time (ish). I don't know if there can be an end to the Large White "church" (lwc) until we (lwc [of which I am born, raised and a current member]) repent our separating those made in the image of God by human image; and that most notably of the image of skin color. His image bearers are diverse, and we relegated that diversity to two groups; those with "white" skin and those without. In doing so we committed an egregious blasphemy, and while we (the white church) generally maintain that "issues" exist, we regularly divorce our current groups or ideologies from any consideration ,let alone responsibility, of the remnants of that wickedness at work in our midst and definitely not in our own hearts. We simply (in our most open forums; esp Sunday morning) WILL not buy that we might be personally part of the problem (as you well know). I believe the only way to truly repent is to sell our white churches, give the money to churches of color and go follow Jesus. And we will not do that, until we are willing to give spiritual leadership and authority to our brothers and sisters of color. As those under oppression are the ones, Christ teaches, are the most important in The Kingdom, we do well to find those believers and follow their faith. From Abraham, to the Apostles to Mother Moses, God has never been very impressed with organized Judeo-Christian religion. He works through people of faith, not knowledge. True, faith can, and in my experience does, lead to more knowledge, but the only real knowledge I need to meet God in the marketplace is that of His will for me today and the Power to carry it out. Until we consider our faction-requiring business model, the evil that factions create will continue to mar the white church. And while pride and greed hamper all sectors of organized Christian religion, the loudest and most notable of the last 400+ years is pride of self that the collective white church maintains in our supposed higher knowledge of God; paraded throughout American culture and Christian society world-wide, in our pretty facilities, many "christian" universities, books, blogs and Ph. D's, that we are the carriers of "god's knowledge" (the offspring of wicked church forefathers since the Gospels were written in defense against them, gnostic indeed). We simply will not consider that all of our good doing might be like filthy rags... But everyone else knows better. Without those called by His name (and white christians love to be "called by His name"), indeed "Christ"ian, repentance, there can be no healing of our land. Im working on it, but as a man on the inside, I have to report; it is not a well-received message in white evangelical churches (as, again, you well know). "Repent what!!!" my fathers cry in red-faced rage, and we head off on Monday morning to go buy more ammunition to protect us from the "evil" to come. How often the evil is in our own house. Lord, help us. Help me. ODAAT.
Thanks, Jemar. This hit home.
I'm white. I've seen the parable from the inside. I was part of the mindset that said, "How do we attract more racial diversity?" The unspoken part was "into our white space". One day, I believe God told me it was my responsibility to be the minority in a black space. My "problem statement" shifted from how do I influence others, to how might I be influenced? I had to learn what it meant to be black and Christian in America. Reading black voices like Tisby, Butler, McCaulley, Gray, Cone, Douglas, King and listening to other on-going conversations like Pass the Mic and Cole Arthur Riley's Black Liturgies has reshaped me. That was almost 4 years ago and I love my new church. All that to say, I was moved to just leave the Large White Church because the Large White Church wasn't going to move.