I've wanted to discuss this topic many times before but opted not to. Today, I can wait no longer. It is the topic of love. What is love? How do we love our brothers and sisters? Not our blood relatives but our b-l-o-o-d relatives. You know the ones that are apart of the "body". The body of Christ, that is! How does love look?
I go to an integrated church. This was one of the necessary components of the church that we would join, after leaving the church we attended for 10 years. Why? Because we believe that all people are actually equal, that we come from the same seed of Adam and will dwell forever in the presence of God and Jesus with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We believe that the body will only work at its full potential, power and authority when we lay aside our dislike, prejudices and pure hatred for those that look different from us or have less/more than us! Unfortunately, all Believers don't feel this way.
Our Pastor has done a lot so that everyone would feel welcome at our church, but I have seen the flight of many of his long time members. I know that it is because people from other races have come to the church in droves. They were willing to have people come but weren't so willing to change. For instance, different people like different types of music. Are you willing to defer your preference to a certain style of music for others? Well, our Pastor is careful to pick music that will appeal to all. I know this because my hubby is over music. But I believe that this is still an area of contention. Every Sunday there is the music that the church was used to mixed with some that they aren't familiar with. The funny thing is my hubby was careful to pick songs from artists that have crossed cultural lines but were actually of another race (i.e. Martha Munizzi, Natalie Grant, Lakewood Church). But because many are unfamiliar with the songs and the new "black" worship guy sings them, they thought that the songs must be "black" songs. Don't get it twisted if it was a white worship leader at a predominantly black church, it be the same MESS! I've seen it happen both ways. Its as if to say, anyone can come but you have to sing what we sing and do what we do and not let's all put together what we do that glorifies God.
I actually spent months in a small group with a couple, but when they see me on Sunday and I speak, she looks through me and doesn't speak. It just makes me say hmm. When will we all lay aside the weight of racism and prejudice that so easily beset us. Will you invite someone from church to swim at your house or come to a get together? Or is that too much. When you look at someone from another people group, do you see God's handiwork or do you see a "white" or "black" or Asian" or Latino" or Indaian person? Do we grasp hold of the colorful mosiac of the body, or do we continue to divide it and yet say we love Christ. The Bible says, how can we say we love Christ who we don't see but hate our brother that we see.
I cry out for us. We stay where we are comfortable and miss out on opportunities to meet and befriend some awesome people. This bad thinking isn't one sided. People of every group can think this way, and it is sad. Now, I know there are legitimate reasons for moving on, but we must always check our heart and motives. Look, I'd eat pierogies with you'd if you'd eat collard greens and fried chicken with me (I just made myself hungry). I'll line dance with you, if you do the shuffle with me. Try it. Maybe you'd like it. We must stop thinking its strange for someone who looks different from us to come and worship with us. We should think its strange when they don't. We can't effectively love on a dying world if we don't get past ourselves! I'm so glad to get this off of my chest. I guess I'll go to sleep now.
I was thinking about you today and wanted to ask if you've read Clarence Thomas' new book? I haven't but want to. The reason I was thinking about you was that I was wondering if you were getting at the idea that it is ok for people who were brought to the US against their will to take as much as they can get free from the gov't? You know how sometimes you are mulling over something and a new thought just pops into your mind that never occurred to you before? It was one of those things. Reading some of your posts I can't imagine you think holding to a victim mentality is good for anyone, especially black people in our society.
I just briefly read your post and am glad to see you go to an integrated church. We want to see a more colorful spectrum at our church, it's not terrible but it's not where we want it to be. I totally agree in the truth that we are all decendended from Adam's seed and are thus ONE race. Several months ago I was able to share this with a nice black man I was working with to put some new carpet in. It made me angry to hear various things he'd been told in his past--it's just ridiculous. Anyhow, I'm glad to be chatting with you a bit and look fwd to hearing your reply!
Thank you for explaining your thoughts more. I appreciate knowing where you are coming from. I agree that equity across the board would be nice, but I think you are correct that it won't happen in our lifetime completely since we're dealing with the fallen state of man.
On another note, let me encourage you with quitting drinking soda! You can do it girl! My husband was a serious diet cola drinker and I prayed for him to quit. I didn't nag him about it, but after years and years, he did finally quit this past year. I was so amazed I didn't even say anything for quite some time, so he thought I didn't notice. Anyhow, if he can do it, I'm sure you can too! This is from a chronic nail biter however and honestly, I don't think I'll ever quit that.
:-P Have tried and tried...
this is soooo true! Our church definitely is multi-racial, It's pretty neat to have everyone worshiping together. Sometimes singing in spanish....We too use a lot of newer songs with some that are older...I can say we have a great worship team, they get you movin!
funny, this morning I was thinking about Israel & the New breed, and how I need to buy some of his music, I love it, and I had a chance to listen to it on your blog.
I should of invited you weeks ago, were planning a couples sweetest day event at church...I know it's a bit late, but if your up to it let me know. juliet
Girlfriend, you stayed away and then you came back with a vengeance, huh? (smile) I could barely keep up with all this good stuff you're writing!
I have so much to say in response to this post, but I'll spare your readers and you the boring lecture. I could relate, though, on so much of what you've said. We, too, attend an integrated church, and I love it for all the reasons you've stated. There are Sundays when we seem to sing Martha Munizzi's and Israel Houghton's whole album! We have a white minister of music, and pastors of all races, though our senior pastor is white.
I have seem the same change of complexion in our church, and I see it happening in several other integrated churches that we've visited. I have often thought to post about how the river of racial hatred for many of us runs deeper than the pool of God's agape love. You're right; I've not read that Heaven is segregated, and for all of our Heaven-bound holiness, how much of an embarassment is it to the kingdom of God that one of the most segregated institutions in our nation is the church? How sad is it that the other is the cemetary--the two places where it shouldn't matter what we look like?
Well, I could write for hours, but I need to get back to life and kids--and grades, which are consuming me these days. God bless.
You are right. I grew up in south Mississippi, and sometimes the tensions could be bad. It's interesting, though, that usually the kids didn't have as much trouble. I am so glad that we have been able to raise our children without viewing different races as....well....different. Of course, having 2 Latin American children immediately changes that for us. But, it wouldn't matter the race. My children see no difference. I am thankful for that. An African American homeschooling family moved to our area last year, and it took me off guard for her to ask if they would be accepted into our group. I forget that there are still narrow minded people in this world. I think some of that comes from knowing so many families who have adopted different races, including African and African American. Now I see the same thing happening in our country with Latinos. People feel very prejudiced toward them because so many are here illegally. I worry about what my little girls will face as adults if this continues.
I also appreciate your honesty, and agree that sometimes it is reverse.
Thanks for sharing your heart.
Letitia
You are so right. I grew up with prejudice, my dad was not a bad man, but he was raised to think that white was better than black. (Even though he still hasn't accepted Christ his views have changed slowly over the years, to the point that now he condemns those attitudes). I never felt that way, never felt I was better, but just because of the conditioning I wouldn't feel comfortable around other races. I too slowly came around after coming to the Lord. But I still see the things you are talking about in churches, and it shouldn't happen. What can the average Christian do to change it?
I'm a wife to a wonderful, loving husband of 12 years. I'm a mom with 6 children aging from 9 years to 8 months. I have 1 princess and 5 superheroes. This is my place to share our home, our school and my heart! Welcome! Stop by anytime.
