Racism and the Church

[Gina B]

It seems there is a trend, as of late, towards committing violence, threatening violence, destroying the livelihood of, and speaking with hate towards white people and especially straight white males. It only increases towards white Christians.
While the majority of Baptist churches take a strong stand, at least in word, against racism, in the United States it has historically referred to racism towards non-whites.
I am curious to find out if your church is addressing this and if so, how. With the rapid growth of this issue, pastors and counselors will soon be faced with more members seeking advice on how to handle the problems they are facing because of their race.
Has anyone seen this yet? Is there a plan on how to advise? Do you think people will come for help, or do too many believe that it's not discrimination when it happens to a white person?

 

[Zaac]

Where have you been hiding Gina?:flower:

Racism should be dealt with in the same way that Christians are supposed to deal with every other wrong against them: in love and in a manner that honors Christ.

The problem that churches are running into is that the church's membership has become very negatively vocal about racial issues to the point of displaying a lot of racism and racial prejudice itself.

Many churches that call themselves conservative are finding their membership to be parroting the views of FOX News instead of the view of Christ.

And this is what they become known for.

If we are in Christ, we should take racism in stride. Christ endured the same things.

But we are returning evil for evil instead.

 

[Van]

Critical thinking is an important attribute of those seeking truth. If our presuppositions filter scripture, we read it to say what we think it should say. Just as it is easy to be biased against blacks we see looting and destroying the property of others, many blacks are biased against whites, because white racism has been used as a scapegoat for much of the travail in black communities. It is only when we get to know others, share prayers and meals and fellowship, that our preconceptions fall away and we establish relationships based on truth.

 

[Crabtownboy]

It seems there is a trend, as of late, towards committing violence, threatening violence, destroying the livelihood of, and speaking with hate towards white people and especially straight white males. It only increases towards white Christians.
While the majority of Baptist churches take a strong stand, at least in word, against racism, in the United States it has historically referred to racism towards non-whites.
I am curious to find out if your church is addressing this and if so, how. With the rapid growth of this issue, pastors and counselors will soon be faced with more members seeking advice on how to handle the problems they are facing because of their race.
Has anyone seen this yet? Is there a plan on how to advise? Do you think people will come for help, or do too many believe that it's not discrimination when it happens to a white person?

Not a problem at the church I attend. Our attendees race breaks down something like this:

40% African American
10% Asian
50% White


It is a great group of people with much love shared with each other.

 

[Zaac]

Not a problem at the church I attend. Our attendees race breaks down something like this:

40% African American
10% Asian
50% White


It is a great group of people with much love shared with each other.

Good mixture of people CTB. I believe that churches have to do a better job of reflecting communities and not just building up these pantheons of people who look and act like we do culturally.

 

[sag38]

In the past my church would get together with an African American congregation twice a year for prayer, worship, and a fellowship meal. And, it always saddened me to find that some of my congregants would not attend because they did not want to be around black people. I also found that the same was true with the other church. Some of their folks would not attend because they did not want to be around white people. Kind of makes me wonder what they will do when the get to heaven. Revelation 7:9-10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; (10) and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

 

[Bro. Curtis]

When I lived in Worcester, we had a racially mixed church. African Blacks, American Blacks, Haitian Blacks, Laotians, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Brazilians, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, Whites, you name it.

The most racist sermon I ever heard, concerning bluegrass music, banjos, and Africa compared with classical music, violins, and Europe came out of an independent fundy church in a New England city. And it was a very mixed congregation, as well.

Out here it's mostly Cowboys and Indians. It's the demographic. Doesn't make me better or worse than anyone else.

Now if I told you the racial makeup of the juvenile delinquents I've had under my care, you would most likely call me racist. But we'll save that for another day.

 

[Gina B]

Thanks Zaac. My computer died last year and things keep popping up that are more important than replacing it. It's to difficult to bother posting much on a phone.

Guys, the racial make-up of your church is not relevant to my inquiry, unless there are no white people. The point is that most whites in America right now aren't used to racism happening to them and affecting their lives, so it hasn't been much addressed by clergy and people have not needed to seek counsel about it.
For example, what if you are a pastor or counselor and someone comes to you upset about incidents at work, or they're about to lose their business because of treatment and attacks - think mindset of the "messages for straight white men" types who go even more extreme. Think of white police officers living in a time when people are calling for their deaths. Are you prepared for that? Have you prepared your members for how to respond to such trouble?

 

[Yeshua1]

Where have you been hiding Gina?:flower:

Racism should be dealt with in the same way that Christians are supposed to deal with every other wrong against them: in love and in a manner that honors Christ.

The problem that churches are running into is that the church's membership has become very negatively vocal about racial issues to the point of displaying a lot of racism and racial prejudice itself.

Many churches that call themselves conservative are finding their membership to be parroting the views of FOX News instead of the view of Christ.

And this is what they become known for.

If we are in Christ, we should take racism in stride. Christ endured the same things.

But we are returning evil for evil instead.

Is that due to the fact that most conservative Christians, who follow the Bible, have pretty much agreed that the current president and those involved in race mongering in liberal circles are acting anti christian?

 

[Zaac]

Is that due to the fact that most conservative Christians, who follow the Bible, have pretty much agreed that the current president and those involved in race mongering in liberal circles are anti christian?

If the "Christians" they deal with are like the ones on this board, I can't really blame them for being anti-christian. Not all who are claiming the name of Christ represent Him and it shows in how they treat their neighbors.

But I don't think your comment or mine has anything to do with what Gina asked.

 

[Zaac]

Thanks Zaac. My computer died last year and things keep popping up that are more important than replacing it. It's to difficult to bother posting much on a phone.

Guys, the racial make-up of your church is not relevant to my inquiry, unless there are no white people. The point is that most whites in America right now aren't used to racism happening to them and affecting their lives, so it hasn't been much addressed by clergy and people have not needed to seek counsel about it.
For example, what if you are a pastor or counselor and someone comes to you upset about incidents at work, or they're about to lose their business because of treatment and attacks - think mindset of the "messages for straight white men" types who go even more extreme. Think of white police officers living in a time when people are calling for their deaths. Are you prepared for that? Have you prepared your members for how to respond to such trouble?

I don't think pastors even have this on their radar Gina. But as the country moves more toward Whites becoming the minority, I think more and more white people will become more aware of racial prejudice as they are put in the place that the minority is now in.

 

[Yeshua1]

I don't think pastors even have this on their radar Gina. But as the country moves more toward Whites becoming the minority, I think more and more white people will become more aware of racial prejudice as they are put in the place that the minority is now in.

there is just as much racial prejudice among blacks as there is among whites, its called the SIN CONDITION....


And some in the black community see anyone who goes against a liberal agenda and policy as being 'racists'. just due to them not agreeing with that as the best approach to things!

 

[robustheologian]

And some in the black community see anyone who goes against a liberal agenda and policy as being 'racists'.

And some in the white community see anyone who goes against a conservative agenda and policy as being 'anti-Christians'.

 

[sag38]

Yes, killing unborn babies, supporting gay marriage, fighting against the death penalty is unchristian so what is your point?

 

[robustheologian]

If the "Christians" they deal with are like the ones on this board, I can't really blame them for being anti-christian. Not all who are claiming the name of Christ represent Him and it shows in how they treat their neighbors.

Big amen!!

 

[Crabtownboy]

And some in the white community see anyone who goes against a conservative agenda and policy as being 'anti-Christians'.

Far too many Christians and churches have allowed their political and social culture to drown out the voice of Christ.

 

[Revmitchell]

Far too many Christians and churches have allowed their political and social culture to drown out the voice of Christ.

You are right they have. Especially when they have brought their socialism into the church.

 

[robustheologian]

Far too many Christians and churches have allowed their political and social culture to drown out the voice of Christ.

And most of these "Christians" don't know enough Bible to know that the Pharisees' political and social culture lead them to crucify Jesus. When you start to define Christianity by a political party agenda (and not the other way around), you know there's a problem. That's why some of these churches memberships struggle...to much emphasis on things that have nothing to with being like Christ.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

The Pharisees also saw what others have and ignorantly and sinfully declared it insufficient.

I would say their attitude is alive and well in the Christian Left.

 

[robustheologian]

The Pharisees also saw what others have and ignorantly and sinfully declared it insufficient.

I would say their attitude is alive and well in the Christian Left.

As well as the Christian right