Would you take them in your church?

There is only one race on this planet, the human race!

The only "race" we find in the bible is the race we are to run.

"Where there is race there is no grace, and where there is grace there is no race!"

 

In the greater NYC Metro area Churches we do not see any problem with this question whatsoever. But then again folks at this part of the country are suffering from a rare disease called, "color blindness!"

 

Nah, we don't want anyone who doesn't meet our particular set of standards that we've managed to twist scripture around to justify ourselves into feeling like we're superior to everyone else....

Hey, all sarcasm intended!

 

"If you don't look like me you're going to hell.
If you don't look like me you're going to hell.

Well, the truth is plain to see there's only one way to be and if you don't look like me you're going to Hell."

Come down to the racist hillbilly South and you will understand why Saggy asks this question. I was raised to believe it was a sin to date or marry black people...thank God that I was delievered from that form of racism. BTW, the verse used to back up that manmade racist theology was where it says to not be unequally yoked. God freed me from this form of Bigotry when a black friend in college asked me out on a date, I turned her down, she asked me why, and I didn't have an answer for her. I was deeply ashamed of myself.

Joseph

 

Racism isn't just a problem to the South, or to the ungodly, it does exist in Baptist circles. I have heard the be ye not unequally yoked argument since I was a kid, but never bought it. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how badly that verse is taken out of context.

I firmly believe that we need to stop calling people by their skin color, and use their name, or just call them a man or a woman. I am so tired of hearing preachers who say they are not racist, but have to specifically give the color of the person's skin they are talking about. I never hear them say, "We used to have this white guy in our church, but he was such a devout Christain." They do say things like that if the skin of the man is other than white! Then they say they are not racist? What difference does it make what color skin they have. I never want to hear what color a person is in stories and sermon illustrations again! If you are guilty of it, shame on you!

In applications, I check "other", and then write human being in the explaination column.

( sorry, just a little pet peeve! )

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Joy2:
In applications, I check "other", and then write human being in the explaination column.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>LOL! I do exactly the same thing! Good for you! Every year the California Department of Education askes us to report how many students we have and segregate them by race. I just tell the state our folks are all human!

 

I check other too.
I've found in my area a lot of hidden racism. Yes, we will accept a mixed race. Yes, we will talk to you and politely invite you to dinner when you first start coming. But in the privacy of our own homes, we will talk bad about your race and make little cracks about you.
I've seen this little scene replayed so often it makes me want to vomit. Everyody wants to be politically correct, or at least give that illusion, but it seems to me that almost everybody in every church I've gone to is too racist. I say too racist because to a certain point I believe we all are.
Last year I went into a Christian school to fill out an enrollment form for my daughter. She was not with me at the time. The school was extremely kind, showing much desire to have my daughter in their program. After they had read the application however, suddenly they thought we wouldn't fit in with their program. It took me a little bit to realize that I had written her race down.
I have also encountered racism to a point in the churches I've attended. People assume my children have certain capabilities based on their race, or they bend down and talk to them in an accent, or assume they prefer certain foods. Somehow, witnessing to my unsaved husband always seemed so important at first, then when they actually met him it suddenly seemed less important to have him in the church.
But of course when he did come, everybody was eager to be the first in line th shake his hand and welcome him. Wouldn't want to appear racist you know.

 

I have a number of people attend my church who are not white (by the definition of many) They have one thing in common. They are college students. Our people love them and they feel at home (except for our music I'm told). God told Peter in Acts 10 that he is not a respector of persons and I think that that is where we ought to be also. It used to puzzle me that people would spend tons of money to send missionaries to Africa and ignore the person of African heritage who lived across the street from them. We are different, but God likes that. Wouldn't it be a boring world if everyone looked like me (short, fat and swarthy skinned)?

My wife and I at this current time are not being spoken to by her parents because her brother married a beautiful godly black woman. Our crime? We went to the wedding and have supported the marriage. While I hate to use the term racism, our prejudice toward those who are of a different culture is simply wicked. How can we despise those for whom Christ died?

 

I wonder what Smokey might say about something like this!!!!!

Joseph

 

Common on J. no need to egg anyone on. We really don't need to know what he thinks, do we? We already know. Let's not solicite a bunch of rubbish!

 

Joy,

You're right...sorry. I just couldn't help myself. I just think that maybe he has an opinion, whether I agree or not. Sometimes I think it is good to remind ourselves why we talk about issues like this because there are still a lot of people who think like Smokey does. I mean, I have lived in Arkansas all my life and understand bigotry in its worst forms...but, perhaps there are still people who maybe live further north of the Mason Dixon line and think that it is silly to think that anyone, especially church going people, could still be so prejudice.

Joseph

 

Saggy woman, in my lifetime, I can not remember having this scenario happen in the churches I was part of. According to most people's belief, I guess that makes me less than a credible source on the issue. But when I hear questions like this, and see christians accept others as Christ accepted us, I can't help but think how much God is pleased.

Out of the small flock I presently pastor, this is a real issue, for we have one couple that is a "mixed-marriage" union.

I am not proud nor am I wanting extra thought on this issue, but for what it's worth, I just asked the husband to be on the board of trustees: he accepted.

I feel folks that call themselves christian, that harbor racism, are gonna have a attitude adjustment period to go through once they arrive in glory. {But, again, that's my opinion and I know some of you know how I feel about opinions}

The no respector of persons remark is probably one of the most relevent, to this question.

P.S. With the racism that is forced down the throat of each of us, it's easy for us to get wrapped up in it. My area produces folks like Quannel X, Sheila Jackson Lee {the politician}, and the like that claim their belief in God while demanding "extras" because of color. Lest we forget, "the Rev. Jesse Jackson" is an ordained "baptist" minister::::::: uch, I know that hurt. My point being, every day it seems we hear of one more "cause" or "agenda" that they rally behind. Keeping these thoughts in constant memory, the devil is doing a great job of tearing us apart. That's the real sadness to this issue; it has corrupted the church and deemed many folks, by their own prejudices, to be rendered useless for the kingdom.

 

I pastor an inner city church in LaGrange Georgia. We have couple who are mixed race in our community. It has been very hard to get them to come to our church because of the perceived racism of the community. They are certainly welcome and we make every effort to reach them. Their children come, but getting the couples to come has been hard. We havent given up though!