Christian, but Black
I wish we could be a color-blind society; acknowledging and accepting of all cultures. Skin color has nothing to do with who any of us are. Unfortunately, that reality is not a lived experience in this nation. Skin color tells nothing of the heart within any of God’s children.
Black Americans (others, too, but I'm speaking about the experience that I know, at the moment) have longed to fit in, but were never invited. Whenever we have shown up, we're reminded that we cannot be a full participant. There's no permanent seat for us at the table. Our "seat" is brought in and removed, based on our adherence to the (invisible, but very real) line that has been drawn for us in America.
In our churches there are so many dividing lines--worship is one of those lines. Yes, even that. "Black" worship styles (I hate to use that word but styles makes it understandable), and "white" (or the standard that we measure everything by in this nation) worship styles are one way of trying to highlight the differences, for the sole purpose of explanation. The traditional worship is "dignified" and easily acceptable. "Black" worship is not. Often, it is characterized as "emotionalism". It is viewed by many as undignified and loud. I spent the majority of my life in one of those undignified places of worship and what I experienced (in worship) was Spirit-filled, joyful and a reprieve from the Monday to Friday existence outside the safety of the church building. It wasn't mere emotion, but genuine worship and praise that flooded, even, my emotions. It was all encompassing...spirit, soul and body.
Because Black worshippers have a different lived experience, the worship is different. We shout or dance in the Spirit, and we say, "Amen", waving our hands and standing or clapping when the Word of God is preached (or that song the choir or worship leader sings, is anointed and touches every part of our trichotomous being). Doing worship differently is not a bad thing--just different.
Ideally, the quote, "Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week", [MLK, Jr.] should not be true. I know that it grieves the heart of God--it grieves me! What should be acknowledged is that Black people didn’t decide that we wanted to worship, separately.
Our separated worship was borne out of our love for God and the need for the Church and its community. We weren't invited to this table, either. (I'm not complaining about the differences in worship--I embrace them all-- I just think they should all be under the same roof, and not separated, and often mocked.
Reconstruction is the devil. Don't ignore the present tense.
What it should have been, it wasn't and still isn't. It was supposed to make the formerly enslaved people whole and on equal footing. It hasn't happened in any segment of our society, without a hard fought battle (even unto death). In fact, we have even lost ground that was won for us by Civil Rights activists. And, let me add, not only black people have this experience. Native Americans lost everything, too; along with the Chinese men who built the railroads spread across our nation. Irish people, Jewish people, Japanese Italians, Germans, Latinos (and others--all experienced the bigotry that still permeates this country. Let me be clear though, white skin eventually became the determined factor for the set standard.
Immigration policy in the United States has had quite a checkered past. During the period before (and during) World War ll, different immigrants were shunned and treated with disdain. Racist quotas were set up to disqualify whatever culture wanted to become American. It was particularly heinous during the war--when Jewish people were turned away from our shores (and in at least one case) were sent back to certain death. Thankfully, that ship was welcomed by another country after traveling to different ports along the east coast, unsuccessfully. The instances where "outsiders" were welcomed, it was because of recognized need for cheap labor--in 2025, it is still the same. Even, the same excuses for exclusionary policies haven't changed much. Then it was based on the false theory that immigrants were inferior or "parasites". Today, immigrants are criminals, and more. Racism is going to exclude a lot of us from a Heavenly eternity, if we refuse to repent.
The only way these divisions will end, this side of Heaven, is indeed repentance for the hatred and division. But, you cannot repent until you acknowledge the truth of our history, just like any other sin. How we got here matters a great deal. Confession is the first step.
We cannot continue to hide and deny our sinful past--we have to admit it, and in repentance God will change our darkened hearts. No matter how many books are banned, or historical truths are excluded from educational institutions, the ugliness still permeates our society. It can't be a healthy society until everyone is included (and historical truths accepted) having equal opportunity, in every segment of our society.
We all need to repent. I know pastors who have stood in pulpits with a message that was directed only to the black people there (even, in the presence of non-black worshippers)--as if the Gospel isn't for everyone. It is ALL wrong, no matter who does it. There will be no sections in Glory! No racial, denominational, or any other divisions we keep coming up with.
Do we even know what God has to say about immigrants? Because, He had a lot to say about treatment of immigrants, the poor and the oppressed. His Word is a serious indictment of our lack of compassion and our racism.
Many Christians, are frequently scolded because of their acknowledgement of cultural differences. Cultural differences aren't sinful--especially when they are shared. As long as cultural differences are ignored, disrespected and/or denied we will continue to experience division. Culture isn't bad. After Christianity, it is the thing that makes us unique-- I think God wants us to figure this out, and stop all of the fighting. Acknowledge all cultures in the Body of Christ--not as a force to divide, but as an opportunity to learn and grow in love. Remember, God doesn't ask us for uniformity, just unity.
I think I have to share how I got to thinking about all of this. I'm getting teary-eyed as I think about the statement that I heard today. It so resonated with me that I paused the documentary multiple times to get it all down. It expressed exactly how I (and, I would venture to say, most black Americans) feel as we navigate our way through a world that continues to reject us and then forcibly attempt to silence us.
I'm going to quote Dr. King again. "Rioting is the voice of the unheard". Don't dismiss this powerful indictment. Whenever, people are not heard by those in power desperation sets in--it seems like the whole world is on fire. Oppression and lack of acknowledgement will bring that on, as time passes and change doesn't. I'm not in anyway endorsing destructive or violent behavior in anyone. But, when peaceful protests are ignored, history tells us that those things are the outcome. The answer to it isn't harsher policing. It's love, reconciliation and a seat at the table, with everyone else. That's it.
I suppose this is a good time to finally share what I heard, today.
"People talk about totalitarian regimes, as being so regimented, and so predictable as if that's the nature of their oppression. Actually it's the unpredictability"--the oppressed live on eggshells, because their (totalitarians) actions can arise out of (seemingly) nowhere. "You just never know when or where you've crossed their line, and you will be its next victim." --Richard Sobel
(Not only totalitarian regimes, but caste systems and racial bigotry work in the same way.)
[From a "Crime on the Bayou", 2020].
You should watch it, without prejudgment. Richard Sobel's words hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized that the power behind his words, is my lived experience after 62 years. I have to tell you, it's been exhausting. Weariness is debilitating.
Finally, someone gets it, and us.
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