6/13/2020
Ideas matter. They have consequences. Inaccurate facts, poor logic and bad theories often spill over into unfortunate and even tragic results in the societies that embrace them. It is especially true for bad theology, because theology itself presents itself as kind of a sacred philosophy, and when inaccurate or mis-guided, that theology can affirm what is, quite frankly, evil behavior for that portion of society that looks to the church for what it embraces and what it forbids. How else could an ostensibly “Christian” nation allow (and in some places affirm) the abominable practice of racial slavery for a couple hundred years, followed by another hundred years of segregationalist Jim Crow laws? For reasons of greed, cowardice, and social acceptance, Christian scriptures have often historically been used to justify what people have wanted them to justify. Several hundred years ago, those in power saw the huge economic advantages of trade in human souls and therefore saw ‘slavery’ in the Bible as justifying racial enslavement. But the truth of the matter is that the slavery the Bible was describing was actually either indentured servitude (willingly making yourself another’s slave in order to work off your debt), or the cruel practice of conquering nations like Rome to make slaves of many of the people they conquered. The church could have made a difference in those early years of our Republic, if only it was unafraid to preach the truth. And it could still make a difference today.
You see, governmental policy changes can only go so far. Yes, they are necessary, and needful. To an extent they can fight the “structural evil” in certain institutions by implementing changes to policing practices, properly vetting police recruits for latent racist attitudes, etc. But how can any government change the hearts of racists souls? The church is where this possibility exists (for those who embrace the Christian faith). But, I believe in order to do so, it will have to change both the nature of its practical theology (preaching), and the deeper understanding of what it really means to be a Christian.
First of all, the church’s preaching needs to call out and condemn racist attitudes and actions in the most uncompromising manner. When Christ commanded us to never return evil for evil, and required us to even pray for and hope for the good of those who treat us particularly bad, how could mis-treatment of innocent persons with a different skin color be remotely thought to be tolerable? It is tragic in the extreme that some of the churches were actually complicit w/both slavery and the segregationist Jim Crow laws that followed. It should have condemned them both, even if it meant the church’s destruction. The church’s job is always to do the right thing, that is, witnessing to the will of a righteous and compassionate God. Why bother existing without doing the one job you were commanded to do? Even today many of the Christian churches are cowardly and reluctant to point out those behaviors and attitudes which are contrary to God’s will, even when such preaching could prevent someone from escaping the judgment of God! The Scriptures never fail to condemn evil actions. (See Revelation 21:8, and 1st John 2:9, the latter which says, “Anyone who claims to be in the light and hates his brother, still lives in darkness”). It is no stretch, nothing inconsistent with scripture to proclaim that racists, if they maintain their racism, will never enter the kingdom of God.
As for how the Church’s theology in general has been lacking, since the Reformation many evangelical churches have espoused a theology of salvation which has no requirement of obedience, no change of behavior. One simply trusts in the work of Christ to save oneself. Then one just goes and lives their life as they please! Of course, the words of Jesus in the Gospels have to be discounted or marginalized in some manner, since His requirement is to daily die to one’s own wishes and desires and surrender our lives to Him. His demand is that the advancement of the Kingdom of God and His will take precedent over every selfish desire we have. Hard stuff, but non-negotiable. Take it or leave it. Many churches preach this, but many don’t. If they all did, many would leave the church. But at least it would be a faithful witness to what God desires, and no one would confuse Christians with racists.
As for those who loot and riot and throw stones at the police force….do you want to be treated justly? That is, not attacked or mistreated when innocent? How can you attack a policeman when he or she may be innocent of not only any unjust behavior, but also may be innocent of any racist attitudes? God will hold everyone to account for their actions. Victims can become oppressors. Each of us has a choice. All truly Christian churches must stand with the idea of justice for all. If not, its witness is already compromised. The Church of Jesus Christ has a job to do. If it isn’t faithful to this, it might soon completely lose its value to the world.
Postscript: The death of George Floyd and the unrest that has occurred since then has revealed something rather unpleasant about myself. That is, most of the things I fight for, most of the causes I advocate are typically causes that will or might someday affect me. Bourgeois, I think is the term. That is, protective of the things that comprise the concerns of white middle-class persons like myself. With regards to racism and racial inequality, I have been prototypically been quick to assert how far things have come since the 1960’s, not really listening to what is still occurring. But a recent letter from a friend, whose husband is Kenyan, has changed my perspective. The letter mentioned the rather staggering numbers of times he has been accosted by whites, especially taking into account the rather brief period of time he has lived in the States. It is far more often than I would have imagined.