Note: Please bear with me as the focus of this post is black men. Not black women, black children or the black community. There is a particular reason for this focus. I will discuss it in a different post.
Do you know that there are some black men who reject Christ because of white supremacy? Do you know that there are some black men who refuse to follow Christ because they truly believe that Christianity is a white man’s religion? They have seen white Christians use the Bible and “Christianity” to oppress others (from slavery to present day). Christianity is rife with comfortable white people who refuse to acknowledge that racial inequalities are real. It is full of comfortable Christians who refuse to stand up for the poor because that action might result in less comfort. Black men see white Christians gerrymandering or restricting the black vote so that the they can continue to ignore poor people of color in favor of supporting those who are already advantaged. These black men have seen and read about white Christians who go to Africa and then rape the land and the people in the name of Christianity (back then and still today). And of course they watch, unmoved and unsurprised, as white Christians have no compassion or desire to speak up for unarmed black men who are killed by law enforcement officers and ordinary citizens. When you are black in America, Christianity can look very suspicious, uninviting and in some cases, like a joke. Even more so when your oppressors claim it as their own and as sanction for their evils.
Check out my verbal cartoon. I can’t draw, so you’re going to have to use your imagination………
Cartoon #1:
Black man: “So let me get this straight. You want to save this soul of mine that you cannot see. Then send it to a heaven that you do not know. But you’re OK with watching the me that you see and know live in hell on earth?”
White Christian: “Pretty much.”
Black man: “No thank you”
White Christian: “You Godless, black. I tried to save you!”
Enter: Islam, Nation of Islam, Black Hebrew Israelites…..
Black man: “Finally, a god who loves black the man.”
Cartoon #2:
Black man: “Black Lives Matter!”
White Christian: “Actually, the lives of black unborn babies matter.”
Black man: “I’m not a baby”
White Christian: “Oh, well. Sorry……….”
This is what white Christianity looks like to many black men. I know this seems harsh, but you and I are siblings in Christ and I must keep it real with you. That is of course, if, we are serious about being salt and light and being fishers of men. Please believe that I am not pointing my finger at you. Unless this is actually you (though I wouldn’t know because I don’t know who is reading this). But, your conscience knows and the Holy Spirit knows. If this is you, please go and meet with the Lord and fix it.
The greatest evangelism Christians can do is to live a Christ-transformed life. This would include loving people who do not look like us nor have the same experiences as us. Why would you rather go to another country than go down the street to preach and live out the gospel? I’m not judging, I’m just asking a question. Why? Because there is a real opportunity for white Christians to make a huge gospel impact in the Black community and beyond and it is being missed. Many of these black men actually do believe in Jesus (in some way or another), but have a hard time reconciling that they should join a faith with the likes of extremist groups and ideologies that also associate strongly with Christianity (KKK, white nationalists, Christian nationalists, and so forth). Ultimately, every soul will stand before The Judge, Jesus Christ, for himself. Black men cannot blame white Christians for their rejection of Christ. Likewise, we will each be held accountable for our own actions and inaction. If Christians are on a mission to love like Jesus, why would we restrict that to our own comfort zones? The love of Christ is deep and wide, going far beyond our personal experiences and comfort. It takes us outside of our racial/ethnic cocoons. It will move us across the street, across the railroad tracks or to the “other” side of town to connect, truly connect, with someone who is different.
I have noticed that there are very few white Christians who are willing to engage in racial reconciliation work in environments where they are not the majority or the controlling authority. What are you really saying here? I’d like to know. But please hear what I am saying: the time for tokenism is out. The time for lip service is dead. The time for appearances is over. Either be about it or just go ahead and admit that racial reconciliation efforts are only of importance if they will promote your name, your ministry or your business. But let me be the one to remind you, that is how the world operates, not Christ followers. Let me also warn you; this country is changing. If you don’t allow the deep work of the Holy Spirit in your heart and mind in this area, you are going to have a very tough time navigating. AND you will be doing crazy stuff while thinking that it’s not crazy. The status quo is gone. You might not see it just yet, but it has passed away. Let us all purpose to be where God is, not where we thought He was or where we want Him to be.
Finally, there are some powerful black men out there that are ripe for the Kingdom of God and the Master’s use. Will they be closer or farther away from it after they encounter you?
1 Corinthians 9:19–23
Serving All Men
19 For though I am bfree from all men, cI have made myself a servant to all, dthat I might win the more; 20 and eto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the 5law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 fto gthose who are without law, as without law h(not being without 6law toward God, but under 7law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 ito the weak I became 8as weak, that I might win the weak. jI have become all things to all men, kthat I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
blackandwhiteandshadesofgreen 