America, Race, and the Church
This past week in America we have witnessed a rather disturbing portrayal of the the church. The reactions across the blogosphere and in newspaper editorials to the Rev. Wright’s comments and Obama’s response have helped demonstrate the underlying attitudes of priorities of the American church. First I should say, although I don’t agree with some of what Rev. Wright said, I do think he spoke prophetic truth and pointed out some real issues in America. I thought Obama’s speech on racism was accurate and something our country needs to hear. I am shocked at the extreme denial of “race issues” in America that has resulted from the speech. I’m sad that Obama’s first real public act “as a black man” has caused so many to turn on him. Obviously there are still deep race issues in America, regardless of the number of white editorials that say “I don’t look at a person’s skin color.”
But it’s the church issue that really gets me. Two thoughts keep surfacing in the things I read - first that Obama should have caused dissension and left his church community years ago. This assumption reveals the opinion of many Americans that this is how church should operate. If you don’t like something at church, you need to initiate a coup and/or leave the church for a better option. Community doesn’t matter as much as getting what you want from church. Apparently challenging words and honesty about issues in America are cause enough to destroy or abandon community. Church splits, gossip, backstabbing, and church-hopping are all apparently what America expects and wants from church. I know this is a complicated issue for many churches, but why has the first priority become leaving or kicking people out instead of building community and engaging in dialogue?
The second assumption I’m encountering is that pastors shouldn’t be controversial or prophetic, especially if that involves questioning America. This elevation of civil religion and America worship is scary. To place pointing out the sins of the country or just areas where growth is needed as out of bounds for the church prevents real change from ever occurring. I’ve heard plenty of sermons pointing out the issues with other countries, minority groups in America, or the poor, but they never cross the line into questioning establishment America. I could get soundbites of vitriolic hatred (lacking any constructive outlook) from any number of churches regarding “minority” issues (against homosexuals, women, Muslims, the poor…) and for some reason those statements are generally tolerated or at least ignored (if not taken up as a battle cry). Question the greatness of our empire or suggest lifestyle changes for the average American and you are ostracized (and told you are unbiblical for causing division).
What a freaking load of crap. What has happened to the church? When did questioning America become a greater sin than permitting injustice? For me, this is no longer about a political race, this is about having lost the idea of what church is.
Church doesn’t exist to rubber-stamp the status-quo of the empire’s powerful. Church isn’t about a nice experience that helps you feel content with your life as it is. Church isn’t about getting to sing happy songs. Church isn’t about what makes you feel most comfortable. Church isn’t about ignoring the problems of the world until you actually believe they have disappeared. Church is not about complacency in the American Dream.
The church is about being salt and light. About being a city on a hill. About loving God and loving others. About overturning the tables in the temple. About loosing the chains of injustice and setting captives free.
America - it is about getting over ourselves, laying down our lives and giving ourselves fully to following Christ. Somewhere we have seriously lost our way.
Tags:
Julie Clawson
Topics: Politics, Culture, Church |
March 22nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I am contemplating myself writing a post on a bible study my mom is going through (I am home this week from Spring Break, and I was looking through it) from Beth Moore. The study is on the book of Daniel. To her credit, she is trying to combat the “culture” of America, but she says in her book:
“In the weeks ahead, Babylon will represent certain cultural influences and mentalities that permeate the prosperous West. Please don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of tagging our nation a ‘Babylon.’ Anyone who travels internationally as much as I do realizes the spiritual blessings and opportunities we have on American soil.”
She is suggesting that our culture reeks of Babylon, but she will not step out the extra mile because she knows if she does the publishers won’t publish it. We need to be a bit more subversive, and go the extra mile to call America what it is. We don’t need to defend it any longer. Thanks for the post.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
[…] Julie is spot-on again with race. And again with being green. And again with gender. And Mike rocks too. […]
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I’ve haphazardly followed this story and one report this week really made my head hurt. The news analysis replayed the part of Rev. Wright’s comments about American dropping the atomic bomb twice on Japan cities during World War II. Then the anchor went on to berate the reverend for implying that we had 9/11 coming to us. But no one ever addressed the validity of the statement that America did drop atomic bombs on CIVILIANS, killing women and children, and how generations since are still dealing with health issues as a result. Ofcourse I don’t think the 3,000 innocent people that died in the terrorist attacks “had it coming.” It was deplorable and should be condemned. But the question is, do you we hold ourselves to the same standards we preach about sanctity of life? That was his point.
This was an excellent post! Right on sister friend.
March 22nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I read a fantastic post (http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2008/03/for-whites-only-things-to-cons.html) by Sondra Shepley on the God’s Politics blog describing the common “White Christian” frustration with racial dialogue. Part of the struggle is that many non-minority Christians want to take a factual approach to the situation, while minorities are much more likely to bring in their personal wounds and stories and speak to the roots of the racial issues in American society, which aren’t so clear-cut. It is easy to dismiss or explain away the facts. But not so easy to dismiss the pain caused by racism, ethnocentrism, and the desire to just “wish it all away” by ignoring racial and ethnic differences altogether.
I actually have been encouraged by the responses I’ve seen to Obama’s speech. Whether or not they are in favor of his landmark words, it shows that the conversation is opening up, and this is exactly what has to happen to begin the healing process.
Thanks for this post. What a great call to action!
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
[…] March 22, 2008 Julie Clawson, uberblogger and Fe-mergent author wrote in a post entitled America, Race and the Church perfectly my own sentiments, albeit with greater skill and dexterity. Please, if you […]
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I’m an Obama supporter and loved the speech. I like that he spoke to the concerns of both white and black Americans, and that he courageously addressed subjects most political advisers would warn him to avoid at all costs - affirmative action, the O.J. Simpson Trial, lingering bitterness and anger, and the fact that “the most segregated hour of the week is on Sunday morning.”
However, I’d stop short of condoning the remarks of Rev. Wright. Language is a powerful thing, and I think that the wise use it carefully. He may have been hitting on some very true facts about American foreign and domestic policy, but using inflamatory language (like “God d*mn America”)is rarely productive in bringing about change.
Also, I personally prefer that my pastor not talk politics. (In my church, it would turn into a Bush rally.) Seeing as Jesus wasn’t a democrat or republican, I’m uncomfortable any time a church supports one party or the other.
You are so right about the “denial of race issues,” particularly among white Americans. The attitude I get from a lot of people here is, “Why don’t they (the African American community) just get over it (200 years of slavery, Jim Crow, and discrimination)?” My mother reacted to Rev. Wright by saying she felt betrayed by the black community. She said, “I’m doing my part by not being racist; they should do their part.”
I think this reflects the fact that a lot of folks (particularly in rural areas like where I live) are completely clueless about how much still needs to be done and how (justifiably) angry a lot of people are about race issues.
True to style, Obama took the high road by confronting the issue head-on. Let’s just hope the country rises to the occasion.
Great post. I wrote about the speech on my blog as well, and you can watch the video from my site.
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I’ve had the opportunity to view Dr. Wright’s sound bites in their full context now. In the context of his whole sermon. Interestingly enough, they are not nearly as vitriolic in context as they are when seen as a sound bite in a news program. For instance, the bit about “God damn America,” was done as a juxtaposition to the idea of God bless America and as an idea that God does NOT condone racism, slavery, terrorism (as we’ve practiced it ourselves against the Japanese during WWII, against Native Americans, against Hispanics and against many people of color). The other quote was actually quoting a white ambassador … so you see, Dr. Wright was taken out of context in a terrible fashion himself.
We all KNOW that the media twist things. Why we keep buying what they sell is just beyond me.
March 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Julie,
Excellent thoughts about the situation. I think you hit it on the head!
March 22nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Great post, Julie!
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
To quote the great theologian Bruce Cockburn, it’s “the idolatry of ideology.”
Quite seriously, I highly recommend Hope in Troubled Times, the book Brian McLaren references frequently in Everything Must Change. The authors make a solid case for seeing western Christianity as an ideology.
Great post Julie.
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Thanks for the great comments.
Tia Lynn - exactly. I think words spoken prophetically will be harsh, but that doesn’t mean we should just ignore what is being said. Asking America to abide by the same standards it expects of others is a very valid question.
Rachel - I think there can be a fine line between politics (supporting one side or another) and speaking truth to power. Questioning the actions of a politician or the government if they are evil is a call for justice, not getting mixed up in politics. I think there should be space for things like that in the church.
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
while a lot has been written on this topic, julie, this is an original and important post. well said.
i’ve heard from a few people who have gone back and watched the full sermons in their entirety and were wondering what the issue was… i guess a single line from a sermon — like a single line from the bible — can be dangerous when in the wrong hands.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 am
“Questioning the actions of a politician or the government if they are evil is a call for justice, not getting mixed up in politics. I think there should be space for things like that in the church.”
I totally agree with this, except in my church it ALWAYS turns into a rant against homosexuality or abortion. I think this is why I’m wary of any sermon about the “evils of America.” Where I live and in my church, it’s less about justice for the poor and more about anything having to do with sex. (You sorta have to look at both sides of this coin.)
March 23rd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Rockin’ post. Thanks for saying it how it is.
March 23rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
[…] America, Race, and the Church (tags: obama politics church racism) […]
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
[…] go into much of the speech because everyone already has, I would point to a couple of places, here, here and here, that are worth stopping by. I add my “what they said” to […]
March 24th, 2008 at 5:26 am
Well said!
It all sounds so familiar, from the apartheid time in South Africa.
What I wonder is how many other US presidential candidates have been “got at” in the media for things said by their church leaders? Are all the other church leaders so bland and known for saying unmemorable things? And if so, are they not ones the Lord will spew out of his mouth because they are neither hot not cold?
March 24th, 2008 at 9:31 am
AMEN! You are so right on.
I was so happy that my pastor decided to discuss similar issues during the sermon yesterday. It needs to be addressed.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:49 am
And if so, are they not ones the Lord will spew out of his mouth because they are neither hot not cold?
fantastic question Steve
March 26th, 2008 at 9:24 am
I know we’ve kind of moved on from this topic, but I was furious when I realized that John McCain had accepted endorsements from John Hagee and Rod Parsley.
The two are known for making controversial and hateful remarks against gays, women, Catholics, and Muslims. Hagee said that Hurricane Katrina was an act of God in response to New Orleans’ gay pride parades. Parsley believes it is the responsibility of the U.S. government to eradicate Islam completely.
You can read these quotes and others in their entirety at:
http://mediamatters.org
I’ve also written about it on my blog:
http://www.rachelheldevans.com
Why isn’t the media covering this like they covered Rev. Jeremiah Wright?
I know that these guys are not McCain’s personal spiritual mentors, but McCain can choose to accept or reject any endorsement he pleases. Instead, he made a joint appearance with Hagee, in which he claimed to be “very proud to have Pastor Hagee’s support.”
Is there a double standard here? Or is this just what people have come to expect from the religious right?
March 26th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
AMEN!