When Perkins moved back to Mississippi, he was called to the ministry of reconciliation, and he knew that the solution to problems in their community-whatever it was- had to include both whites and blacks. He began to befriend two white pastors...both who ended up committing suicide after an enormous amount of opposition and pressure from their congregations for shaking up the status quo by presenting the plight of the black community and addressing issues of oppression and injustices in the community. Perkins writes,
"I began to see that white and black churches alike had so molded their message to fit within cultural, racial, and religious traditions that they robbed the gospel of its power. It was powerless to reach across racial, cultural, economic and social barriers. It could not make a real difference in the community."
A question for reflection at the end of this chapter: The author claims that the church is still the most racist institution in America, maintaining segregation long after racial barriers have fallen in other social institutions. How do you explain this fact when the gospel demands that the church lead the way in the work of reconciliation?
I think this chapter solidifies the idea that establishing reconciliation in communities begins with authentic friendships. I praise God that we never had to "muster up" diversity within Shout Ministries...my friends are already diverse, and those are the ones God strategically placed in my life for the sake of establishing Shalom in the Cedar Valley.
ReplyDeleteAmen, my barrier busting friend! God truly has blessed SHOUT with a beautiful variety of people who have come together because of their love for Christ and our community, and who are staying together because of their growing love for one another. God is so very good.
ReplyDeleteGod has been at work long before we even realized what He was doing in all our hearts... Preparing us for such a time as this; four summers in the Park & five years of doing church with the diverse people in the neighborhood has proved to be a wonderful training ground. It does take time to go from surface,"how's the weather" type conversations with people outside of your comfort zone or experience, to building honest deep relationships.
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of diversity is like vegetable soup... we all come to the table with our distinct colors and flavors and together we make a wonderful sustaining meal.
Our toughest barrier, it often seems, is not so much about color of skin as it is about socio-economics. When I worship at Harvest, I notice the real blend of color in the seats there. I see a real diverse community when I serve at the Catholic Worker House. Why does it seem that the poor don't have the same kind of hang-ups about race as the higher socio-economic strata? Obviously, power and privilege and economic mindset have a whole lot to do with the race barriers that exist.
ReplyDeleteDerek Sallis wrote the following comment but is experiencing some technical difficulties in getting the comment posted. Derek's comments:
ReplyDeleteMinisters, pastors, and church leaders have to gain support in order to establish a ministry. It is easy for anybody to begin to fit the mold that they are in when first beginning, or after years of doing Gods work in their community. It's almost like having a fan base be developed. I know of churchgoers who are fans of the pastor and it almost seems as if they are living off of their pastors’ “spiritual residue” in order to be a Christian rather then bearing good fruit. It can seem as though the pastor (or church leader) is carrying out Gods work because the people of the church are satisfied and being helped when in need, but that is what can lead to “tunnel vision." Tunnel vision is the reason that tradition has taken over the church and worship. Jesus came at the time when he was needed. The chosen people of God had been so engulfed in tradition and manmade laws that they were becoming self-righteous, disobedient, and hypocrites. The people had been waiting hundreds of years for the Messiah, and in the meantime had evolved into a people who were contradicting Gods word. This is what led to Jesus’
Crucifixion, as the leaders of the religious law had their evil exposed by Jesus and their jealousy was evident. It's been nearly 2000 years since Christ came and died on the cross to fulfill the prophecies. The evolution of the church is identical to what the Jews had evolved into when Christ came. The church today has racial, socioeconomic, denominational, and many other barriers since it’s early establishment.
People naturally migrate towards individuals that they can relate to and identify with in order to feel comfortable. That is why the church has to reach out to those in need, the ones in need are not going to reach out to the church. And when the church is reaching out a sense of pride, eminence, or pity cannot be exemplified or thought of subconsciously. There are already too many psyche barriers put up in the United States when it comes to people living and working amongst each other. Yet, when there is a common cause that is emphasized, that is when people come together. If two men of different racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds come together to work on a job that involves building a house, their differences are put aside to build that house and to get the work done. If a basketball team has the same differences, they have to put those differences aside in order to play together and win. It should be the same with Jesus, if we are carrying out His work, the big picture should always be the in the forefront. Not the minute differences that only are put up to complicate the work and create the division. The poor have one thing in common, they are poor. Why does race or culture matter if the common cause of not having money is the neutral ground? Mark 10:25, Jesus recognizes the common ground of humility that the poor have. That is why Jesus commanded that the poor be ministered to and warned of the troubles money can bring when trying to carry out Gods work. Money is used to establish power and superiority blatantly or indirectly, it always has been. If individuals are not pronouncing to have power or supremacy over each other, then a true relationship has the opportunity to be formed. What better chance to have Jesus at the center of a relationship then when it’s being formed? I’m not saying that having money labels you as evil, but loving money leads to evil. It’s difficult to condition our mind that this is true in a world that demonstrates otherwise.
I believe we have lost the focus today as the whole church, we have to be honest in order to move forward but it seems that excuses are developed and additional differences are being set up instead of reconciliation being established. When it comes down to anything being productive, it’s about what is actually done by works and deeds. How can you have faith to be a Christian by just talking, feeling, or desiring? It is by your works (James 3:19-20), and these works cannot be done with tunnel vision and steeped in tradition. Jesus being at the center should be what tears down these barriers down.
Derek, I appreciate your thoughts greatly. I was just talking with Chassidi today about the upside-down kingdom of Jesus...how the world's economy of self, image, status, power, wealth, are so opposite of God's economy of others, love, servanthood, sacrifice, community. You spoke to this powerfully in your comments. We can discover our sameness and unity in Christ and celebrate the rich differences that He gifts us with in the Body of Christ.
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