How Long Until the Church Effectively Deals With Its Prejudice?

CNN is producing a great series on being "Black in America." Yesterday, they dealt with the issue of race in the church by confronting Why Many Americans Prefer Their Sundays Segregated (HT: Jim West). This is a fascinating article. Here are some excerpts:

• Only 5 percent of our nation's churches are considered racially integrated (at least 20% of a minority race attends)
• Many who want segregated churches are looking for a place of refuge where they don't have to experience racism on Sundays
• Fear of interracial dating may keep churches segregated
• Integrated churches could help heal racial divides in America

I have said a lot about this in the past and I plan to say a good deal more about it in the future. At any rate, I think that it is significant that a secular world looks at the church and takes notice that we are just as segregated as they are, if not more so. Clearly, the Bible teaches that racial distinctions are to fade away in Christ, yet they remain in His Church. How do you think this affects our witness and what can we do about it?

Obviously, repentance and heart change is necessary. Maybe we will start to consider that when we realize that our preferences, beyond just being incompatible with the Gospel, are also destroying our witness in America, the land of multiculturalism.

Comments

[Tim G]

I totally agree. If we are to share Jesus to the world, we must share, minister and serve all the world. Did we not learn in Sunday School: Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight...! We need to practice it!

[Raffi Shahinian]

Great question in the title. I've sought to try and answer it in my post today at Parables of a Prodigal World; actually, more to point out how long the question has been asked. Thought you might be interested.

Grace and Peace,
Raffi

[Alan Cross]

Great thoughts, Raffi. It is helpful to remember that the early church was just made up of people. It was not perfect. And, it is especially enlightening to think about how so much of the New Testament was written to address this issue. I've never thought of that before. Thank you, Raffi.

I think that I am going to write another post on this linking directly to your thoughts.

[Brian]

Get involved in ministry with Christians of a different race, on their turf, on their terms. Establish trust. Demonstrate that you are not a threat or looking to "take over" or showing them "how to do things." They know their communities better than you do. Establish true unity through a shared commitment to the Gospel and shared sacrifice. Then churches will integrate because Christians of different races will KNOW they are one community by having stood shoulder to shoulder rebuilding the same wall.

Also, do not assume the above paragraph is easy, or that there will be no misunderstandings if your motivations are pure.