FAITH: A time to draw a line!

I have always been an advocate of vigorous public discussion. I endorse the standard of “deliver us from certainty.” Debates should always be civil, but there are times we must “draw the line.”

A part of my ministerial career was spent in Southern California during the “hippie era.” In the context of the Vietnam War, standards were thrown to the wind. Among many young people the only standard was “if it feels good, feel free to do it.” As a Baptist I was free to set my own standards for performing marriages. I worked with couples who wanted to write their own wedding ceremonies. One such couple brought their proposed ceremony with an interesting twist. A traditional ceremony called for faithfulness “as long as we both shall live.” They proposed “for as long as we can.” I said “no.” If I were to officiate at their marriage, “as long as we both shall live” would be the standard. No exceptions.

I accept evolution as being basic to life. Everything is in constant movement. Change is always taking place. Never-the-less, there are times when a line must be drawn. Specifically, Christians must at times draw lines even if it leaves one person at odds with the entire world. I am now well into reading Jim Wallace’s most recent book. “America’s Original Sin” is about racism. In particular it is about white American’s ungodly treatment of black Americans.

Slavery of black human beings in America was legal for 246 years until 1865 and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Through those years, slavery was practiced/accepted by dominant white people, including Christian churches, their leaders and their members. Discrimination did not end in 1865. Racism merely changed forms and became even more vicious. My father, born in Missouri and transplanted in Illinois, was a racist. He was an ardent born-again Christian. My acceptance of black Americans and my advocacy for full acceptance of gay people, caused considerable strain during his later years.

It is all too easy to say “All that bad stuff happened before my time. I am not a racist.” This is not satisfactory! White Americans all have benefited from our privileged position. White Americans have passed wealth from generation to generation. It is wealth produced off the backs of racial minorities, African, Mexican and other Central Americans, and an abundance of Asians. Higher quality education has been more available to whites than to people of color. The economic and educational disparities are easily researched and verified.

The white treatment of indigenous Americans is even worse than their treatment of other racial minorities. It is an ugly story all its own. European whites were thieves and murderers. Their targets were racial minorities.

“What would Jesus do” is an age old phrase that present day white Americans refuse to ask. Jesus became an insurrectionist on behalf of people who were poor and racially different. How have Christians sidestepped the issue of racism in America for over 400 years? We have sugar coated our history. Today Americans revere the names of Washington and Jefferson. While they spoke in lofty terms, they were both slave owners. Even Lincoln’s racism is easily documented. America’s moment of truth is close at hand. White majority status is about to end. Majority status for minorities is upon us. Gerrymandering and voter registration manipulations are still here now but not for long.

Is there a way out of this great American dilemma? For Christians, who understand the good news of the Gospel, the answer is simple, even if the execution of the answer is complex. At the heart of the Christ experience is repentance. Repentance is profound but easily understood. John the baptizer used the word in his introduction of Jesus as the messiah. Jesus used the word from the beginning of his ministry. REPENT!

When in Army basic training, I quickly learned the meaning of the command “about face!” It did not mean “right face” or “left face” or “stand still.” The command meant a complete turn in the opposite direction. This is the meaning of repentance in the living of the Christ- like life. Repentance is a radical turn in the opposite direction. Further, repentance includes the idea that the listener step out in the new direction. Repentance is an about face. It is walking in a new direction.

What is the new direction? I write as a European Caucasian. This is my short list. Recognize the enormity of the sin of our racist history. Repent from our overt and covert participation in racism. Start speaking out. Silence is not golden. Rather, it is an abomination. Remaining silent in the face of racism is unacceptable. Aggressively make friends of people of color. Eat together, play together, worship together. Share generously as with a blood brother or sister. Restitution does not work, but genuine giving heals a lot of wounds. Vigorously and persistently work for equality in education. In America the future will belong to the educated. Join with people of color in the politics of equality. Demand that your church end every practice that smells of racism. Advocate for Biblical justice.

Start with this list and your own list will grow.

The End

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.