Church and Racism

The church has come along way, but we do still see black go to all black congregation churches and whites go to all white congregation churches. Today we need to come together as one no matter our color and let everyone know that we are Christians and are here to please God.


If you go to this website and read, you will see what I am talking about: http://www.lamblion.com/articles/other/religious/RI-03.php - it says;
"A small number of black athletes may make millions, but the average black youngster will have to work much harder than his white counterpart if he intends to go to college and rise above a minimum salary wage". Why is that? Why can't we all just get along and love one another as God as commanded? Yes there are a lot of black people in sports that make a lot of money compared to us average white people that just make enough to get by. And yes there are a lot of white people (Bill Gates, all the presidents) that make a lot of money, while there are (like the Internet said) average black youngsters that have to work harder to get a good education.

Why can't the church be more willing to come together (no matter the denomination because we are Christians) and help those people in need? More and more people are drawing away from the church and we need to gain those peoples faith and love for God back. We are the next generation....we need to make that happen!!!!!!!!!!

Why? My Response

Melissa, you bring up a great question about why people would act this way towards these people groups. You give some great examples by giving us 9/11, which everyone and their brother can relate to and now, more recently, the attacks at Virginia Tech.

Sadly, these people don't make it any easier on us. I remember when we had the sniper in West Virginia. Those two were a couple of crazy, NASCAR loving white guys. For some reason, I didn't hear any talks about racism with that. It is only when people of different ethnicity decide to attack us white people. I think it is unfair.

I know everyone, including me, has looked at people of Arab descent with suspicion. It definitely doesn't make it right. It just seems to be something we all do. Robin Williams makes a joke about how when people used to fly the Red Eye they would take whatever medication they had and wake up in Tokyo. Now everyone is wide awake, looking around the cabin. Looking for anyone who ordered the humus.

That's right, we have to throw racial stereotypes in there. Without those we wouldn't have anything else to go on. Just like every postal worker will shoot up some neighborhood, everyone who eats humus will slam a plane into a building. I think it is said this is our response to this

Famous or not?

I don’t know if you guys ever watched/heard about what Michael Richards (Kramer from Seinfeld) said at a comedy club one night. Here is the video link: http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?mode=1&pmmsid=1772645
Kramer was racist against a black man just because the man interrupted him in the middle of his show. Kramer called him a nigga….motherf***er and other names. I could not believe my hears. Even though he went on David Letterman and apologized does not give him the right to say that kind of stuff at all. So is he racist or not? That is the real question. I doubt the his apology was just because of all the people commenting about it and just to get off the news and stuff about what he said and/or did.

Just because you’re famous/well known gives no one the right to call people a nigger, or whatever else. Famous people always can have an excuse for what they did but if it was one of us that did something like that, who knows where we would end up; in a grave probably. We idolize too much and try to be something we are not. We need to be who God created us to be and accept everyone and anyone as our brother and sister in Christ!!!

WHY???

Should America be aloud to be racist, due to the fact of 9-11 (terrorists), Virginia Tech (South Koran), etc?
I think that we shouldn’t be, but I can also see why some people are racist because of these situations. But just because there are people from those same area (that harmed us) does not mean that they will harm us too. But yet we Americans/white people made the KKK…which killed and beat many blacks. All countries are liable for this.
Why are other countries harming us when we are trying to help them? - depends on the country and if the US is really trying to help them or screwing them over!!!!

I know that a lot of elders (70+) are racists. I think that has a lot to do with slavery back in the day, and to them that had been accepted and they were taught that way.

By being racist we are allowing dehumanizing people. We are all equal in God’s eyes and God made us the way we are. God made us to love one another – not how ever you want to. With dehumanizing we can not bring unity and without unity Jesus may never come back to claim us!!

racism at work??? or not

I was at work today and my husband and another associate were discussing about illegal immigrants. They were not being racist; they were just saying that we need to have better control of who we let into this country. They also got into saying that we should put up a sign at the border only in English that says, “No illegal’s aloud” or something to that effect. Yes I am sure that they have might went a little over board with the whole sign thing…but I do not think that an associate should have gone to management and complained! So the manger came and talked to them and told them not to discuss things like that in the break room. Now I think that that is being a little racist. The guys were just expressing themselves and what would be good for our country. Yes the associate was not born in America, but they were not saying anything horrible or being racist.

What do you guys think about this?

I don’t think either one is right or wrong, but why should we have to give up some of our jobs to people that are illegal? Why do we have to work so that people from out of the country get food stamps? Not being racist just curious!!!

Walmart

The color of people’s skin makes other people racist. I was just reading an article online about Wal-Mart and they are in trouble for supposedly being racist against a black women and her check. They suspected her of haven written a bad check and they called the police and took that check into the back office. The funny thing was, the check was good. The women said, “Just because someone does not come out and say they won't serve you because you are black doesn't mean they aren't being racist. I think people would be surprised at how common and overt racism still is.” All Wal-mart did after words were give her $50 gift card and $1000 settlement. Racism is not about many and is being fair to any one and everyone. After myself of working there, I have seen many colors, races, ethics come through. I treat everyone the same and it seems that we white people are the most rude, mean, and inconsiderate people that I know.
http://wcco.com/consumer/local_story_225133552.html

I do know that racism is still out there, I don’t know why because as Christians we are suppose to accept everyone; whether Jew or Greek, women or man, etc.

the pressure

115 lbs, 5'7'', perfect long blonde hair, a size C chest(at the smallest), no IQ(if ya have a high one...keep quiet or just keep quiet anyway) and ya got the perfect woman. at least according to society's media set standard.

230 lbs, 6'2'', body perfectly built, standard IQ, lots of $$$, new sports car, maybe a penthouse and ya got the perfect man. at least according to society's media set standard.

from my somewhat limited understanding...I'm not aware of anyone on this campus that fits those standards. guess we all fall short of ideal. what can we do? society says diet, plastic surgery, lift weights, make money(scam if ya have to)...do whatever it takes to achieve the standard minimum perhaps attain more.
if you don't feel the pressure to be the "perfect ideal" just how far removed from society are you?

so what can we as Christians do? well, we can start by not succuming to this standard ourselves and by not setting those expectations on others. we can start by loving and accepting all people as they are. we can start by praying earnestly, fervantly, honestly to see through God's eyes and to have a God-centered heart. that's a good start.

change requires more than thought

guys walk down a sidewalk, people don't think much of it. a girl walks down a sidewalk and she gets honked at, whistled at, yelled at. guys walk into bars, people don't notice too much. girls walk into bars and they getted stared at, hit on, and drinks offered or bought for them(with the specific purpose of getting the girl drunk and taking her to bed). guys play sports and most people watch and cheer. girls play sports and they got mocked or ignored. guys sleep around and they get a "high social status" and a slap on the back. girls sleep around and they're called "hoes", "sluts", and so on.

girls so often are seen as objects, property, possessions, trophies...and often times get treated as such. this is not solely the fault of the guy(s). many girls have or do continue to allow themselves to get seen and treated as such. many do not do anything about it, they just complain and whine, not taking a stand. we can't expect things to change while just sitting on the sidelines complaining about it. action must be taken for change to occur.(this theme was quite evident in the movie North Country).

its the same for racism. change needs to occur and for that to happen action needs to be taken. the right actions need to be taken. and for the right actions to be taken hearts need to be right. and for hearts to be right, God needs to be present and thriving within all of us.

.......

Racism

Racism is a huge ordeal in this society. The US is letting so many people in this country that it is hard for people not to become racist, due to the fact that English is not going to be the number 1 language in the US. In this town, they have like over 10 languages in the class rooms. I know for a fact that older people (around 60 and up) are really racist because they think that we should stay with our own color/ethnic. Even on my mission trips down to the Dominican and Haiti; Haitians are treated badly in the Dominican.
EU Nations Agree To New Racism Rules (read)
http://wcco.com/national/topstories_story_109113942.html
it is just not our country that is trying to fight against, but the whole world. God made us for who we are whether black or white, slave/free, etc…we are equal. So why do we see others differently than ourselves? Why are we scared of others? Why can’t we all just get along and try the unity thing? Black people can call each other nigger, and whites can’t…because we are not black and blacks used to be slaves…we really haven’t. All ethnics have things they can say to their people and the same with us, but when talking to others be careful what you say because it could offend them!

the truth

if this comes off as somewhat of an angry blog, you'd be interpreting my feelings correctly. all my life I have been thin. both of my parents were thin growing up and I was "lucky" enough to inherit my father's incredibly high metabolism and my height from my mother's incredibly tall family(with the shortest person being my mom and aunt at 5'8''). no, I am not and never have been either anorexic or bulemic. I love to eat and fully digest all of my food. I hate the term skinny, it makes me feel grose. yet for as long as I can remember, since I was just a little girl, I have been made fun because I have always been tall and thin. people have always told me to "shut-up", that I don't know what I'm talking about when I say I have a hard time finding clothes that fit. people make comments like, "you've weighed the same since grade 6(or whatever)"...well just to clear something up, I have gained at least 30lbs since then. to clear something up, I weigh well over 100lbs. believe it or not I'm 130. I'm not saying that society doesn't put pressure on girls to be "skinny". I know it does. but I am thin and I have also been made to feel grose and "less than human" and so on. for years, with much struggle, I have been trying to gain weight.(and I'm well aware that some of you who read this will think to yourselves...she's ridiculous! she has no clue what she's talking about. she just wants attention. she's thin. she's got it all as far as the ideal body is concerned.) well for starters, stop judging me. and also, I'm not ridiculous for feeling the way I do. and I don't want attention. I want exactly the opposite. I want people to leave me alone about my height and weight. I hate that you stare and comment about it! I hate it! and another thing, I don't have the ideal body. I'm taller than several guys and I don't have an "ample bossom". far from it. maybe I wouldn't have such a hard time liking how I am if you'd all stop commenting on it and making fun of it, making me feel like crap. just a thought.

are you kidding me?

so I encountered something last night during my visit to the ER...a little background information: I was in a car accident last night(thanks to the wonderful snowy roads) so don't be shocked when you see me, I'm in a neckbrace. ok, but anyways...during my visit to the ER, before they would perform the CT scan they told me they needed to run a pregnancy test first. When I asked them if I could just tell them that there was absolutely no chance that I was pregnant and not have to do the test they told me they couldn't run the CT scan until they ran the test. Well, to say the least I was a little bothered. Why can't they just take my word for it? Why do they have to run a test that is not necessary? Why do they have to charge me(or rather my insurance) so much for me to pee in a cup and then for them to dip a stick in it just to tell them something I could have already told them without the test? Why is it that they assume all girls(or even all people) sleep around? well, thats my thoughts on my most recent experience with a form of a gender issue.

dc Talk

When I think about racism one of the first places I always end up going to is the music of dc Talk. The three men who make up this band have spend the majorit of their 10+ years together talking about racial equality and the beauty of diversity. Even now, as they have, for the time being, split off into solo careers, each one still focuses a lot on this subject.

The started the E.R.A.C.E. foundation, which jingle was, "Colors don't hate, people do." Which is dead on.

However, the story that has touched my heart the most would be the father of the African-American in the group. Michael Tait's father, Nathaniel has been recorded on a few of their albums talking about racism, but this video blew them all away. We learn that if anyone had a right to be racist it was him. The Klan burned his house down and lynched his father. They beat him and the rest of his family. However, he never taught his own children to be racist.

"This hate stuff is for the birds," he said. He quoted John 3:16 and ends it by saying that nothing in that verse talks about color. Jesus is for all.

I touched me that so many today are racist for reasons that are completely insignificant compared to this man. If he won't hate because Christ wouldn't, then why should we?

north country

I don't know where to start. when I watched north country I got incredibly disgusted, upset, and offended and it wasn't even me that everything happened to. and what got me most was the fact that it was even some people she knew; a guy she grew up with and even had a "fling" with. and even her own father stood by for awhile doing nothing until it finally got out of hand and her mother finally stepped in to do something about it by standing up to the father. it just seemed so unreal to me(and sadly it was based on real events). I thought over and over and realized just how blessed I am to have the parents I do, to have the father and brothers I do, the male friends that I have. I won't say I never get treated like on object or like I am sub-human because at times I have been treated that way and yes it can be just as horrible as that movie depicted but I don't live with it day in and day out and I also have family and friends(both male and female) that support me and watch out for me.
I am by no means a radical feminist, I am actually fairly traditional. but regardless, we are ALL created in the image of God. man is no more superior than women. and no one should be treated as inferior or be made to feel like any less of an image of God.

My Take on Women as Pastors

My view on Women in the ministry has changed a lot over the years. It interesting to me that I spent nearly 20 years of my life agreeing with what it was my parents had to say about it. I remember at my home church for a lot of years we had a woman on staff that was called The Shepherd of Women. She left after quite a few years there because the senior pastor refused to give her the title of Pastor.

I found this humorous when I got older because what is a Pastor? One of their jobs is to shepherd. It appears as though it was all semantics. Little did anyone realize that by calling her a shepherd they had already given her the title of pastor.

It intrigues me how people can get so caught up in a title. The gift and the calling is not in the title. I don't think it's fair to keep that from someone because they are a woman.

Women's Basketball Unnoticed

It really is funny, Leannna, when you think along those lines. I remember refereeing soccer games back in Milwaukee. I would get a lot of the High School age girls games. So many more fouls are called in those games. Why? Because those women know how to use their hips and they throw them around all the time.

It is both scary to watch, because you think somoene is going to killed, but incredible to watch them give their all for a fan base that is so much less. Being a soccer fan, I remember when the U.S. Women's National Team started winning World Cups. All of the sudden, women's soccer mattered. It mattered even more after the famous "Sports Bra" incident with Brandy Chastain. All of the sudden guys noticed, because a little bit of sex appeal had been added.

the continued debate

I'm really not sure if a good solid answer can ever be reached for the question of women as pastoral leaders. There will always be differing opinions and different views and interpretations of what the Bible says on the matter. Yes the world has changed and continues to change and roles and opportunities continue to change, on that I agree with Melissa whole-heartedly. However I am still not totally sure that just because the world changes and does something that we are to follow suit. Christians--Christ followers not world followers. But yet we are also to be applicable and understanding in this everchanging world. What is the middle ground? Is there really a Biblical answer on this?

women's athletics unnoticed

I have never personally stopped to think about women's sports and how they differ so much from men's as JJ pointed out but even that I never noticed it is proof of JJ's arguement. I flip channels and see men's sports all the time, but women...rarely. and do I stop to watch the women's sports...not nearly as often as I stop to watch the men's games. and I'm even a girl. ha, go figure that one.
I can only imagine how much women athletes go through and how much they struggle and push themselves in their sports, how much of a fight it must be at times. It requires a great deal of courage, strength, and perseverence, of that I'm sure.

Basketball

An interesting thing happend tonight regarding gender. I was watching the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship tonight with Tasha. She made a comment about how surprised she was that I was watching it. I think I've made comments in the past about women's sports and how they're less significant. However, my Dad enjoys watching Women's sports more. His reasoning is simple, because women's sports are viewed as less significant they feel they have more to prove. I made a comment tonight along the same lines about why I was watching the game.

It struck me later how true this is of society. Look at the attitude America has towards women's sports. No one would actually speak out publicly about this because the radical feminists would be all over them. BUT the WNBA? It gets made of fun all the time, barely covered on ESPN. U.S. Women's National Soccer Team? It only has some respect because it won the World Cup and the Men can't even get out of the first round.

These athletes are GOOD athletes, they prove it everyday. They work harder than any man just to get some attention.

Depends!!!

Gender issues can depend on age of all sexes, color, and true sexuality (homosexual). This does have a lot to do with racism, but gender issues are more than just adults and white people. Everyone has to realize that the world is never going to be perfect, not is it going to really be a free world.
Men still think that women should stay home, women think that they are free to do anything and everything, different color people think that they should be able to do anything and everything, and finally children have some choice in the matter of what they can do and not do.
The world will never be perfect. It is going to take forever to have unity among churches due to the fact of gender issues and other issues. Gender issues will always be out there no matter how hard we fight.
“It wasn’t until the 1960’s, however, that women got to move beyond their role as a housewife again”. http://intranet.dalton.org/ms/8th/students/decades99/Muffins1950/Pages/gender.html

"The Catholic Church is "Behind the Times" (Thank God!)
Then the charge was made that "Rome" was slow to recognize feminine equality, while many other denominations are "enlightened" and therefore do ordain women. I replied:
For how long have these other "branches" ordained women? And why did they wait so long? Did they need the "illumination" of radical feminism and the sexual revolution to "wake up" and "see the light?" Are we now in a sufficiently-enlightened age to finally grasp what sexual liberals and feminists apparently think is self-evident, while ages past were hopelessly regressive and "primitive?" It is the height of arrogance and folly for any of us moderns, with multiple hundreds of millions of dead in our century and enough slaughtered pre-born children to fill up Yankee Stadium to the brim, field and all, to wax eloquent about our "progressive" understanding of men and women!
It is utterly implausible to think that a century as corrupt and evil as ours (hence, Communism, Naziism, and abortion as the quintessential examples of this, just as slavery and genocide of the Indians were in the 19th century) would be the one to discover these moral truths which sexual liberals consider so self-evident. It just doesn't make any sense. Of all the twenty centuries since Christ, we are the ones to discover the "truth" that men and women are essentially no different from each other (or that abortion is morally permissible), and that virtually all Christians previously were dolts and chauvinists, who couldn't see that women ought to be ordained?!!! "
http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2007/03/gender-roles-male-priests-equality-and.html

What do you think of this article?

Catholics have a different doctrine and basically only men lead the church!!!

old and new times

In the old days (Bible) 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. 11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. (1Corinthians 11:5-15) After my lost blog, I would these verses and wanted to comment on them. Times have changed and women do not have to cover their heads, short or long it does not matter, and we do not have to shave it if it is a disgrace to others. On the other hand, if women have to cover their heads then why can’t men were baseball caps to church (just being a devils advocate)?
34women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 1 (Corinthians 14:34-36)
This as also changed; women are able to speak what they think. Women are able to read scriptures in church, give/say a prayer out loud, and sing. Women in this day and age have the knowledge to find the answer to their questions instead of always asking their husbands. Another thing, is that men do not always know all the answers to all the questions!

women as pastors

I think that women should be pastors. I think that everyone has the chance to be whatever they want to be, as long as they try their hardest. Women have just the same amount of knowledge as men. Yes I do agree that men are spiritual leaders of their families, but women can be in the lead of a church. Yes women are seen to conquer the children and they are in charge of them most of the time, so why can't they be in charge of the elders?
I guess I think that men should be in control at the home, but at church, all people should have a fair chance of control, whether it is a woman or man. Yes men were made first and woman out of man, but God made women for a reason and since the tides are turning and women are starting to be able to get an education and real jobs, they should be able to lead the church. A pastor is a huge role to play, and they put up with a lot of stuff; but women are better multi-taskers, men are more dominant, and the both are equal. 1 Corinthians 11:11 "11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
Those are just some of my thoughts and feelings on the subject. I also think that if we do not let them be pastors of churches, then society would frown upon us and say that Christians are sexist, and even more than that!!!

female pastoral roles

the question has often been asked, should females be pastoral leaders? is it right for them to be pastors. honestly, I'm not totally sure of a biblical foundational answer to that question but I do have my own thoughts on the matter. I think that since the beginning of time, women have been created to support man, help man, nurture man, and so on. I think that people in general respond better to male leaders. It is more likely that a congregation will follow a male leader than a female leader, at least that is my view on the matter. I don't know if it is a sin or wrong for a female to be a pastor but I do think that the way men and women have been created, the ways in which we differ so strongly, better suit the men to lead and the women to support and nurture. I guess that is just how I feel on the matter.

poverty and tithing

reading through the book, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, I found his words on tithing to be thought-provoking and convicting. being honest with myself, I am not the most faithful when it comes to tithing. so often I feel that if I tithe I won't have enough money to pay my bills and buy groceries and gas. I am weak in my faith. when it comes to financial issues I struggle with faith and trusting in the Lord a great deal.
I am thinking how selfish I am, how weak I am, and how blessed I am. According to scriptures I matter more to the Lord than a sparrow which is always taken care of by the Lord. I should trust He will supply my needs. And isn't it the Lord that supplies me with the ability to work and the opportunity to make money?. Isn't it only right and fair to give to Him; after all it is His to begin with.
and I am also thinking how tithing isn't just placing 10% into the church offering. Tithing can be giving money to a homeless shelter, supplying food to a food pantry, providing the financial means to for missionaries to travel abroad and teach people in foreign cultures ways to develop agriculture and farm and have clean water, to help them build houses and learn to work and support themselves in impoverished situations. thinking of tithing in this way gives more opportunities for tithing and sparks more of an interest within me to tithe. it saddens me to realize this though, that I have waited so long and so many have died.

passing by

after reading JJ's post "conscious / unconscious" I thought about how as a child my parents always taught me to be friendly to people, to say 'hello' as you passed by someone on a walk or what not, to smile. there have been so many times when I have been out walking on the trail or passing someone in the mall that makes eye contact with me, and other such circumstances and I usually try to remember to smile and say 'hi' and it seems that very rarely is it reciprocated. our world has become a "keep to yourself" enviroment.
I've been reading a series of books by my favorite author, Lori Wick, and in these books, which are set back in the colonial days, everyone in each town knows the other, neighbors have Sunday dinners or tea together, people stop by as they pass by and visit or help whenever needed, people look in on their neighbors to see how they're doing, people cared about others. this is not something that is seen in our world today just as JJ said. now, people have to make the conscious decision to be friendly, loving, and helpful; to care. even I have to remind myself to serve others, to love others, to be like Christ and show Christ to others. its a convicting subject.

Gender issues

Why are men more dominant than women? Why hasn't there been a female president? I do not mind having to stay home when I have children, but men always say that women are suppose to stay home 'bare foot and pregnant'! Women are starting to make a difference in the world and becoming successful, yet men always try to out do us and say that we can not do everything that they can do. I think that we (women) can practically do everything that men can do besides pee standing up (we can but it's hard)!!! I found this quote online:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves "who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you... As we let our light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others. "
Marianne Williamson, as quoted by Nelson Mandella in a 1994 Inaugural Address.