Aug 17

Aug 17 Is the Gospel Enough for the White Church & the Uncle Toms?

Mere days after a White Supremacist-Nazi march (August 12-15 2017) in Charlottesville, Darrell Harrison, a Black man, has decided to write a piece (August 15, 2017) called “Is the Gospel No Longer Enough for Black Christians?”—one of the most ignorant, insensitive times to write such a piece. We should not use the racist display in Charlottesville as an opportunity to attack the Black church. Every day of the year seems to contain an attack on the Black church for our style of worship, emotionalism, or various other things. To have this Benedict Arnold use a Nazi march to launch an attack against Black Christians is absurd.

This almost does not deserve a response because it is an obvious ploy to appease his White evangelical brothers and sisters and get his back patted. I imagine I will be called various PG-rated slurs such as an SJW or social gospel advocate for my response to his antic. Please, call me and him by our traditional historic American slurs—he is in the house and I am in the field. I would like to be perfectly clear that the article is a blatant attack on the Black church to appease White evangelicals. The last article on Darrell's site was on how being "woke" is ruining the Black church. Each post is blatant propaganda to tear down the Black church to get pats on the back all the time hearing “well done” from people that wish we would shut up and accept how we are treated.

The Black church with all its flaws is a beautiful grace filled thing. Even the story of the "Charleston 9" makes this abundantly clear. They welcomed a non-Black stranger into their Bible study with open arms only to get gunned down by the same racist hate that “Is the Gospel No Longer Enough for Black Christians?” uses to attack the Black church.

A testimony I constantly hear from non-Black people upon visiting a Black church is “It was so welcoming, and people were so pleasant and greeted me. They made sure I felt welcomed.” Much of that sounds like the fruit of the Spirit overflowing in the believer’s life. After Dylan Roof massacred nine people— simply for being Black—in an attempt to start a race war, each family approached a podium, told Dylan Roof that they forgave gave him, and pointed him to Christ. Why not paint the Black church with these facts? Apparently, promoting the history of how the Black church has been a pillar of the Black community for years and showing love and forgiveness does not get enough hits.

Why not describe how throughout slavery the Black church was a rock that our (Yes ’our’! You are still Black, Darrell) community relied on? (I would be in the wrong to categorize the whole white church as apathetic to the racist plight of our people in America. But where are the hyped up conference like the anti-Pentecostal ‘Strange Fire’ for addressing racism?) Instead of describing these highlights, Darrell's piece was a slanderous attack applying serotypes as a broad brush to the Black church.

Black churches with Black pastors in neighborhoods throughout this country are preaching Christ crucified, feeding the poor, tutoring youth, comforting widows, and impacting their communities. In the Black community, we do not have the luxury of ignoring racism. And to be honest the sin of racism should not be ignored, it should be addressed like every other sin. People are calling on the Black church to get over racism, but why are you not demanding the White church to believe in the reconciliation power of the gospel? Do not ignore racism when you see others practicing it. Instead, comment and stand with your brothers and sisters in Christ while denouncing it. If we are being honest the White church does not have the greatest record in the category of race relation (research the history of the SBC, the PCA, and others). In actuality, there is no White church or Black church, so we should all stand as brothers and sisters in Christ united against racism!

In Darrell's post, the writings of a slave that was scared to be free were heralded as a gospel-believing example (as if trust in God to deliver them is an act of works righteousness). “Is the Gospel No Longer Enough for Black Christians?” is not an accurate question in our current times, but rather, "is Gospel reductionism intent on minimizing Jesus’s command to love our neighbor and be salt in the world enough to reconcile our communities?"

The historical example of Jupiter Hammon is one of a man scared of the unknown not a heroic reliance on the gospel. He was a slave. Living in oppression was all he knew. Is Jupiter supposed to be an example to tell us, colored people, to shut up and accept our station in life?

To love our neighbor as ourselves in opposition to racism is not at odds with believing the gospel. This is a false dichotomy. Did the Good Samaritan look at the battered guy on the side of the road and ask “Is the gospel enough?” just to continue on his way? Or was getting involved in his neighbor's life a good, noble, and holy thing? I would say that this notion fits perfectly with the passage found in the book of James:

“If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2:15-16) [emphasis added]

Another example is in Matthew 25. Jesus uses an example of rebuking the people that did not help Him and praising the people that did show love and compassion to Him?

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:34-46) [emphasis added]

Are we to act like the church caring about people is against the Gospel? No, the Bible is clear on the matter. In his post, Darrell is correct that we must be born again. And when you are born again the fruit of the Spirit is manifest gradually in your life:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22-24)

Gospel Reductionism is a serious issue. In this instance, it is the equivalent of using the Biblically true stance Sola Fide to deny a Christian is commanded to love their neighbor. It is the equivalent of the Good Samaritan asking the person who was battered and beaten, “Is the gospel enough?” without helping him. Make no mistake the gospel is outside of you. It is Jesus' life, death, and resurrection—resulting in reconciliation with God. But denying the gospel impacts the outpouring of our lives is to reduce the full scope of the gospel.

The Black church has many problems and issues, but the fruit of the Spirit can be seen vibrantly in it. The phrase “Jesus saves” referenced in Darrell's piece is true. But Jesus does not save you just to leave you where you are. Jesus saves you, gives you a new heart, works in your life, comforts and empowers you, and enables you to love your neighbor.

“Is the Gospel Enough for the Black Church?" The answer is "Yes!" It was enough to carry my ancestors through slavery with hope in the fact that our Savior will be back again for us. It was enough for Black Christians in the Civil Rights Movement to pray to God to protect them as they exited buses to dog attacks and being sprayed with fire hoses. Rather than use this Nazi march as a ploy to tear down the Black church, why not ask another question, “When will evangelicals use their soap box to preach against racism as vehemently as they do other sins?"