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Can Jesus Heal America’s Racist White Evangelicals… Maybe?

By November 26, 2014Blog, Featured

Late Monday night, author Jen Hatmaker posted about Ferguson on her Facebook page:

What happened in the comment section of this post is mind boggling. As Jen’s audience–a gathering of mostly evangelical white women, many of whom seem to walk a line between conservative and progressive thinking–engaged in a cultural and spiritual debate about race, the conversation attracted a wide variety of opinions, many of which showcase just how ignorant some Christians are about their own racism.

The debate started okay, with a handful of reasonable comments.

But then Elaine decided to ask this: Do you for one second truly believe that officer Wilson shot michael brown because he was black? Apparently she wasn’t the only one who thought that was a valid inquiry–at last count the comment had 79 likes.

And then Jill chimed in: Perhaps we should listen to the precious mother (that I know personally) of an officer that has been shipped to St. Louis for this very moment. Your lack of wisdom in intentionally enflaming (sic) an already bad situation is devestating (sic) …simply devestating (sic again).

And Brenda: And how about the Caucasian population that is continually having to pay for mistakes our ancestors made years ago. Drop the race card. It is a weak, lame, and OLD excuse.

This comment by Rachel had, as of this posting, 40 likes: Ferguson isn’t about race. It’s about a thug attacking an officer of the law. End of story. Why don’t you put yourself in the shoes of the families of law enforcement officials? Because the fear they feel is just as real…

And then Einsteins offered a sexist plea to Jen’s husband, Brandon: Brandon please save Jen from herself! She is way over her head and digs only deeper! I like you Jen I do! Take heed and listen to wise council. Delete all your posts and tell us your kids stole your phone as a joke and posted these Crazy comments

And Brandi… It’s the black people in the community that made this about black and white

Gina: This is not about race. Most of the witness’s that testified were African American!! This is about a kid who did not respect authority and was a thug.

Melanie: Until the black American community takes ownership of their problems, nothing will change. How about this- don’t steal and don’t commit violent crimes. That would be a start.

Brian: This was never a racial issue. The people of the Ferguson community made it a racial issue…

And it goes on and on for a 1000 comments. Some of the comments left on Jen’s post make these comments above read like Hallmark greeting cards. But it’s always there, sometimes subtle and sometimes blatant, the racism is littered throughout.

This is just one conversation. But I think it’s a telling conversation, one that offers us a glimpse as to how people who identify as Christian engage the topic of race.

With fear?

Without compassion?

With seemingly no ability to see that what’s happening in Ferguson is just one part of a much bigger story/problem, one that’s been a part of the American story for many many years…

Without humility?

Honestly, evangelicals have been engaging the topic of race with and without a lot things for a very long time.

But this comment thread might also showcase reasons why Sundays are still so segregated. And also show why evangelicals are some of the worst champions for racial reconciliation. To be honest, we might be the least equipped community of people in America to talk about race or help with reconciliation. Because we still haven’t learned equality and reconciliation in our own churches, communities.

Even those of us who are open to the concept or desire to see it happen don’t really know how to make it happen.

And I think that’s because, from this country’s beginnings, evangelicals have been a part of the problem when it comes to America and racial reconciliation–perhaps the biggest part of the problem. If you think I’m exaggerating, go study your American history.

At best, we’ve been two-faced about this issue. In my book, Our Great Big American God, I write a good bit about this topic.

America’s God was a grand participant, a reason to fight for equality, and an excuse to fight for the right to own slaves. God aided both sides. Leading up to the Civil War , America’s God was a two-faced deity working with both the North and the South. God was for slavery. And God was against slavery. God’s name was praised among the slaves. And God’s name was praised among the owners of slaves. God was pro-equality. And God was a complete and utter racist. God helped preachers and politicians in the South form messages and rhetoric that suggested slavery was good. And God helped countless slaves find passageways toward freedom.

Like the terrible and unnecessary death of Michael Brown is just one thread to a much bigger cultural problem in the United States, I think the comment thread on Jen Hatmaker’s Facebook wall is also a small thread to a much bigger evangelical problem when it comes to race.

Like we have for a 150+ years, many of us continue to stand in the way of racial reconciliation, fighting it at every turn.

Like we have for a 150+ years, many of us refuse to listen to the stories of the black community–really listen.

In her post, Jen wrote: We are a part of an important generation, one who might be ready to start listening humbly and maybe even move beyond to something more like racial healing and justice. Generations before us have done this hard and brave work in other arenas, and now it is our chance. What important work lies in front of us.

And she’s right. There’s much work to be done.

But I fear that many of us are far too evangelical to do what truly needs to be done in order to change.

Can Jesus heal these evangelicals’ racism? Maybe. But not as long as he’s a part of the excuse for being racist.

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Matthew Paul Turner

Author Matthew Paul Turner

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Join the discussion 24 Comments

  • Lance says:

    What I think is a bigger problem of out in the open virulent racist Christians is the Christians, mostly right leaning in their politics and lifestyles that codify these racists by saying “who am I to judge” or “Jesus is bigger than that” or whatever other nonsense that spews from their mouths.

    The problem is we are not talking to each other regarding race and other large issues and we are allowing our religion to be represented by people who are quite frankly, horrible at being Christian.

    It is impossible for us to know what Jesus would think of our behavior on and off Facebook other than to read his own words, aka the red letters, of the Bible.

    All I know is I cry every time I pray these days and I don’t think I should have to, cry that is.

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  • justtyra says:

    I read a lot of those comments and had to stop. It was disgusting, cruel and without an ounce of compassion. I, as a Christian, thought to myself, no wonder the church is crumbling in terms of participation — Who wants to be around these modern day Pharisees? How do they really see my family? Are we that “good black family” because we are college educated and say all the right things (because we want to be surrounded by a good group of friends), at the same time always keeping quiet how we really feel about the collective experiences we’ve had growing up in America? Right now, I cope by blocking it all out and telling myself that not all people are like that and just pray.

  • As a white father of black children, I am heartbroken on so many levels. It seems like many, especially those who call themselves Christians, are more concerned with being right – than being in relationship. The comments are often to prove that they’ve landed on the correct side of the argument, all the while not even listening to their neighbor – there is a lot Jesus said about that. How can anyone believe we have Jesus in us when we can’t stand our “brothers” & “sisters”, let alone our “enemies”?

  • Sarah says:

    The comments on her “replacement” post were vile. I went all capslock-yelling on a few people and to be honest I would do it again. That post upset me more than anything else I have read. The sheer masses of people who so clearly believe that not only should Jen NOT have an opinion (on the safety and wellbeing of her own children) but that those children, who will someday be adults, do not matter at all. That their lives are that worthless.

    It is nothing short of evil.

  • Craig says:

    I don’t know how this will play out in the weeks and months ahead, but the slaying of Michael Brown seems to have white people pausing to at least wonder what the hell is going on in a way I don’t remember being quite as intense, even with Trayvon Martin and the long list of violence against unarmed young black men that has taken place between Martin and Brown. While the ignorant are maybe doubling down on ignorance, the rest are seeing a big, big problem with the US American racial status quo.

  • Craig says:

    …I should say, unarmed young black men and boys. They are shooting 12 year olds. This needs to end.

  • Another thread I saw was to the post of a black man. It was a meme that read “it’s not about black and white it’s about justice.”

    This is a closed group of “Christians” and one commenter replied “what? Death wasn’t enough?”

    And yet another thread in the same group from an OP from another black man pleading with much gracious appeals to how Scripture commands we use our words was met with “An innocent officer is vindicated and a violent thug is now rotting in hell.”

    Along with “Slaves were already slaves when Americans brought them over and many didn’t even ever want to be freed and how many found the Gospel because of slavery?”

    And, yes, I stepped in because it sickense that people of color or who do not know Jesus might be left to think there isn’t a single one of us who gives a shit about anything but ourselves.

    I was called a race pimp several times and each time I asked “If I am a race pimp does that make people of color prostitutes?”

    And to that I was told that if I really knew Jesus then I needed to start acting like it.

    But that’s exactly what that means.

  • Sarah Maes says:

    It’s so so so sad.

  • Steve Simms says:

    I am a white Christ-follower and I engage race (and blog about it) quite differently than most people I know. Here are links to 10 of my compassionate and thought-provoking blog posts about race in America. http://stevesimms.wordpress.com/2014/01/13/my-top-ten-blog-posts-for-black-history-month/

  • Evan Braun says:

    I guess I just don’t understand why people with even a moderate level if enlightenment participate in evangelicalism. If I were born into it I would have given up on it by now.

  • John says:

    As an Evangelical I disagree with the whole tone of this article. As part of my 70 years of living, I have invested 20 years in youth outreach work including 3 years working in public schools in urban communities in West Michigan. Part of job was to provide speakers for school assemblies. The racial speaker ratio was this 3 Caucasian, 5 African American and 1 Hispanic. Some of my best friends and outreach partners have been African American. Each speaker spoke about taking responsibility for yourself. We worked with gangs we understood violence & it sources. Some of the speakers were former gang leaders familiar with the Bloods, Crips and Spanish Cobras. In one of the communities where we worked there were 15 local teen gangs. This community looked a lot like Ferguson. My faith drives my responses based on scripture. Love dominates my responses to reflect Him in all I do. Now to the issue. Community change comes because the ones who live there care. There are two sides the community – those build it by using their money to invest in businesses & services to serve the residents. Then there are the others who are consumers. Now this is strange – an unfortunate killing takes place & the process of the law determines the evidence is not enough to warrant a trial. A as community I don’t like it for all reasons we have heard. Their response is to loot & destroy my community business. Their is no justification for this – skin color, your history or your anger. What is clear – they are a criminal, thief & arsonist. I am an evangelical and my Bible says you are a sinner if you have broken the commandments & exhibited hate. We condemn the sin & love the sinner. We offer hope through Jesus Christ. When they come to Christ then their changed heart will turn to love, help restore what they have destroyed to the owner. Now to the young man killed. According to reports he was pursuing a lifestyle of gang affliation perhaps learned from parents. Already evidence of robbing a store, pics of a gun & alcohol and reports of violence, he made a decision. He did not say to the officer can we talk about this or some other move toward non violence. Instead he attacks the officer causing him to act in self defence leading his death. So this is the conclusion of this. The police, profiling, the environment, the mindset of the country is not responsible for this – the man who got shot is because he created the reason for the policeman react. What was the role of the parents in this? Where they gang members as well who taught him intentionally or by default this is how you respond to an officer? There is a lot of talk about the white profiling the black in a certain way. What about the black profiling the white in certain way? As a Christian I am to respond in love. For black community of believers that is their responsibility as well. What I have seen from so called leaders who say they are Rev’s is only hate & suspicion looking to lay blame outside their own people.

    • I was anticipating enjoying your comments when you stated you Love dominates your responses. I kept reading and once again became disillusioned. The one understanding ( or at least one of the misunderstandings) seemingly well intentioned Caucasians, Christian, or other wise share; is this suspension of American history as to how oppressed communities came to exist. 1) These communities were deprived of services and affluence. 2) These communities were marginalized to the point only a few were expected to gain prosperity. 3) Suppression of the ability to provide basic needs were forcefully enforced, 4) To further maintain this status quo, educational opportunities were nearly non existant. 5) If you put any group of people in these circumstances they will develop coping processes that are detrimental to the community. As far as the Christian people commenting, actually I just finished reading “Our Great Big American God several minutes ago. I enjoyed the book and hope Mr. Turner write many more. The one component I’ve always noticed about not just American religiousity but other religions is the lack of “The Exhortation to LOVE. All religions has dogma and pomp and circumstance, but the simple notion of treating each other as we would want to be treated is rarely required. It is time for members of oppressed communities to take FULL responsibility for their communities. We have established democratic processes which allow self governs. Register to vote! Then vote for people interested in helping to truly lift the community. Ensure that members of the community learn the generational requirements for uplifting the community. Refuse to allow outlaw behavior to infest the community. Educate yourselves to the travesty that intentionally unleashed upon yourselves and fight with all the available, lawful, constructive strengths that can be garnered. And when you are met with opposition ( for it truly will come) double down and fight on. These communities must see they are the ones who will save themselves. Life is happening NOW and to expect deliverance or a savior to do the hard work is not going to happen. And last life is beautiful, a gift from God, The Creator, Creation, The Great Unknown, Evolution, no matter your belief of human beginning, the one energy, force, whatever, that makes any of this worthwhile is LOVE.

      • johnyar says:

        You made my point about love. Good intentions became intentional in the community I was describing. Passive love became active in 2007 when the mayor contacted me and asked “do you know any speaker who understands gangs. We have 15 in our community our kids are killing kids”. I suggested Dr Joseph Jennings, a former gang leader who had been a, pimp, shot 13 times, burned & stabbed. I took the information to the city office & met with major and city manager & told them the cost. They sent me a popular restaurant owner to show the tape. He said yes. The mayor called a meeting of community leaders to the conference room of a local Bible College. Some of the attenders were the chief of police, mayor, city manager, restaurant owner, a youth pastor, a youth center director, media company president, a pastor, a teacher, a school supt, a black pastor, college president & college student director. After an hour of discussion, we called Dr Jennings on the speaker phone. I summarized who was here and we wanted him to come for week to speak in 15 schools. He said “John, I am busy. We have broken too many promises to our kids. If I come I will come in like a bulldozer & reveal problems you don’t even know you have. If your community commits to solving the problem rather using a speaker bandaid, I will come. If not do not call me back.” Then hung up. The group was a bit stunned. I wasn’t because I had used Dr Jennings in other communities. The group agree to his coming pledging jointly $10,000 for the week. The Dr Jennings week began with a launch breakfast for the community provided free from the college. The plan was laid out by the committee & Dr Jennings gave a short message of community change Gods Way. As the week developed the assemblies were also attended community leaders, parents, pastor, probation officers. This group grew to 50 by the end of the 15th assembly. At each conclusion of each assembly, Dr Jennings invited the those who been raped, suffered incest, cutting, suffering abuse to come to one side. He addressed the brothers, the gang members, to other side. Each where encouraged by loving adults to tell their story & share their pain. Dr Jennings & I met with gang members. As a result of this the lady Mayor recruited 20-30 girls who became known as “Carol’s Kids”. Over the following weeks she met with these girls, took them lunch & remembered their birthdays. On the following Saturday morning there was a city sponsored violence forum at a local theater. The panel members wer Dr Jennings, the mayor, the city manager, a restaurant owner, police chief and guest who had swam across Lake Superior. I was at the door welcoming 400+ people when a group 5 young men dressed in their colors asked for Dr Jennings. I asked why – the obvious leader said “we are his security”. Dr Jennings saw them and asked them to come the front row. For the next 2 hours a raw discussion happened the community members, leaders and gang members. That night a youth rally sponsored the faith community at local high school, the gang members came again. Our music was black rapper George Moss. During his set the gang members hopped on the stage becoming his backup dancers. This was in the fall of 2007. Dr Jennings returned March 2008 & May 2008 when we sponsored 5 showings of The Freedom Writers Movie. We distribute Back Packs sponsored by the local theater that contained the book, journals, pencils, the movie to encourage the students to write their stories. During this time the local committee began a non-profit designed to serve the community. A gang intervention committee met monthly at the police chiefs office. On the suggestion of a school supt, we developed 100 days of summer program where a teen program for fun happened 5 days a week in a church, park, theater, library, school or gym. This was supported & funded by the city. The assemblies continued into 2008 with a former leader of the Spanish Cobras in Chicago, a Hispanic Speaker from California and in 2009 Reggie Dabbs from Florida. During this time youth pastor networks where formed to cooridinate their school efforts serving students, a food bank was launched, 4 after school teen programs started, non profit still serving student and a gang intervention program at a local high school. A teacher locally selected by Freedom Writers Foundation was sponsored by the community to a week of training in California by Erin Gruwell, the Freedom Teacher featured in the movie. I retired in 2010. In 2012 I was called back to organize a community breakfast at – you guessed it – the college. A Devos Foundation supported group presented a program where 8-10 new churches were to be launched over the next 18 months in this community. No big deal right. Well they are based around the school geographies to serve the community. Over the year the group meet around tables of 10 made up of the local residents to discuss community needs to be served by these multicultural churches. They did not build building, they existing places deciding to use their funds to serve using the ideas from the discussions. Now in 2014 it still happening in this small community in West Michigan. A community moved their love from a college board room into a community. That is what I mean by the love mentioned in my post.

        • Patrice says:

          Just to be clear here, the Ferguson protestors did not destroy their businesses, as you claim in an earlier comment. A handful of nasty people took advantage, as will happen in anycommunity. That you don’t understand this shows you don’t view the Ferguson people as just like you.

          But anyway, since you’ve done such fine work in that small wealthy community in West Michigan, it’s time you come to Detroit with you bright ideas, hard work, foundations, and general know-how on dismantling gangs. You will be required to live in our community but I’m sure that’s no problem because of your love.

          We’ll be looking out for you

  • david geipel says:

    I’m sorry, why are you calling evangelicals racist? “Can Jesus heal these evangelicals’ racism? Maybe. But not as long as he’s a part of the excuse for being racist.”

    The answer to healing is always – YES. It’s an attribute of God. He heals.

    I find your post offensive, labeling evangelicals racists. Some might be others are not. I am Evangelical among other titles you’d likely add – but I don’t label myself as an Evangelical. I prefer Christ Follower. I go to church because Christ called us to be in communion with Him and others. My message of the Gospel is evangelical. He offers Hope. My gospel is not limited to pushing church attendance either. “Come as you are…” not to church, but Jesus. The church building is the vehicle but the body of Christ is the church. Semantics, yes. But now I can move to the real point here.

    Your post isn’t very helpful. You may be only showing the comments thinking it makes good commentary. If you point people to injustice found on the cross, you will see how God overcomes justice of this world. He conquers it. Jesus embodies injustice better than anyone, period. Let’s use Him as our case, please!

    The Ferguson issue that has many fired up should cause people to look at more than just racism. We must realize that our true community isn’t worldly, it’s heavenly. Our citizenship (as followers of Christ) isn’t bound by municipality or any other facet but faith. It shows no partiality either.

    Our citizenship, thru Jesus, is heavenly. We have turned this recent issue into another racism conversation and my sincere prayer is that many will turn to Jesus. He’s the only one to heal us and carry us through what many call injustice. Not our blog posts or Tweets – but prayer.

    BTW – I am a Gen Xr, grew up in the south then moved north. I love people of all color and races. Skin color is just color and not changed (unless you have Michael Jackson money – joke, no attacks for that one either please). Culture is culture and that can be prayed over and changed by the Gospel.

    We have a mission as the church. To take the message of Love & Hope and shine. Let’s go forth with this message and not dwell over and over again on injustice (perceived or real) in this world and press forward. Jesus is amazing and deserves our attention and devotion.

    Press onward church.
    Dave

  • George Thomas says:

    “And Brenda: And how about the Caucasian population that is continually having to pay for mistakes our ancestors made years ago. ”

    As a person whose ancestors have been Christians for nearly 2000 years, and when the ancestors of Brandi and Melanie were running around naked in Europe I see no remorse…you pay not for the mistakes of your ancestors, but you fellow southern whites..who still show no remorse and continue to wave the confederate flag. Whites who argue like this are like proven death row criminals who complain about everything, but not what has brought them to this predicament…Brenda, Rachel, Gina, Brandi and Melanie all white skin worshipping pagans masquerading as Christians and Evangelicals. Long, long ago Brahmins and Caste Hindoos in India behaved this way…guess white people have been behaving far worse than the Brahmins and Caste Hindoos much longer…and white American evangelicals have the gall to come to India and behave like all white Americans are Angels and the Hindoos are the devils…thanks for enlightening me. Good night from India.

  • findiagroup says:

    Thanks for sharing!

  • Lexi says:

    Yeaaahhh…I pretty much stay away from Facebook these days. People I thought I “knew so well” for years have started to show their true colors with the emergence of topics like Ferguson o_O Anyone who says “race is no longer an issue”, is very ignorant…And we are not all equals in this country, even after decades of events. It was very irritating to see dismissive statements like “ALL lives matter” (in response to “Black lives matter”) instead of seeing people really listen, as you suggest.

  • Beau says:

    I really don’t know what kind of zealots you were raised by or what ideology or dogma scared you to be so ultra critical of all christians but it’s pretty clear that my christian upbringing was drastically different than yours. Before you judge the entire body of Christ, make sure you’re not guilty of the same exact thing but just from a different angle. “Judge not, less you be judged in the same light.” I’ve only just started reading your articles and the same anti-christian cynicism is the common theme throughout. Maybe you can find the same childlike wonder in Christ as you did with “sam”, your family elf. I have more I’d like to say but I’ve run out of time, it’s not likely anything I’d say would sway you anyway. You are who you are.

  • No_6 says:

    Thank you for this, MPT. Egocentrism comes into play so often against posts like this, especially when common conflations between “the entire body of Christ” versus the very specific audience you challenge “America’s white, racist evangelicals” arise.

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  • Tudor says:

    I have noticed something strange in America.I
    am Christian but I havd realized that evangelicals are racists entrenched in white supremacy and white privilege.They do not stand for justice and they have no guts to speak prophetically truth to power.They preach a shallow diluted gospel that does not weigh in on things that matter.They support evil structures and bigoted reporters like Bill O’reilly.They deny racism in America or they try to brush it aside and unnecessary. All they want is our tithes and offerings to buy jets and nuce cars.They are color biased and supported slavery and colonialization.It is amazing they refer to America as being found on biblical foundations.I wonder if slavery was biblical or a mistranslation of the bible to suite their evil oppressive agendas.Black is not synonimous with lack.Blacks are human beings not savages or gorillas.God is no respector of persons.Jesus died for all.Evangelicals talk a lot about capitalism but I wonder how good this system is when a few individuals are exploiting the masses for their greedy pockets.The solution is the kingdom of God and not democracy or socialism.I am not interested in hearing racist preachers who want to convert me for the sake of their hidden motives.The reason why the evangelicals are becoming weaker in America is because of their racist mindset.They all need to repent and preach justice in love.We are not blind and we can no longer be fooled.Evangelicals need Jesus before they go out and proselytize.They need to learn what Jesus stood for first.Evangelicals speak negative of Obama, Black leaders and even black preachers.They look down on Africa.Pat Robertson is so ignorant too.He says evil things about Africans.I really wonder why they evangelize in Africa if they are still racists.Their churches are racially divided, they do not put black people in their leadership.They have little no social outreach programs.The Catholics have better programs for the poor, hospitals,schools etc.