The separation of Church and race

You don’t have to go far to see a church in America. We have more churches than schools. We have more churches than people sometimes. We are a nation of buildings. Some are with people others filled with tradition. There is a story of a man who came to a small town of 20 people. He noticed there was a church next to him and then another church sat opposite that one down the street. The man asked why were there two churches in such a small town. The mayor replied because the first church lasts too long. The man walked a little further and noticed a new building being built that said new church. Again perplexed the man asked the mayor why there was a third church being built in such a small town. The mayor replied the second church service is too fast.

You might think that sounds crazy but that is the reality of the American church. We are separate but equal. We are one church but many buildings. We are together while being secluded. Our current pattern of the church in America is bizarre to me. However, it doesn’t seem bizarre to anyone else that I’ve noticed. I’m talking about is race. In America, segregation has been outlawed but for 1 hour it’s completely normal and legal. During Christian church services. I know you might think it’s inconsequential but give me a moment to talk through a few things. First, in America, we ended segregation and made it so different races would integrate. It was easy to see that one race had more of an economic foothold than another. It was wrong. Today no matter what job I pick or a place I go there will be Black, Mexican, Asian, or White people working.

However, in Churches, I am mostly forced to either pick a mostly Black, White, or Mexican church. What happened? How in the world did the commercial world correct itself before the church could? How in the world did people who have no desire for God do something that God desired? Don’t get me wrong I understand that segregation was forced to end and it was the only way it was going to happen. The government demanded that companies, schools, and others changed by law. I don’t believe that churches should change by force from the law. I believe churches should have already changed by our abundance of love. We should be operating by the fruits of the spirit; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Instead, we are operating by perfection, culture, happiness, people-pleasing, business needs, tradition, pettiness, politics, and self-reliance.

I know how your thinking. These churches are just different experiences. I completely agree. We shouldn’t take away that experience and the individuality that comes through in how different people have church. My only problem with this is the same way that white Pentecostals scream and dance with worship music is the same way that black baptists dance in between the pews. The same way Methodists are very reserved and processed with their services is the same way some black churches are with their processions. I’m not saying they are exactly the same, but I have seen obviously they have more similarities than differences. They worship the same God, the same way, and the only difference is their skin color.

I am not suggesting again that we force people to certain churches. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. I would not stop that for a million churches coming together. It seems to me that the problem the American church is having doesn't start with the people but the shepherds. Many people are not trying to see different churches because many church leaders are not trying to speak to other church leaders. Our leaders are too secluded. They are war leaders on battle lines instead of shepherds. American pastors spend most of their life trying to protect their fields instead of growing their sheep. It’s unfortunate and not completely anyone’s fault. It’s the way our churches are structured with denominations and money.

Groups of leaders who are unwilling to speak to other denominational leaders. Demon deacons who hold the fort down but won’t think of anyone outside of their parsonage. Church leaders seem to feel it’s their job to protect the doors from enemies. But when leaders treat everyone as an enemy the sheep will always be sheep and not disciples of Christ who grow to follow the spirit of God to new places their generation has never been to. We’ll act like it’s our job to protect the gospel but the gospel has lasted for 2000 years since Jesus. If God has been faithful enough to us to get the gospel to our hearts how much more will he be faithful to our children and generations that come after us. We don’t have to protect our churches from each other.

The gospel has lasted through paganism, slavery, wars, culture changes, eastern and western reorganization, and many other things. I think it should be able to handle black and white churches getting together. I don’t mean one church. I’ve been to a church with black and white people, their horrible. They have just as many problems as any other church. Different cultures in America are not so different that the church can’t thrive. If you need an example look at any origination in America. Mixing race has no bearing on any company, school, or building. If it did America would have folded back in the '60s.

I must admit I don’t know the answer. It will take a lot of soul searching by a lot of leaders and churchgoers. Until you see problems you will always teach ignorance. Until we acknowledge the holes in our faith we will always miss the point of faith. We are all sons and daughters of God. Not white churches, not black churches, all of us. The fact that we are in 2021 and are still this separated is speaking large volumes in our political, social, and communication issues. It might not reflect a big issue in our churches but it’s bleeding out into the streets of America. It’s not the root cause of the problem, it’s just a problem that I see in American churches. If we had the integrity to say that God loves us all and we will all be in heaven together then why are we hiding in our churches?

The separation of Church and race