 RACISM AND CHURCHES OF CHRIST
Dear Bro.Waddey:
Re: Your Lessons From a Lost Cause: The analogy between the churches of Christ and the Confederate State is repulsive. The Confederates did not fight for truth, justice and righteousness. Their cause was the perpetuation of personal power, riches, slavery, murder, rape, and the Anglophile empire they had constructed with the blood and the backs of "lesser" humans. The southern states continue to practice the same type grievous deeds. In Texas, the churches of Christ are well known as the "segregationist" group for continuing to separate racially. In Midland, Odessa, Dallas, Houston, Galveston, Fort Stockton, and hundreds others you still have the "white" church, the "black" church", the "Mexican" church, etc. Perhaps the analogy is not so far-fetched, after all. These same churches practice discrimination in salary caps "according to Race". The church has fought many battles and over many issues, but it has never settled this horrid poison of racism in the church.... God is not a Confederate. His church is not a confederacy, and heaven is not "race" oriented.... Dr. A. A. H.
Dear Bro. H: Thank you for taking time to visit my website at
www.christiantiy-then-and-now.com .You misread my article on Lessons From A Lost Cause. I did not draw an analogy between churches of Christ and the Confederate States of America. I drew an analogy from military generals who first won, then lost a battle because of internal quarreling and desire for personal recognition. As churches of Christ face momentous challenges in this new century, we can make that same mistake and lose the battle against those who would destroy us.
I do not approve of or defend the slavery that formerly was allowed in our nation. I do remind you that slavery began long before the secession of the Southern States and the formation of that Confederacy. Slavery had been allowed in other states at an earlier time. Merchants of the Northern states profited by transporting slaves. They bought and profited from the products of the South which the slave population helped to produce.
You are aware that other nations also participated in the transatlantic slave traffic. First there were Africans who captured and sold their neighbors.
Then the Europeans bought them and shipped them here. In the past many other
nations practiced slavery. Some in Africa still do.
I take it that you have not personally visited the Southern states as you say they continued to practice the same vile deeds as their ancestors of 175 years ago. I have traveled extensively in all of the Southern States and I can assure you that slavery is no longer practiced, nor or Blacks, Hispanics or other minority groups treated in the way you describe. Perhaps you have been unduly influenced by anti-white propaganda such as is daily issued by Louis Farrakan and his Nation of Islam group.
I have personally visited well over 500 of our churches and not a single one of them is now segregated. Blacks, Mexicans, Filipinos and all others who are Christians are welcomed to be a part of their fellowship. Each year millions of dollars are given by those churches to help evangelize the nations of the world and assist their people when disaster strikes them.
True, a generation ago many congregations conformed to the cultural standards of the day regarding segregation. They were wrong in so doing. But so did all other religious bodies in the South and other parts of the country. I have been privileged to travel in 22 foreign nations. In all of them I found that there were tensions and often separations between ethic and racial groups. The problem is a universal one, the consequence of sin in our world.
The church must confront that and change people's heart by teaching them the gospel of Christ.
Yes there are churches that are predominately Black or Hispanic, or Korean in our midst. But they are that way by choice, not because they are forbidden to worship with congregations that are predominately White. There is no divine law that says that it is wrong for a group of Hispanic brethren to meet together for worship, or that demands that they be forced to meet with a congregation that is predominately White. Is there?
You are mistaken in saying that the church has never confronted the problem of racism. I have been preaching Christ for 46 years. Every place I have been I have taught against racism and worked to build bridges between majority and minority Christians. All have been welcomed in my home, eaten at my table and slept in my guest room. I am not alone or a minority in this. It is now the norm among our churches. May I ask what you have done to build such bridges?
You are correct in saying that the church is not a confederacy. It is a monarchy with Christ as King (Matt. 28:18-20). Nor is the church a social/political institution that is to be the handmaiden of every social philosophy that evolves among men. Please take time to go back and read more of the lessons. Try to be objective and see the message they are conveying.
I have another site @ www.firstcenturychristian.com. It is designed for non-Christians. You would enjoy it. Best wishes in Christ,
John Waddey
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