One of my personal values that I hope is becoming a corporate value in our church is diversity. I believe that every city has the potential to be renamed. In our case, Detroit is named for racism. Race riots are a part of Detroit's story. Blatant color lines have been drawn in our region between communities like Redford and Livonia. So one of the most obvious opportunities for the church to incarnate Jesus here is by confronting racism and modeling healing through blended Jesus communities.
My own opinion is that racism is America's original sin. We like to think that slavery is history. I guess technically it is. But for anything to be history it has to first of all be included in the story. And no matter how far we advance socially our story as a country begins with racism.
Maybe that's why comments like the ones that Seinfeld's Kramer recently made continue to elicit passionate reviews. And if you've got some time, check out this post from Malcolm Gladwell exploring how these kinds of comments muddy the waters of racism.
But there's a lesson in the media firestorm. While our story is history it is also just one offense away from being revisited.
That's why it's not enough to simply point out the problems with the old story. We can't stop until we've written a new story. And who could possibly be more qualified to write it then devoted followers of a revolutionary Savior who demolished social, gender and racial barriers?
If becoming a church that looks like heaven connects with the Jesus' imprint in your heart I encourage you to check out the blended church network. It's still in the formative stages. My friend Scott Hagan is one of the voices influencing this movement to informally connect churches with a heart to be blended.
Brad,
I want to demolish racism in this country. I want to start in the church. It is still one of the most segregated places around. It is time to take a stand against this work of the enemy.
you with me?
Posted by: David | December 13, 2006 at 11:05 AM