This will be my one and only post on the issue of race and the church. I do consider this to be an important subject. But, my experience leads me to believe that people who look like Anthony and I are rather quickly dismissed by those who actually need to ponder these things. I will confess from the outset, I am far less dedicated to the PCA than Anthony. I am dedicated to the Reformed tradition; I appreciate the PCA. Thus, I will not write a statement articulating my love of the PCA. I believe that would be appeasing elements in the PCA that, quite frankly, need to no longer be appeased. In the words of Thomas Skinner (the preacher mentioned in Pastor Nabors' sermon), "[A]ll truth is God's truth, no matter who it comes from."
But, the burning question given what has been discussed is how we move forward on a practical level. What should we do now that we have the theological framework provided by Dr. Bradley and Dr. Bird? If you have not read those posts, then I suggest reading those before this one. This will be short and to the point.
(1) We need honest, face-to-face dialogue about race in the church. The other day, President Obama was on The View. And, yes, I will admit it, I watched the episode. A major segment of the episode was a rather open discussion about race. Nothing said was particularly interesting. But, I grew up on the outskirts of the Bible belt in Oklahoma. And one of the earliest lessons I learned in church was that race is not something I was suppose to talk about around whites. My white friends told me they were receiving the same lessons in their churches. I have attended hundreds of services where corporate confession of sin is a part of the liturgy, but I have yet to hear the word "racism" uttered as one of those sins. Either, we have no racism in our hearts, we fail to see how it plays out in our daily life, or we do not consider it antithetical to the gospel. We need dialogue that involves real conversation about our own hearts and struggles. It needs to be face-to-face.
(2) We need to view orthopraxy as going "hand-in-hand" with orthodoxy. Bryan Lorrits, the pastor of Fellowship Memphis, often makes this point in his sermons. I think the PCA could learn from his church and his preaching. Often, when the old Southern Presbyterian theologians are mentioned in discussion, people will defend them as "great theologians" while still admitting that such men harbored thoughts and views that were antithetical to the gospel. While "correct practice" does not justify us, it is a natural and necessary outflow of "correct doctrine." How can a man be an avid racist and be a great theologian? It is an oxymoron.
(3) We need a radical defense of interracial marriage as a positive good. I suggest John Piper's sermon (search for "Racial Harmony and Interracial Marriage") on the subject. When I first listened to the sermon five years ago, I will admit, I disagreed. But, my disagreement was motivated by my desire to conform to cultural expectations, rather than submit to the authority of scripture. It was sin. It still lingers in my heart, but I am continually putting it at the feet of the Cross. But, my experience in the South, along with the history of the South, indicates that this is the real issue. People will regularly admit to the need of more interaction across racial lines. But, those same people are rather apprehensive about the possibility of their son or daughter marrying inter racially. A friend of mine was working for a Reformed college ministry in Mississippi. He had the opportunity to preach Philippians 3:4-9. He originally wanted to say, "if you have a problem with interracial marriage, then you do not understand this passage." But, fearing the reaction of the church's members, he decided to not do so. The fact that he would even have to fear saying such a thing in church is shamefully. We need pastors who articulate a radical defense of interracial marriage from the pulpit. And before receiving ordination, teaching elders should be asked about their doctrine on interracial marriage.
If these things happen, some churches would probably leave the PCA. But, it brings to mind 1 John 2:19, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us."
Interesting thoughts on interracial marriage. I agree any doctrinal opposition is sorely misguided, however the interesting aspect of the issue is that it cuts multiple ways (most "minority groups" are just as apprehensive about their children marrying outside the race/culture as whites: in the first of many interracial marriage ceremonies my husband performed--white groom, black bride--it was the black side of the family that had much bigger problems with it). My own sense (and again, as a bi-racial mom of tri-racial kids) is that this an issue that requires patience and care and more patience.
I would agree it cuts multiple ways. I allude to my own experience growing up in black churches in the Bible belt under my first point. My experience and some study of the issue reveal to me that both sides of the racial line are to blame for the backward attitude of the church, particularly in the South and in evangelicalism, on this issue.
But, I am largely not content being patient on this issue any longer. If pagans (ie. non-Christians) can somehow conclude that their is nothing wrong with interracial marriage, despite not having their hearts regenerated, then how can Christians who claim to have their hearts regenerated then have such terrible attitudes? I am patient towards ignorance, but when people have available sound Biblical preaching on the issue, they can no longer claim ignorance. They need to be called to repentance.
I'm with you, Jasper. I do think the Church needs to be uncompromising regarding doctrine. However, I think we do need patience when it comes to people's level of comfort, which comes as much from exposure (to actual people) as it does from sound teaching. You mentioned people who were "rather apprehensive about the possibility of their son or daughter marrying inter racially." I am often concerned that if we are too impatient with people's apprehensions (especially regarding their children) that we will encourage them to lie about how they actually feel, rather than be open to change. My own family has been positively received in all kinds of Church environments where people (of varying races) were theoretically uncomfortable with interracial marriage, but we don't make it a point to preach radical messages on interracial marriage.
A self-indulgent anecdote: Our family was working a youth camp for children of incarcerated men several years ago and a young white boy (not in the camp, about 9 years old) whose accent indicated he was from the extreme deep south became infatuated with my then 7-year-old daughter. It was clear he had never seen a mixed race child before. He came up to me to try to express how he felt (it was more sweet than creepy, although I was on full Mommy alert) and what he was trying to say (more or less) was that he had just never seen anyone that looked like her before and didn't know that someone who looked like that could be so pretty. Anyway, it was childish silliness of course, but it reminded me that some people have simply not been exposed to interracial families, let alone "positive" examples. The more than come along, the more well-meaning people will become more comfortable, at least in my experience.
I think we are on the same page. I think it has to be explicitly preached about because of the church's history. For example, in many churches you will hear sermons explicitly aimed at countering the prosperity gospel because of how it can sneak into a church without much notice. Similarly, given the history of racism, particularly in the church, we need to be on guard. But, simultaneously we need to recognize that we all struggle in this area. I even point to the fact that I have to constantly put my own prejudices at the foot of the Cross. While we should allow room for people to grow in this area, we need to also remind them that such "apprehensions" need to be put at the foot of the Cross.
Also, although I am for much patience towards those with "apprehensions," my experience in the church, particularly in the South, has lead me to conclude that far more people than we are willing to admit do not simply have apprehensions, but are diametrically opposed to such relationships. I can tell you about a number of black friends and family members who went to school in the SEC and there interactions with RUF/PCA people there. I can tell you about my mixed friends who go to non-evangelical churches because people don't accept them in evangelical circles. And countless other stories.
Agreed:) One of the many reasons I frequent the Institute is because the white Reformed world is so far from my own. I need reminding that these things still go on, even if my family and I don't experience it much, and can easily laugh it off when we do b/c it's doesn't come from our local assembly.
One thing I am interested to hear your perspective on: have you found Reformed Evangelical whites to be less accepting of blacks/mixed race people than traditional black churches of whites or mixed race individuals? I know it depends largely on the individual church (my brother-in-law's church still teaches a mild form of Afrocentric theology, but they are very accepting of us), but I'd be interested to know what your experience has been.
From talking to my white and mixed friends, they seem to indicate (and my experience confirms) that they are more accepted in traditional black churches than blacks are in Reformed Evangelical circles in the South. But, on the point of interracial marriage, both groups are very weary of the possibility.
That agrees with what I've heard and experienced.
Jasper,
Great comments. I think you're right on. I'm just starting to get into this conversation. As I noted in my previous comment here, my experience is almost entirely in the north. I've been wondering what I should do with this problem, since I've not experienced much of it, at least in its more blatant forms (granted, I could just be naive).
However, I think that your point about asking a theological question about interracial marriages is an excellent one. This is a good way to get at the issues.
I think you also make a good point about theologians who are racist. I think it is a serious error. I read this today:
http://books.google.com/books?id=T389AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:dabney&hl=en&ei=p4RZTO3gHY38nQeik-CqAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAw#v=snippet&q=sessions&f=false
I could certainly understand if you said that you would not want to be a part of the PCA in light of a history such as that! This statement is just downright, plain awful. Frankly, I was stunned. I plan to write a post on this soon on my own site.
Thanks for your thoughts and willingness to work within the PCA.
Wes
Thank you for your comment and the link. I am increasingly convinced that Dabney may not have even been a Christian based on reading his writings on these issues. His twisting of Biblical text can only be rivaled by much of contemporary liberal theology. And at times, he just completely ignores the Bible in order to make these arguments.
But, anyways, the problem facing the church in the south is also facing the church in the north. John Piper lost members over preaching on the subject. You really need a radical defense because such preaching will truly reveal the state of people's hearts.
If a man and woman passionately pursue to honor Jesus and they intend to marry,they go for it because Christ unites them.(Note carefully, race is a beautiful thing and men!! :) Interracial marriage is beautiful and above all it is the Spirit of truth that knits us together. Luke 9:62 "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God." God is God, what he has done, let no one do apart.