Wednesday, February 25, 2009

In Search of the Evangelical Obama

Perhaps you have noticed, we have new president of the United States. To many that is nothing new or exciting. Yet the media has gone to great lengths to acknowledge that there is something a little different about this president; he is black.

For anyone wondering how someone mixed with both black and white becomes black, I'll explain it is largely due to the fact that he has been designated as black his entire life. It is bizarre that in the midst of an intense political race many white people chose to comment on the fact that he was not black, but instead half white. I call that funny because no one wanted to change the designation of his race when he was at Harvard Law School or a U.S. Senator; he was as black then as he is now.

This month being black history month I have graciously received an invitation to write on themes that effect theology and African Americans. My attempt in this article is to bring to light what may be a trend toward a more racial diverse church. This in my opinion is a good thing. However it may be that the church of Jesus Christ is in need of some mild rebuke for again taking its cue from the world instead of the bible.

You may be wondering what Obama has to do with Christian theology. To that inquiry we must spend some time. Our President Obama has made light of many of the issues that concern political conservatives as well as the Christian minority. His stance on the issue of abortion is discouraging and disheartening. It seems to fly in direct opposition to the worldview of scripture.
Obama

Obama has not made abortion rights the shouted refrain of his campaign, as other Democrats have done. He seems to realize that pro-choice enthusiasm is inconsistent with a reputation for post-partisanship.

But Obama's record on abortion is extreme. He opposed the ban on partial-birth abortion -- a practice a fellow Democrat, the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, once called "too close to infanticide." Obama strongly criticized the Supreme Court decision upholding the partial-birth ban. In the Illinois State Senate, he opposed a bill similar to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which prevents the killing of infants mistakenly left alive by abortion. And now Obama has oddly claimed that he would not want his daughters to be "punished with a baby" because of a crisis pregnancy -- hardly a welcoming attitude toward new life. (Washington Post- Michael Gerson)

God

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female."

Exodus 20:13 “Do not murder”

Psalms 139:13-14 “For it was you who created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful and I know this full well.”
HCSB Bible

President Obama has also shown that his views regarding homosexuality are out of step with Christianity as well.

Obama

Obama wants to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which he has called “abhorrent”, even though the Act's main purpose is merely to prevent “gay marriage” adopted in one state from being foisted on all other states. Even Hillary Clinton did not come out in opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act. In Obama's own words: "Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether."

Obama strongly opposes California’s Proposition 8, which merely limits the definition of marriage to a “marriage between a man and a woman.”

  • Obama has stated that he “respects” the California Supreme Court decision foisting “gay marriage” on the state.

  • Obama opposes any federal constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

  • Obama strongly endorses granting every single marriage benefit to homosexual unions, not to mention every “sexual orientation” special protections law imaginable. Such legislation will make civil and cultural bigots of everyone who espouses a male-female prerequisite to sexual relations, in the workplace, at school, in the media, and throughout the public sector.
    (D.R. Robert Gagnon- Between Two Worlds)

God

Leviticus 18:22 “You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable”

Romans 1:26-27 “This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even there females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural. The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty for their perversion."

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the unjust will not inherent the God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers, will inherit God’s kingdom. (HCSB Bible)

In essence the link between public policy and Christian theology is as close as few new political policies. While I do not intend to make this an article about the shortcoming of President Obama there are undeniable tensions in his election to the presidency.

On the flip side of the issue there is another word of caution for the church in America that comes as a result of President Obama’s election to office. I have noticed recently that more and more evangelical groups are touting a new version of the up-in-coming black man who has something to contribute theologically. In a recent February article of Table Talk, the monthly devotional magazine of Ligonier Ministry I noticed that Kevin Smith who is the senior pastor of Pinelands Presbyterian Church was a contributing author. This would seem like nothing out of the ordinary except that he mentioned that he was an African American in his article. The reference added nothing to the article except to highlight that black people also contribute to conservative theology.

We can also look at a recent Journal of Theology that I received from Beeson Divinity, which highlights Robert Smith Jr. Smith is an ordained ministered who recently authored a book on preaching and doctrine. Smith is not new to evangelical circles and his book may only be a timely reminder of the need for biblical preaching. More and more it seems as though names like Voddie Baucham, Thabiti Anabwyle ,and others are heard more frequently as if suddenly conservatives have finally liberated their African American counterparts.

Make no mistake about it I am glad to be made aware of upcoming books especially those of a conservative variety. However, it seems that evangelicalism since the election of Obama, the first African American president, is now trying to say that African Americans contribute theologically as well. If I am wrong then my observation is nothing more than a passing coincidence; however, if I am right it may be an embarrassing sign that the evangelical slip is showing.

Let me define the embarrassment as it may be the case. America has taken a giant leap forward in race reconciliation by electing to the highest office in the land an African American. This follows other public polices of desegregation and affirmative action that have led us to this point. In similar cases the church has been slow to respond to the need for racial reconciliation. It has been well chronicled that the most segregated time in America is Sunday morning, as the African Americans head to their churches and the white Americans head to theirs.

The stinging irony of this statement is that in large part it is true. Southern Christianity has been at times unabashed in its lack of race reconciliation. We may just be living in a time in which evangelicals are again following the lead of the culture; the thinking being that if it is popular to see African Americans in the role of government and politics, it may be popular and even lucrative, to also see African Americans in the role of religion as well. It may be that even evangelicals have something to sell.

Now as a final word I want to balance out the article with a couple of Pauline ruminations that regardless of this articles validity need to be heeded. The first, that Christ has reconciled us to God and given to us the ministry of reconciliation. It should not be uncommon for Christians to find themselves in a position of bringing people to Christ regardless of what socio economic or racial distinction they may carry. We are simply to bring men to Christ.

If we were to do this with equal earnest everywhere we go it would change the make- up of our churches almost overnight. For people are seldom only confined to a homogeneous social network. Secondly and finally, I have been hard on what I perceive to be a weakness among evangelicals. I am certainly not meaning to call-out the motives of all evangelicals, but only those who look at the supposed new racial harmony as an opportunity to make money and win influence. I may never know who crosses this line of delineation so I close with these words.

“Some to be sure, preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of good will… What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes I will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15-18)

Grace to you
E

Friday, February 20, 2009

Jew & Gentile-Black & White; One In Christ!

For the last month and a half I have been meditating on Galatians during my quiet time. It has been very rich for me. God is showing me how to care for the church by standing for righteousness. He is reopening my eyes to the beauty of the doctrine of justification by faith alone; a doctrine in which Steve Lawson says is the hinge in which the gospel swings on. Paul has shown me that as a believer, I have the authority and right to confront the church boldly when error is allowed to reign in the pulpit. One error in particular is racism.

I struggle with many aspects of the American church; one in particular is racial harmony. Far too long have we allowed men in our pulpits to preach a doctrine of segregation among the elect. It has been one of Satan’s greatest schemes in dividing the holy church. He has taken the pride that cost him eternal joy in heaven, and given it as an inheritance to all humanity; an inheritance that many in the church have refused let go. Some of our church fathers had to be confronted with their racial prejudice towards gentile believers. One of them in particular is Peter.

Paul had to call Peter out for his behavior towards the gentile Christians in Antioch. Peter was enjoying the fellowship of gentile believers when James and a few of the Jewish brothers came in to dine with them. When Peter saw them he drew back and separated himself (Galatians 2:11-14). Why? Why was one of the patriarchs of the church afraid to be seen with Gentile believers? The same reason why a solid brother in the Lord who is black, would have a hard time being a senior pastor in most of our Baptist churches.

Paul condemns this behavior in Peter and confronts him publicly to his face (Galatians 2:11). Peters behavior was putting the validity and truth of the gospel in jeopardy. That truth being that the barrier that once separated the Jews and the Gentiles was torn down by the blood of Christ. No longer was the law ruling as a master over the sinner. No longer was the Jew the only one to access the good grace of the Father. Both Jew and Gentile were made clean together in Christ.

Unfortunately, the church in America has seemed to miss the mark on this all together. In my short time in the ministry, I have seen few examples of genuine racial unity in the church. More times than not, I often see congregations meeting comfortably in their homogeneous fellowship with little effort reach out to brothers and sisters who are different in color. I have heard people defend their racial prejudice with their "old time religion." I have seen people sing "Jesus Loves the Little Children" in one hand, and deny the love of Christ to African Americans, Hmong Americans, and Hispanic Americans. This is absurd.
When one race in the church refuses to except the faith of other brothers and sisters who are a different race; they refuse the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ. They deny the fact that the blood of Christ covers the sin of all men red, yellow, black, and white. This is what makes rasicism so deadly. It is a attack on the gospel itself. It's aim is to destroy the work of Christ in all people groups. No one people is superior. No one people is inferior. But all people who love Christ are His bride.

The church must come to grips with this reality, or we will be nothing more to the world than a religious Klu Klux Klan; or Black Panther for that matter. This issue goes both ways.
Paul said something remarkable in Galatians 3:28. He said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Do see that? Paul says we are all one in Christ. Can you imagine the glory that would be given to God if His bride would stop looking in the carnival mirror of pride and started gazing at the beauty of God’s redeeming work among the nations?
How extraordinary would Sunday’s become? The church filled with Godly men and women singing to our King in Spanish, Somali, or Haitian, blended with English or Russian. What majesty would be revealed to the world through the preaching of black men, brown men, red men, white men, and yellow men; rainbow of prophesy if you will. How I long for such a day. I just hope I don’t have to wait until heaven to taste it and see its goodness.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Jew & Gentile...Black & White


Considering that the face of American politics has changed since the election of Barack Obama, the first African American president, Black History month celebrates with a whole new vigor. America has made a huge stride in racial unity. Many young men and women of all ethnic groups and racial backgrounds now have a living example, a focal point if your will, of equal opportunity. We have talked about it for many years and we have taken small steps in the right direction. However, 2009 with the election of President Obama, all of our small steps have given us the moment to make one giant leap for mankind. For that I am grateful.


However, I do have concerns about the face of the American church making the same strides. I see a lot of red flags pertaining to the church dealing with racial unity, church homogeneity, and solid theology being taught in the pulpit. I have invited some friends of mine who are in the ministry (who deal with this on a regular basis) to write a post giving their perspective. I look forward to the dialogue.


Please feel free to respond in a manner worthy unto the Lord. I relish in the opportuniy to constructively discuss opinions and ideas. Being that this issue can be sensitive, I only ask that love cover a multitude of sin and everything be tempered with love and humiltiy.