An Indictment of the American Clergy

Sample writing from the chapter on Racism

The problems with racism have decreased over the years as blacks have gained opportunities when previously they had none. Nevertheless, police still stop blacks at a disproportionate rate, and blacks are incarcerated at much higher numbers than other races. The underlying problem is that we have failed to develop personal relationships with one other. With increased relationships, a white cop and a young black man will approach each other with respect and friendliness. With increased friendships, blacks will have more contacts for employment. The best and quickest way to develop relationships is to go to church together.
Many in the white community say that racism does not exist, and I understand what they mean because they are talking about the massive corporate racism that was very prevalent just a few decades ago. It is more subtle today.
If racism does not exist, blacks and whites would attend church together. The fact is we do not. We have done a good job of removing much of the institutional racism but not the individual racism, which comes from the heart and can be more devastating. If I may exaggerate: racism is not over until every single black person says it is over. They will not say it is over until they have formed more than one deep personal relationship with white people. No one can know another’s heart without forming deep personal relationships. Only when a black person knows several white people can he or she acknowledge the humility the white person can have. Likewise, a white person cannot know a black person forgives him or her unless they share a personal relationship. This will only happen when we pray together, take communion together, eat together, and do mission projects together.
I believe nearly all white people bear no racism in their hearts. The problem is the black community does not know it. If they do not know it, then racism is real because we have not done enough to convince them otherwise. White people want racism to be over, but we need to engage with the black community—likewise for the blacks. Both sides need proactive inspiration. The white community is at fault for the racism of the past, but the solution must come from both whites and blacks because it takes two people to form a relationship.
It is natural to desire to control others by using the rules of the government. We seem to have this feeling that with the right law, we will experience some kind of protection. But laws never have their desired results. Racism, prejudice, and discrimination are crimes of the heart. We reduce these crimes by changing our hearts. Remember Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but what belongs to God, give to God” (Luke 20:25). The political things or laws are the responsibility of the politicians or government, and the inspirational things or matters of the heart are the responsibility of the church. The government ended slavery, passed the fifteenth amendment, which gave former slaves the right to vote, passed the Civil Rights Act, and passed affirmative action. None of these government acts intended to eradicate racism; that is the church’s responsibility. The church and the clergy are not doing so well. It appears the politicians have a 150-year head start on the church.
The church and the clergy are to be our moral leaders. If the clergy were leading us toward morality, we would be going to church with the people of a different skin color and thus curtailing racism.
I want nothing but success for the black community. We must recognize that our future and our past are inextricably linked. Slavery was a blessing by bringing the Africans to the colonies and subsequently to the United States. Thank God. The blacks have offered a great deal to our nation, like so many of the cultures that have graced this land.
I recognize and appreciate the black community’s contributions to our country and our heritage. The North fought to free the slaves, and the South fought to keep states’ rights. My little community still argues about this as though it has major significance to anyone other than us. The reason we fought the Civil War no longer matters. The conflict temporarily ripped us apart, but the result made us better and continues to make us better because of the contributions of blacks to our society. However, further improvements to overall mood will not happen until whites acknowledge how important blacks are to our communities and welcome them with open hearts. It will also not happen until blacks forgive whites for the sins of our ancestors. The changes in mood among the population are taking more time than we anticipated because we have trained ourselves to think the law will rescue us.
Slavery was also the greatest best mistake we ever made because of the contributions of the black community. The contributions will be even greater when we can virtually eliminate racism all together. We will eventually end racism and achieve harmony between races. We are Christian and the victory that comes with living in harmony will be ours. The government cannot rescue us; only our faith in Jesus Christ can do that. Only by developing relationships with one another will we achieve victory.
The church and clergy relied on the law to end racism. The majority of Christians thought that with each law passed, Christianity achieved a major accomplishment. Clergy have convinced themselves that laws solve these issues and have failed to lead the church to true Christianity. Laws do nothing to change people’s hearts. Laws only antagonize citizens and exacerbate problems.