This compelling work, led by Jarvis Williams and Kevin Jones, including input from Al Mohler, Walter Strickland, Kevin Smith, Dwight McKissic, and others, is not a book merely to be glanced at like passing a curious situation alongside the highway as you speed by at 65 miles an hour. We must not give mere token acknowledgement to this issue simply because the media highlights a specific circumstance in the ever transitioning news cycle. Ethnic tensions, systemic racism, and latent prejudices remind us of the deep darkness of sin that is always around us. We cry out as Paul did in Scripture when he said, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24, CSB). This fact we see in our world at-large and in our own lives holds true for our cooperating assembly of churches known as the Southern Baptist Convention as well. The deep-set stain of racism and its continuing effects call for unyielding mortification on our part, as we focus on this issue in our lives together as Southern Baptists today.
As I opened this book focusing on an issue I believe to be of paramount importance for us as individuals, churches, and a convention, I expected to be hit hard with challenges regarding our past as Southern Baptists, with calls to acknowledge the continuing problems in our day, and with concrete plans to help us move forward together as we endeavor to remove the stain of racism replacing it with the Gospel-reflecting ethnic inclusion and diversity which befits the people of God gathering in His churches. I have not been disappointed in the least. At times I mourned the undeniable horror of our past. At times I winced at the confrontation of my need to face this issue in the present. At times I rejoiced in the prescribed remedy of the various authors of both Anglo and African descent showing us a better way forward.
I believe I am near the center of the target audience for this book. As a Southern Baptist pastor involved in our local church’s mission and ministry and also deeply connected with our cooperative ministry efforts through our local association, state convention, and the national entities of the SBC, each chapter offered insightful analysis and helpful recommendations for God-honoring transformation in removing the stain of racism from our midst. Some may find chapters like “Administrative Steps Toward Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention,” or “Publishing for Church Leaders to Remove the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention” less directly applicable, but I believe such contain helpful information for us all.
I found a priceless aspect of this book in an introduction of sorts entitled “Selected Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions on Race from 1845-2007” (pp. xxv-lix). These highlights captured the progression regarding this issue–the peaks and the valleys–for our beloved SBC. While this introduction is no substitute for the investment of engaging the authors throughout the course of the book, I do believe it to be worth the price of the book itself. Seeing from where we have come and the ever improving trajectory in which we are heading proved quite helpful in reading the rest of the book.
As I wrap up (Pastor speak for, “Here comes sermon number two!), I leave you with the fifteen recommendations Dr. Williams expresses in his chapter, “Biblical Steps Toward Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention.” While he enumerates them with commentary, I will simply share the topic line…and hope that encourages, intrigues, challenges you to the point of getting a copy of the book to read for yourself. I am convinced you will benefit greatly from doing so.
Fifteen Concluding Exhortations (pp.44-51)
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Southern Baptists should be quick to listen and slow to speak on race when they do not understand the issues.
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Southern Baptists must pray for and support multi-ethnic church plants in their cities and communities if their churches are not going to pursue reconciliation.
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Southern Baptists must stop making excuses for why our denomination still has the stain of racism.
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Southern Baptists must stop limiting the racial reconciliation discussion to the black versus white divide in our convention.
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The movement of gospel-centered racial reconciliation within the SBC does not need an African-American savior, an Asian savior, a Latino savior, or a white savior. But we need a multiracial partnership of churches working together….
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Southern Baptists need to enlarge their ethnic circles to include more black and brown believers.
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Southern Baptists must recognize that black and brown people can minister to white people and teach them many things about many subjects, including race.
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Southern Baptists must understand that black and brown Southern Baptists need white allies in the work of the gospel ministry.
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Southern Baptists must understand that the kingdom of God does not revolve around whiteness or blackness or brownness.
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Southern Baptists must recognize that whiteness is not normal and everything else abnormal.
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Southern Baptists must not play the race card just to serve their political agendas, to get television appearances, to increase Twitter followers, to gain more friends on Facebook, or to get invites to the big white or black and brown conferences.
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If Southern Baptists want to gain credibility in black and brown contexts on matters of gospel reconciliation, they must befriend black and brown people lacking celebrity status.
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Southern Baptists must recognize that the evangelical movement generally and the SBC specifically still lack credibility with many black and brown communities in part because of their historic failure to do the things mentioned above.
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Black and brown Southern Baptists are not off the hook. We have an important role to play in removing the stain of racism from the SBC, too.”
I pray we will all relentlessly pursue unity in the bond of peace since, “In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.” (Colossians 3:11, CSB).
I personally do not feel the need to remove the stain of racism from the SBC. It IS our past…just like Hitler is part of Germany’s past. But I certainly agree we need to move forward striving to be more inclusive. The 15 stmts are good. That need to be our focus vs. rehashing the sins of the past. The SBC needs to rallied, not rebuked. I hope this book does that.
Allen, There is a balance talked about in the book. We must always be mindful of our past. I would hope that if a black or brown brother or sister were to bring it up that your approach would be conciliatory and apologetic rather than defensive and dismissive.
In counseling I always counsel couples, families, etc., to be ready to do whatever it takes to reconcile and less ready to excuse, dismiss, or justify. I am more and more convinced we must carry this mindset into our continuing work regarding the ethnic tensions we face in the SBC.
I certainly agree that those 15 exhortations are crucial to furthering the goal of being a convention of churches which show the world the multiethnic beauty which the Bible describes the Body of Christ to be.
I think that the concept of removing the stain implies correction more than just rebuke.
What we need now is to correct things.
Great points Allen
“Southern Baptists must recognize that black and brown people can minister to white people and teach them many things about many subjects”
A quick word of personal testimony: Over the past few years, I’ve been part of a ministers’ conference with African American believers including weekly fellowship and regular joint worship opportunities. During that same time, my wife has faced cancer three times. The continuous care, concern and prayers of my African-American brothers and sisters in Gary and vicinity has ministered to me greatly (and, in my darkest hour of facing cancer, significantly more than my local Southern Baptist association who I love greatly). Further, the theology of suffering I’ve learned and seen lived out by others as I’ve participated in the Conference and in worship has filled a theological gap in my white church experience. With all that my family was facing, I needed to know a God who knew my suffering, was powerful, was able to work, who was always on time, who held all power in his hands, who was for me, who was good and faithful. I needed to remember that God had already done much for me. I needed a heart of Thanksgiving and Joy in the midst of pain. I found all of that and more in the Black church.
Great testimony, Todd.
As a pastor of a multi-ethnic bilingualism SBC church in Detroit I look forward to reading this book and an very encouraged by the exhortations.
Eli, I wholeheartedly believe it will be worth your time!
Well, I guess everything over here at Voices is about dead in the water, so let’s put some life back in the Old Blog, what do you say?
1). The ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE is the greatest Football Nation and is the Flagship of the greatest Sports Conference in the NCAA, the SEC!!!
2). The use of alcohol as a beverage is unwise.
Enjoy the weekend, Ladies and Gentlemen.
We love you too, CB!
TULIP!
Tulips everywhere!
CB, CB,CB….
You’ll get no argument from me regarding your second statement. Regarding the first statement you made, ugh…blah…urp…
You should be quarantined with that nasty SEC bug you seem to have contracted.
When I see a comment start with, “CB, CB, CB…” I get this sinking feeling!
There’s not much to argue with CB about on either point.
Doug
Along with this book I would recommend a book written 1971,
“Seven Black Preacher Tell, What Jesus means to Me.”
It will give the reader the very personal and real life perspective of Black Minister within the Southern Baptist Community. Encouraging the faith of all believers.
Scott Gordon,
Interesting article with positive behavioral objectives
I was just curious if you or anyone had any stats on the number of multiracial marriages in the SBC , and if any pastors (of any race) would refuse to conduct a multiracial marriage (of any race) and if so, what reasons would they give. Secondly, do you personally feel the multiracial racial marriage within the SBC is a way to bridge some of the past racial stereotypes that some people have of a racist SBC/?
Thanks
A). I don’t think the SBC has ever kept stats on “multiracial” marriages. How would that be possible, unless the SBC demanded DNA tests on the members of affiliated churches.
(Although, if the SBC did demand such a thing, I will be buying stock in Ancestry DNA and watching my fortunes grow.)
The truth is, Southern Baptist pastors have been conducting “multiracial” marriages since 1845 whether they knew it or not.
B). Southern Baptist pastors are free to perform weddings for whomever they want. However, if a Southern Baptist pastor refused to perform a wedding due to nothing but racial or ethnic heritage????. . . Well. . . . I shall give my opinion using a modified line from the great movie, “The Magnificent Seven.”
If a pastor refused to do a wedding based on race alone, “It is time for him to throw his Bible in the water trough and ride on out of town.”
C). As for your “second question”: Do you personally feel that multiracial marriage within the SBC is a way to bridge some of the past racial stereotypes that some people have of a racist SBC?
The SBC is not in the business of social engineering. The SBC is in the business of helping churches in fulfilling the Great Commission without regard to race, color, ethnic background, or creed of those to whom we are commanded to present the gospel of Christ.
(If we do ever get into social engineering we will have neglected the mandate of the Great Commission to take the gospel to all the world.)
My friends, it is OK to vote on the color of the carpet in the sanctuary, but it is sin before Holy God to vote on the color of the membership.
CB,
Great answers!…or should I say that each answer is a 10-ring at a thousand yards?
I would add that our churches fulfilling our Great Commission call to all the ethnos should serve as a beacon to our culture that the only lasting, everlasting, racial harmony is found in a repentant, redeemed relationship with Jesus Christ. This is not to say that we should not advocate for temporal justice. I’m just saying that the only thing that’s going to last forever and profoundly impact the here and now is salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus.
You are right, Scott Gordon.
We must be advocates for justice, now and always.
The major point of my comment is that if any person in this particular nation thinks they can judge “marriage worthiness” by some pseudo-standard of racial purity does not live in this universe.
Fifteen Concluding Exhortations (pp.44-51)
“Southern Baptists should be quick to listen and slow to speak on race when they do not understand the issues.”
This comment is only to those of John 6:44 – the loving elect of God – the saved. Christians have the Holy Spirit – Romans 8:9-11. Are the authors so mistaken that they do not understand the Theology of the Holy Spirit and how the Third Person of the Trinity guides the Christian in their progressive sanctification? Yes – they are mistaken. This first exhortation implies that Christians led by the Holy Spirit cannot understand certain sins because of the color on ones skin. This is pure and unadulterated blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Sin has no color spectrum. Any color of human can know and understand sin when led by the Holy Sprit and thus to imply that ones race can help one understand certain sins better is to imply that the Holy Sprit and progressive sanctification works differently when ones skin color is different. God help all the elect to listen to the Holy Spirit that lives inside them to obey the two greatest commandments.
Umm…..huh?
I had the same thought. Care to expand on that, Tim?
John
Tim,
I must echo Allen & John…could you clarify your point. Are you saying that as believers we never struggle with or need help mortifying the deeds of the flesh? Are you saying that we don’t need to listen to our brothers and sisters of differing ethnicities when we have not acknowledged our sinful prejudices?
When I have a blind spot to an area of sin in my life, I am thankful for someone to come alongside me to help me see my need of confession and repentance. When I am not rightly understanding a situation or need, I am thankful for someone to come alongside me to challenge me to think more biblically about it.
Are you saying we don’t need each other…that we should/could just live out the Christian life on our own? Surely not.
Scott, are you saying that when the SBC pastors have sin in their lives their go to help in regards to repentance and conforming to Christ is someone else and not the Word of God along with the Holy Spirit that lives inside them? Then maybe Catholicism is better suited for some of the SBC pastors – confessing to your priest. II Timothy 3:16-17 is what equips the regenerated soul. Now, what does any ethnicity have to do with progressive sanctification? How unscriptural! I Peter 1:22-23 is the obedience to the Truth, the Living Word of God. I certainly pray that SBC pastors seek Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone, in that the Bible is the supreme authority in all matters of doctrine and practice.
Not Scott, but I’ll say this: If a fellow believer, armed with the Sword of the Spirit and empowered by the Holy Spirit, can help me see the sin in my life, then should I not welcome that? Does God not work through the body of Christ through His Spirit? Or does James speak erroneously when he says that we should confess to one another, that we may be healed? Can a Christian in a solitary oasis, him and His God and his Bible, live for Christ with no other authority? Certainly….though fulfilling the command to love one’s neighbor would be difficult. And, at times, we might need our brother, who sees better through the eyes of our neighbor, to help us see if we are showing that love. At times, my wife has to help me understand my daughters and other women, because my experiences do not give me good context for whether or not I am showing the love for my neighbor that I should. If I decline to accept the wisdom God has placed in my life, instead saying that I need no one else, how do I walk well with Christ? In similar fashion, my life is shaped by the cultural background I have lived. I understand long car trips and individual homes, not high rises and subways–if I were to go to New York City and do cross-cultural missions, I would seek out someone who knew that culture to help me know how to show love for my neighbor there. It may not be with sweet tea and sharing gun collections. (It is ’round these here parts.) I’ve grown up a semi-educated Southern boy. At middle age now, thanks to the patience of brothers and sisters of other ethnic groups, I see how what I thought was harmless fun at 14 is instead sinful and I have raised my children to walk a different path. Without their godly counsel, I might have never noticed or reconsidered the way things are. Scripture is alone the supreme authority–without fail. If someone were to say that denying the Resurrection would help us see racial reconciliation, then we must not sin and deny God’s truth, that Christ is Risen! If someone were to say that bringing racial reconciliation requires that we demand circumcision or that we offer sacrifice to idols, or other sin, then we must obey God rather… Read more »
Doug,
I could not have said it better myself. I wholeheartedly agree.
I will be interested in reading this book.
I note the comments about “Justice”. Now there’s a word that gets thrown about today.
Historically in the West generally, and the US, specifically, justice means fair and equal treatment under the law. The finger is not on the scale, so to speak.
This view clearly came from the Bible, as we understand each person is viewed on his own and his own merits. Has this individual received Christ? How has this individual lived.
The individual is paramount in Western Law historically.
Marxism introduced to the West the idea of class struggle. The belief is that human history is the story of class struggle.
In Marxist countries, the individual is irrelevant, except as to how his claims affect the struggle of classes. Thus, Stalin, Soviet client states, Pol Pot, and even nationalistic socialists could execute millions of people or treat them unfairly under the law because it advanced the class struggle.
The question going forward for the West, the US, and the church generally is whether we will continue with the biblical model of how God relates to each individual person, or whether we will follow in whole or in part a Marxist variant.
Liberation Theology was beaten back a generation ago, but the West will face anew this question as a new generation of people have to grapple with this.
On the race front the two perspectives are represented by justice delivered without respect to one’s race (race neutral remedies), or Justice that is measured and distributed to individuals but affected at least in part by the individual’s membership in a group (race conscious remedies).
Scott,
Great review. Thanks.
Dwight,
Thank you for your kindness in this response and your unwavering commitment to encouraging our convention forward on this issue regarding living biblically regarding multi-ethnic relationships.
I look forward to catching up with you in Dallas in June!