Rev. Otis Moss III, the eloquent and winsome young preacher who succeeded Rev. Jeremiah Wright as Pastor of The Trinity Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois, posted on Facebook a brutal response—tantamount to a rebuke—of the five Preaching professors at SWBTS, and by extension, a rebuke of the Seminary and the SBC. Moss’ intellectual and insightful mind is on full display in his “Standing on the Outside of the Window—Looking In” interpretation of the Twitter photo.
Four years ago, I was privileged to be a table mate of Rev. Moss for three hours, during an invitation-only Phoenix gathering of high-profile Black pastors that I didn’t qualify to attend. I walked away from that table and the topic-driven table discussion impressed with Moss’ humility and quest to pursue excellence in ministry. Rev. Moss is well known and highly respected in the Black Church Community across theological camps, as the son of an iconic Civil Rights leader/pastor who was a co-laborer with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; a man with earned degrees from Morehouse, Yale Divinity School and Chicago Theological Seminary. Pastor Moss made history by being the youngest person to deliver the Lyman Beecher Lecture Series at Yale Divinity School in October 2014.
Rev. Moss and Dr. Hall, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, have engaged in a friendly dialogue about the history of racism in evangelicalism. The Moss-Hall dialogue is a much more effective way to reach across the aisle to Urban Communities addressing felt-need issues from a Kingdom perspective. An urban student would be attracted to enroll in a SBC Seminary by a substantive Kingdom dialogue, on an issue relevant to the Urban Community, between a respected SBC academician and a respected urban pastor, much more so than a gangsta rap parody/caricature picture of Preaching Professors.
This post is my second public pushback of a published Moss statement that I’ve felt compelled to give a public rebuttal. I strongly, biblically disagree with Moss’ support of “same gender loving couples”—his description of same-sex marriages, or homosexual relationships. Both Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama were frequent attenders of the Trinity Church of Christ, while pastored by Dr. Jeremiah Wright, who shared the same views on homosexuality as does Otis Moss III. Undoubtedly, the theology of the Trinity Church on homosexuality influenced Barack Obama, who later forever changed America on the subject of same-sex marriage.
Now because of the Twitter photo from SWBTS, here we go again! I will provide a “Standing on the Inside of the Window—Looking Out” Rebuttal to Moss’ Brutal, but Fair Statement Regarding the Twitter photo. What was lacking from Moss’ statement was an Insider’s perspective.
Please don’t misread or misunderstand my analogy. Anyone who knows my history with SWBTS and the SBC wouldn’t by any stretch of the imagination consider me to be a “House Negro.” Inasmuch as our church was planted while I was a student at SWBTS and I’ve maintained a relationship with the SBC for over 42 years—dating back to my college days—that makes me somewhat of an insider in SBC life, compared to Moss, who has no known history with the SBC that I’m aware of, except that I’ve referenced above.
In addition to offering a gentle rebuttal and friendly, sympathetic critique regarding Rev. Moss’s positon on the Gangsta Gate Photo, I want to offer Rev. Moss’ full Facebook Post. A good friend and former adjunct Professor at SWBTS shared with me after visiting with Dr. David Allen, Dean of Preaching at SWBTS, and also pictured on the Twitter photo, that the disposition and posture of the Preaching faculty is that of “being a learner and listener” in the aftermath of the controversy. Believing Dr. Allen, Dr. Patterson, Dr. McCarty (who reached out to me in response to my previous Article on this subject), and all involved to be sincere, there’s no better outside critique, interpretation, evaluation (or whatever you want to call it) of the photo than you could get than the one following from Dr. Otis Moss III. I believe he voices the sentiments of most African Americans, who would view this photo similar to how Dr. Moss views it, without any prior relationship with the SBC or SWBTS. Dr. Moss’ Facebook statement:
“The Southern Baptist convention has had a long storied history of racialized thought and action beginning with the inception of the convention in Augusta, GA. The largest of the Protestant denominations has consistently stood on the wrong side on issues of race. I have over years made the claim evangelicals choose “whiteness” over Jesus because the real religion of Americanized Christianity is maintaining the structure of white supremacy. The rhetoric of “We are one in Christ” is used freely in evangelical circles as a veneer to cover-up the rotting flesh of a broken faith that no longer speaks for the vulnerable, but worships Eurocentric and racialized assumptions about humanity especially people of African descent. This article below is more than insensitivity, but a bold proclamation of privilege, ignorance and illegibility of black bodies. These “preaching professors” (I use this term loosely) demonstrate their clear homiletical bias not to preach Jesus, but proclaim the Gospel of George Wallace and Strom Thurmond. How devastatingly ugly for grown men to live in a sophomoric bubble where racial appropriation is not only okay, but the appropriate response for the farewell of a colleague. How cruel to preach a visual sermon that will outlast their words on the internet and injure hundreds if not thousands of women and men. These are the teachers of the new generation of leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention? Now I know why Steve Bannon, Jeff Session and Mike Flynn advise Trump maybe they were taught by professors at Southern Baptist Seminary. If these are the best minds of the Seminary America can expect graduates who colonize minds, injure spirits and mis-educated communities.
“Tragic and beyond tragic”
Moss Connects the Photo to the History of Racism in the SBC
The SBC publicly apologized for their history of racism in ’95; yet they must recognize that America will always view the SBC as being birth in racism and continuing in that trajectory. The scars of some sins remain for a lifetime. I believe it was fair for Moss to connect the picture to the SBC’s racist history based on his—outside the window—interpretation of the picture. That’s why the SBC entities have to be mindful of perception, which is reality, to many.
As Dr. Fred Luter has so accurately and eloquently stated: “We cannot change our past—it is what it is; but we can change our future.” And Luter’s election as the first African-American President of the SBC provides a modicum of hope that the SBC may be willing to move in a different direction in her future. However, for many, the Twitter photo was reminiscent of the era when White males portrayed themselves as “Amos and Andy” complete with made-up Black faces. For those who argue that the twitter photo could reflect Vanilla Ice or Eminem—too late. There was an admission that “Notorious Biggie Small,” a Black Gangsta Rapper, was the inspiration for the “Notorious SOP” wall graffiti.
Moss Connects the Photo to His Belief that the Evangelical Church Props Up White Supremacy
The photo lends itself to an interpretation of fostering White Supremacy. How? If you view, Gangsta Rap as having originated with and primarily associated with Blacks—as most Blacks do, and history verifies—then the picture represents five white men mocking or making fun of an aspect of Black culture. The only reason that you would do that is out of a feeling of superiority or supremacy.
The SBC has repented of their history of racism, but they’ve never repented of the White Supremacist Theology and ideology that provided and fed the racist attitudes and actions that still residually occur in various pockets throughout the SBC. I offered the SBC an opportunity to repent of their White Supremacist Theology a few years back, but they refused. Inevitably, a racial brouhaha erupts in the SBC every few years and will continue to do so, until the SBC repents of the White Supremacist Theology that yet shackles her, and reoccurs openly on occasions.
SBC Pastor Rick Patrick admits that there is a “bit” of an Alt-Right element in the SBC. The Alt-Right unashamedly promotes White Supremacy. I am considering submitting another resolution giving the SBC another opportunity to reject White Supremacy and White Supremacist Theology.
Moss Connects the Picture to a Skewed View of the Gospel
His interpretation of the picture and the preaching professors is that “it demonstrates their clear homiletical bias not to preach Jesus, but proclaim the Gospel of George Wallace and Strom Thurmond.”
In essence, Moss is saying that it is impossible to harbor the kind of feelings or insensitivity, that would allow you to dress for and proudly take that photo, without passing on to your students a similar kind of insensitivity. Mindsets, who could take such a picture, may not be able to equip men to preach the Gospel in an urban culture from Moss’ perspective. I agree that the picture represents a huge cultural disconnect with the Black Community. Ironically, the picture was designed to appeal to the Gangsta Community that can only be reached with the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Where I Disagree with Moss
Although, I don’t disagree with Moss’ premise that racism and White Supremacy are yet present forces within evangelicalism and SBC Life, I strongly disagree with what appears to be his premise that SWBTS professors cannot homiletically properly equip Black seminarians. Yes, there is a cultural gap in training and connectivity to the Black context and Community. I get that. Usually, the difference is made up for in the local church or attending preaching seminars and conferences as the E.K. Bailey Preaching Conference, H.B. Charles Preaching Conference, Tony Evans Conference, National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, etc.
The current Preaching Department at SWBTS has produced one of the featured preachers for the upcoming SBC Pastors Conference in Phoenix, Jamar Andrews, recommended by Dr. Paige Patterson, SWBTS President. Jamar has also preached in SWBTS Chapel. Dr. Bart Barber, a Southwestern Trustee, also recommended Jamar, even as a small church pastor—to preach in the Annual Pastors Conference.
Dr. Barry McCarty, Professor of Preaching and Rhetoric at SWBTS requires his students to study the preaching of the following Pastors: Dr. Robert Smith, Dr. Ralph West, H.B. Charles, Dr. Fred Luter and Dr. Tony Evans. Pastor Rick Patrick and Seth Dunn are two White Southern Baptist personalities that have labeled me a “race baiter.” Dr. McCarty, whom I’ve only met once on stage at the Annual SBC meeting in Baltimore—shook my hand and said, “I appreciate your heart for racial reconciliation.” His words have ministered to me ever since and bring healing when others falsely accuse me. Dr. McCarty will never know how those few words blessed me. I am encouraged by his exposing his students to excellent models of Black expositors.
Beloved Former Preaching Professors at SWBTS that are greatly loved and appreciated by scores of Black Seminarians would include Dr. Al Fasol, Dr. Joel Gregory, Dr. Calvin Miller and Dr. Raymond Spencer. The sermons that I preach that are considered my best, are homiletically structured following the pattern taught to me by Dr. Al Fasol.
A current SWBTS student attending the church I pastor, Larry Williamson, recently completed a class taught by The Dean of the School of Preaching at Southwestern—Dr. David Allen. Larry’s preaching has improved dramatically from two years ago—and he attributes the improvement to SWBTS. He described his interactions with Dr. Allen as affirming and positive and is appreciative of Dr. Allen encouraging him toward PH.D Studies. All the “Negrotics”—Negroes +Politics = “Negrotics”—which would include learning to fill in the cultural gaps from what SWBTS don’t know to teach—that Larry needs to know—Larry can learn from me.
The late S.M. Lockridge, the late E.K. Bailey, James Meeks, Ralph Douglas West, Ross Cullins, Fredrick Douglas Haynes, the Late Dr. Raymond Spencer, Ken Jones, Robert E. Fowler (pastor of the largest Black Baptist church in Las Vegas), Louis Rosenthal (Senior Pastor of McKinney First Baptist Church), Ronnie Goines—who pastors a fast-growing church in Arlington, TX—and most recently, Jamar Andrews are just a few of the names of great Black preachers trained at Southwestern. Interestingly, both the largest Black Baptist churches in Chicago (James Meeks) and Las Vegas are pastored by SWBTS graduates.
None of these men preached the gospel of Strom Thurmond or George Wallace.
Southwestern has also featured a cadre of Black preachers in Chapel across the years: Manuel Scott, Sr., E.V. Hill, Rick Armstrong, Tony Evans, H.B. Charles, Eric Redmond, William J. Shaw, the late Gardner C. Taylor, and a host of others. The cultural gap is in part made up for by the Chapel speakers and the Professors who require their students to study excellent Black role models in preaching. I would agree, though, none of this supplants or substitutes for a Homiletics professor who understands the African American Church experientially.
My Interpretation of the Picture vs. Moss’ Interpretation
- I do not believe there was an inkling of racial or racist intentionality involved in posing for and the displaying of the photo.
- I believe the spirit and intent behind the picture of celebrating a departing colleague was sincere, but sincerely wrong; because the photo was open to multiple and misinterpretations.
- I believe that the picture represented a sincere attempt by the Preaching professors to be relevant to the culture, connect with the times, affirm the departing Professor, and appeal to the current generation.
- Whether one views the picture as a parody or a caricature, as insensitive, or racist—or even as innocuous—I’m baffled as to how a picture with imaging and symbolism of guns, gangs, “Benjamins”—money, “Bling-Bling”—materialism, Misogny-synomous with Gangsta Rap, coupled with, violence, alcoholism, drugs, fornication, adultery, anti-police rhetoric, etc.—is compatible with the Kingdom of God, the mission of the Seminary , and the departure of the Professor? Forget Racism. The photo is an affront to the Kingdom of God.
- The real evidence of whether or not this picture is a real problem or just a temporary distraction, won’t be known for 15-20 years. By then we’ll know if this Preaching faculty has produced 10-15 Black preachers of distinction, who belong in the same sentence with Ralph West, S.M. Lockridge, E.K. Bailey, James Meeks, Robert Fowler, Ken Jones, Freddy Haynes and Ross Cullins.
Conclusion
I believe all have learned from this unfortunate occurrence. I’ve labored to write this post, for the above stated reasons. Furthermore, when I was a 25-year old student at SWBTS, if something like this occurred, I would have wanted someone to help me interpret not only Moss’ post, but my SWBTS inside experience. I highly recommend SWBTS, particularly to those who share similar theological convictions and doctrinal points of views compatible with theirs. This photo should not be a disqualifier for current or prospective Black students. There are many good predominately Black Churches in the DFW area to help fill the cultural gap between the classroom and Sunday morning. Furthermore, they are working toward hiring a Black Preaching Professor.
Pray that God leads them to the right one and prepare his heart for SWBTS.
As it relates to racism in the SBC and evangelicalism as a whole? Again it’s a reality. But at some point, we are going to have to look through the front window, more so than the rear-view window. We must not interpret every incident racially. At times we must give the benefit of the doubt. This is one where I choose to be gracious. We must also count blessings that have come our way; not just perceived or real injustices. It could be that the good that has come to many of us in the SBC, has outweighed the bad.
Yes, there have been challenges and regrets along the way, but without the SBC I am not ashamed to say, our congregation, my family, and my ministry would not be where it is; and for that I’m grateful. I have an older brother who planted a church in Arkansas nine years ago. An SBC congregation just deeded their nice modern, fully functional facility to his congregation in a transitional section of town free of charge.
Yes, I could complain about a picture and several other things, but when Cornerstone needed a $3 million loan to move our ministry to the next level, an affiliate of the SBC provided it in 1995. I don’t belong in the same sentence with the great White, Black, Asian, or Hispanic Preachers Alumni from SWBTS, but without the mentorship of Dr. Al Fasol and later, Dr. Joel Gregory, I shudder to think, where I would be as a preacher. We should not let one picture—which admittedly was a bad decision—to cause us to dismiss a great Seminary and a great Convention. We need to work together to make it better.
I’m thankful for the positive note Dwight leaves us with by the end of his post. I’m hopeful too and I’m thankful for Dwight’s continued involvement in the SBC.
One note that I thought might avoid some misunderstanding. Dwight uses the term “white supremacy,” which for most of us bring up photos of hoods and burning crosses, strong reactions against that idea, obviously. In one racial unity forum I attended, one speaker used the term white supremacy much more broadly than that – just generally to mean the idea that most white people are generally smarter, more competent, better members of acceptable society than non-whites. He contrasted that with “black inferiority.” I believe you should read Dwight’s article with that broader definition in mind – that’s not to say everyone will agree, but hopefully that it will be less inflammatory to some readers.
It occurred to me at that racial unity forum that it might be better, if the parallel point is black inferiority, it might be better to use the term “white superiority” rather than “supremacy” to avoid some of the baggage ‘supremacy’ carries.
I hope that will be helpful to some readers.
Sorry. It does not.
I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church where we judged people not on the basis of ethnicity or skin color, but on the basis of character. We loved people as Jesus saw them: as people, sinners all, who Jesus loved and and as result we loved each other. Because the people loved others despite their ethnicity and “class” we had people of all ethnicities of people in church in our part of Southeast Tulsa: Native American, African-American, the poor, single moms and families, the wealthy and their families (whom no one really knew the contents of their pocket book unless they were helping a poor family in the church make rent, or finding somebody a job). I had several African-American Sunday School teachers, and was part of a ordaining council where we ordained a wonderful brother into the diaconate who happened to be black. At the time I did not consider that particular distinction because to me and our church it did not make a difference what the person’s cultural and ethnic heritage was. What was important was that this brother have the credentials and the tools necessary to be a great deacon. He did.
I only make the point now here is because certain segments have made identity distinctions more important than character, biblical fidelity, and scholarship. I don’t read books or buy books based upon Identity – I buy books if I believe the topic will help me complete my duties competently and God honoring. I could care less if someone evaluated my library and found I was wanting on the right perspectives depending upon the ethnic distinction of the author of the work. In fact I reject such iconoclastic thinking that would demand servitude to the idea that my desire to avoid the “white supremacy” or “white superiority” label (which one one chooses – and I might add neither one is positively neutral) would require me to choose topics and books in my library written by authors based on racial identity = when most of the time I have no idea of the racial or cultural identity of the author when I pick up the book.
This is madness. It does not draw us together, it drives us apart. While there may be some want to focus on their victimhood till the Kingdom comes (by the way we all are victims in some way) I conclude that the Victory I have in Jesus is much much more worthy to sing about rather than the fact I am a victim of my past. May God redeem us all.
Rob
Well said, Rob.
I disagree that the “colorblind” vision you’ve presented above is biblical, helpful, or moving us toward unity.
As Todd Benkert wrote here: https://sbcvoices.com/a-color-blind-denomination/
I wish you guys were as passionate about listening to other perspectives as you are about proving wrong those you disagree with.
Yes, well said Rob. This line of thinking Brent and some others are fostering is madness and actually harmful to race relations.
Brent: “I wish you guys were as passionate about listening to other perspectives as you are about proving wrong those you disagree with.”
Brother, you are doing a whole lot of assuming. How do you presume to know to what extent I listen to other perspectives and how passionate I am about doing such? With all do respect, you need to step back and take stock about what you are either are accusing some of us of or at a minimum intimating about us.
Brent,
On what part do you disagree? Do you disagree with my home church and how they attempted in God’s love to share His truth to all people regardless of racial identity? Do you disagree with my church’s attempt to get beyond the past and start acting if color did not matter in God’s house? That before there was a “conversation” that the church I grew up in decided to act in ways to glorify God and include all of His children in the work? Is that not what YOU want? Why do you disagree with it? Do you deny that any such attempts are hopeless outside of the general conversation that white Southern Baptist Christians are just so consumed with racial identity and cultural superiority and that we need to flagellate ourselves in submission with the “right” rhetoric?
God’s people in His church have been attempting to act out in the right way = and all you have to contribute is that somehow we have to skin ourselves in order to please those whose victimhood can never be healed by any attempt of any human being to sooth it. If you were as passionate to listening to all sides rather than only one, you too would be enlightened.
Rob
We should treat each other equally with love and celebrate skin color and cultural differences, not act like they don’t exist.
As Derwin Grey said during last year’s Pastors’ Conference: not colorblind but color blessed.
“…until the SBC repents of the White Supremacist Theology that yet shackles her…”
Does anyone (other than Dwight) honestly believe that the SBC is “shackled” by this so-called WTT and needs to repent? Otherwise, Dwight has just offended our entire denomination with such a grossly inaccurate picture of the convention and what it currently stands for. I don’t see how further racial unity is possible when statements like that continue to be made.
I don’t know any White Supremacist and have been Southern Baptist for near half a century.
Dan B,
You are asking the question to an audience who may not register that concern. But, if you asked that question to the many commenters on threads relative to the twitter gangsta photo, you’ll discover that that many Black students who’ve matriculated in SBC schools and who pastor SBC churches would answer the question with a resounding yes.
Read my post on “Lessons From The Animal Kingdom” for documentation. Thanks.
I read your Animal Kingdom article and I don’t think it supports your claim about WST in the convention. It’s not fair to use a few random incidents or misunderstandings (last summarized six years ago) to then paint with the broad brush (as Mike said) and accuse the entire convention of having a racist mindset in the current day.
Outrageous mischaracterizations of the SBC do nothing but just stir the pot and generate more division. It works against an effort to facilitate more racial unity among us. I hope that you will keep that in consideration for future posts.
Dan, what if Dwight could add quite a few to the list since that was written in 2011? How many would it take for it to not be “a few random incidents”? And his point wasn’t specifically the incidents themselves, but the lack of reaction against them. Do you think to our minority Southern Baptists the perception is they’re “just a few random incidents or misunderstandings?” The fact that you can brush them off so easily is troubling to me.
Brent, I’m not brushing off the incidents, but it’s wrong for Dwight to mischaracterize the SBC in the way that he did. It works against achieving more racial unity within the SBC. Surely you don’t disagree with that.
///would answer the question with a resounding yes.///
Then they would be wrong.
Dwight, and Brent,
It might be helpful to point out a few of the planks of White Supremacy Theology.
Since as far as I know whites are not superior to blacks in smarts or competence or as better members of society, but in each group, they are some who are better and some who are worse, why would that [if that is what WST is] lead any right thinking person to assume such.
Rather, right theology realizes at least two things: That a person’s ‘goodness’ or superiority is no cause to boast before God since we consistently sin and deserve hell fire, and two, that we are to esteem others better than ourselves.
Dwight and I may not be describing exactly the same thing. He’s given a lot of examples of overt racism in his post linked above and here: https://dwightmckissic.wordpress.com/2011/03/12/lessons-from-the-animal-kingdom/
What I’m describing is a more general attitude that we’re often not aware of until someone points it out to us. Dr. J. J. Williams of SBTS has spoken often of one example, and I’ll leave it at that – how students in evangelical seminaries can go through an entire master’s program and read only books by white scholars. Can it really be the case that no minority scholars are worth reading throughout an entire degree program? (And if you think that, that’s an example of white superiority.) That students can have a well-rounded education without having exposure to minority perspectives? Feel free to look at your own bookshelf and see how many books not on racial issues are written by people of color. I would argue that for a lot of us a white scholar automatically has a certain amount of credibility whereas a black scholar with a Ph.D. still has to prove himself. Again it’s not that most of us would ever say, even to ourselves that “black people aren’t able to do scholarship as well as white people.” It’s just that our actions seem to indicate that. And you and I, as white people, rarely if ever have to think in those terms. When it’s not happening to you, it’s easy to overlook.
Adding for further reading, by J. J. Williams:
Biblical Interpretation for Black and Brown Marginalized Contexts Part 2: The Importance of Reading Black and Brown Authors
Brent, you wrote, ” Feel free to look at your own bookshelf and see how many books not on racial issues are written by people of color. I would argue that for a lot of us a white scholar automatically has a certain amount of credibility whereas a black scholar with a Ph.D. still has to prove himself. ”
I’m a bit concerned about what this statement implies about me and many others perhaps. I have degree from two evangelical seminaries. I have lots of books from those days and since. Does the number of scholarly books by blacks really indicate whether I have a white superiority problem? Could you perhaps disabuse me of what you seem to be saying? Or maybe that’s exactly what your meant. Please clarify. Thanks.
Les, let me ask you a question first. Why do you think it is that you don’t have (m)any books from black scholars?
Brent, that’s not even a question that you should be asking. Your question assumes I don’t have (m)any such books.
Now can you clarify what you meant please?
I do assume you don’t have many or any books by black scholars, particularly on issues other than race. Am I wrong? The reason I assume that is it would make you like most of all of us.
O Brent, if that is true, does that necessarily mean that I think that “a white scholar automatically has a certain amount of credibility whereas a black scholar with a Ph.D. still has to prove himself?”
Do you assume that I have a white superiority problem?
I think my point has been made pretty well through this exchange.
Brent, I’m afraid your point has indeed been made in this exchange. See I don’t count and/or differentiate my theological books, or any books, by the race of the author. That IMO would be a quite ugly thing to do. I don’t buy or not buy books based on the color of the author. That is warped thinking and quite pernicious. I don’t even have an idea how many black, evangelical scholarly writers with PhDs of theological books even exist. Who counts things like that?! Brother your line of thinking on this is IMO way off base and actually harmful to race relations.
Maybe what’s actually harmful to race relations is that you refuse to consider how your unintentional exclusion of black scholarship, as pious as you can make it sound, actually indicates that we are all (not just talking about your personal book choices) part of a system that treats many black people as if they’re inferior. And even if you think that’s not true, I think there are a significant percentage of black Christians who believe it is and believe they’ve experienced it personally. And their voice matters.
Brent: “Maybe what’s actually harmful to race relations is that you refuse to consider how your unintentional exclusion of black scholarship, as pious as you can make it sound…”
As pious as I make it sound? Brother you are continuing to read me in a less than fair way. Because I don’t check the ethnicity of authors before buying a book and then in a discussion about whether that is even something Christians should do you make it out like I’m trying to be all pious about it? Assumptions much?
“…actually indicates that we are all (not just talking about your personal book choices) part of a system that treats many black people as if they’re inferior.”
Well there’s your assertion about a system of book publishing and purchasing that is treating blacks as inferior. Now it would be helpful and necessary to prove it. Please do prove your assertion.
///Maybe what’s actually harmful to race relations is that you refuse to consider how your unintentional exclusion of black scholarship///
Aside from Bar-Efrat, Shulman and Baucham I have no idea how dark the skin is of the authors of most of my books. I only know these guys are not so-called white because I have met them in person. But, because I don’t care about the color of a man’s skin then I am racist? Nonsense!
I’ll point out here that many times when I purchase a book at a bookstore because it deals with a subject matter that I am interested in at the time…and the skimming I do justifies its purchase – or I’m on amazon doing essentially the same thing… I have no idea the color of the skin of the author… There are many many books/publishers that do not put pictures of authors on the sleeves anymore… so unless you just intentionally seek out that information you will not necessarily know it.
There has never been a “gospel of George Wallace and Strom Thurmond.” From that vantage point any first year theology student who understands the gospel should be able to dismantle Dr. Moss’ FB statement.
It is also obvious Dr. Moss has “no known history with the SBC.”
It is my opinion that he may have very little, if any, history with biblical faith.
CB, you’re right there are serious problems with Moss’ statement – too many to name. As the title of the article indicates, Dwight is pushing back against Moss’ viewpoint.
Let me add something else. I recently conversed with someone who disagreed with another group’s theology. No problem with that. But he went on to say that these preachers, these men of God to whom he disagreed with preached one thing but believed something else.
I rebuked him and told him to quit be a slanderer.
The topic isn’t the same as we are discussing here, but…
You shouldn’t go around saying that what ministers preach is not what the believe.
So of you are going to paint with a broad brush, shouldn’t you at least show what the bad theology actually entails before lumping all of these or those people into whatever bad thinking you are accusing them of.
Here is the goal Dwight:
That we do not judge nor keep company based on worldly characteristics like the color of one’s skin or the size of one’s wallet, or the amount of education or anything else the WORLD deems as important. There is no SECULAR way to reconcile rich and poor, elite and common, and black and white in unity. The only hope for such unity is each of us throwing off what we once considered gain, like our money, our education, or our skin color, and focus on our Lord.
And in seeking to live that way, we must esteem others better than ourselves. That means we cannot seek to make our special cause of division a place of division. For the sake of the Gospel and for the sake of unity, we should not fight for worldly prizes.
Are their racists in the SBC? I do not know of any, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t. Was the SBC wrong in the past on its racial stances? We know that we were. But forgiveness has been asked for, repentance has been sought, and unless there are specific people who need called out, there is no point in using that broad brush you and others are wielding. It accomplishes nothing but fanning the dying embers of those whose faith nd understanding are weak.
I’ll admit that just knowing he is the successor of Jeremiah Wright was enough to make me suspicious of what he would say, but I tried to read with an open mind. However, the moment he tried to connect the advisers of Donald Trump with SBC seminaries his article lost all credibility. This was not an honest attempt to provided a needed rebuke or correction (especially as that has already been done and done better by many), this was a cheap shot to score political points with like minded people.
Jon,
You, I, and Dwight are in agreement that Moss’ statement isn’t helpful or accurate. You’ve reacted by condemning the piece with little interaction. Dwight tried to interact more fully, read sympathetically, and push back more gently. I think there’s a place for both of those reactions.
Brent,
I only read the statement reprinted in this article, so I don’t know if more was said or not. But from what I did read there wasn’t much to interact with. A bunch of accusations were made about racism and idolatry. Connections were made between our seminaries and past racists and current men who many consider racist, who are not in anyway connected to our seminaries. No acknowledgement of the apology was made. If the reverend had wanted to speak to Southern Baptists he could have easily done so. He could have explained why it is offensive, how are history does color the way outsiders will view our actions today, how he hopes to see continued reconciliation and understanding between people of different races in the SBC. But he didn’t, because he wasn’t trying to speak to us, just about us.
Racism is a problem both ways.
Yes, White folks sometimes say the wrong things and some are outright racists.
The same, however, can be said of Black folks.
A quick example:
“The worst racism that I have received [as a biracial woman married to white man], and I mean thousands and thousands over the years, is from black people.”
-ESPN anchor and NBA reporter, Sage Steele
The first Black missionary from America, was himself a slave-owner.
We should all strive, not for special privileges, but for simple equality.
“[T]he way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -Supreme Court Justice John G. Roberts, speaking against racial quotas.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.
David R. Brumbelow
“There is no SECULAR way to reconcile rich and poor, elite and common, and black and white in unity.”
This is true. I think it may be helpful in all these discussions to recognize and remember that racism, or prejudice based on skin color, is not a root problem, or a unique problem. What I mean is that we sinful humans ALL have a tendency to group ourselves, and to think less of, and even mistreat, those in other groups. We can do this based on skin color, but also based on income, clothing, education, politics, sports teams, or anything else:
Many middle-class white southern baptists might treat a middle-class black person better than a low-income white person…does it mean they aren’t “racist.”? Maybe, but is their predjudice, even if unconscious, less worthy of rebuke than similar treatment based on skin color? I would say no, the root is the same. There is racism in Africa among very similarly-skinned people’s, because who’s “in” and who’s “out” depends on your context. In a different context, those 2 different-ethnicity Africans might stand in solidarity to differentiate themselves from white people.
Brent,
Who looks at the color of the skin of an author before buying a book?
I look at the title, the contents page, and usually read a bit. I have no idea what color the authors were of most of my books. Now i do know some of them because i see their likenesses on websites or podcasts or book covers. So yes, I know that Calvin and Piper are white.
The Gospel is color blind. Thus theology done right is color blind. That there are those in the SBC who are racists doesn’t mean that it is institutionally racist. There are some who state that during the slave years, they doubt if any SBCer was saved. And that we should be ashamed of being in the SBC. And that there is no such thing as WHITE evangelicals.
When the color of one’s skin is what [seems] to drive your understanding of truth, one has a skewered understanding of truth. And when you put skin color above unity, you make skin color a point of divisiveness.
The only way to move forward is to rebuke the racists and bigots among us and to quit seeing skin color as a separating factor. That means that our congregations have to discipline their members and our leaders and spokespersons have to publicly stand against the divisive voices of the culture.
Brent,
Are you suggesting pastors now should buy their books based on the skin color of the scholar? I agree with Parson Mike. “The Gospel is color blind. Thus theology done right is color blind.” Therefore, books should be purchased based on their content, not the color of the scholar’s skin.
I think we would all do well to make sure we’re reading from a variety of viewpoints and perspectives, so yes, I think ensuring we’re reading at least some books written by people of color would be a healthy thing. I literally can’t fathom how that suggestion could be a problem for anyone.
Jesse,
a side note:
I go to Parsons Baptist, hence parsonsmike, I am not a member of the clergy.
I think Brent’s point has been lost. His point really has nothing to do with books. It seems to me that his point is about the exclusion of people who are different from us. I’m not sure whether Brent believes that is intentional, subconscious, or completely unintentional. I tend to think it is most often unintentional. But perhaps we can all understand why a group of people who were victims of overt oppression in this country only a short while ago (and still are in some ways) would be suspicious that it may be intentional.
Adam,
Exclusion, sadly, works both ways.
Dwight speaks of the Black Church.
No one speaks of the White Church, except maybe the Klan.
Likewise, no one is excluding, as far as I know, minorities from coming to our congregations.
And this pyscho-babble about subconscious, or completely unintentional is just that: babble.
We need to recognize that the culture of a [mostly] black congregation and a [mostly] white congregation are different, and it us the individual himself that feels uncomfortable engaging in a different culture not the fault of the congregation.
And that only by open and honest and humble communication can we bridge those different cultures in promoting unity in our shared culture: that is as children of God, and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that means subordination for our earthy [fleshly] ways and feelings and understanding as we unite in the Spirit, recognizing our shared heritage as sinners deserving hell fire and as saints gifted Heaven and eternal life.
Adam,
Brent’s point was not lost. His point was and is clear. He intimated in his “conversation” with Les that Les is a racist (or has racist inclinations) based on books he may or may not have on his bookshelf – and by inference others as well…Plain and simple.
You’re comment succeeds in assisting that point.
I think we all have books on our bookshelves written by people and from perspectives that are different from our own… what I think people are objecting to his blanket insinuations and judgments based on assuming the worst in people and The setting up of yet another subjective standard by which people are judged.
“I think we all have books on our bookshelves written by people and from perspectives that are different from our own…”
I had a book written by a Calvinist once.
Brent did not accuse Les of being a racist, nor did I assist Brent in that accusation. I’m not sure if you read the entire thread, but that is not what happened.
Based on some of the Conversations above I have a few Questions:
1) How many books (or percentage of books) written by African-American/Black authors must a person have on their shelf before they are viewed as appropriately and culturally sensitive to the plight of an ethnic people group?
2) Should there be a quota designed and implemented for other ethnic people groups (Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, etc.) to ensure their authors are appropriately recognized on the shelf of ministers/theologians to assist in understanding their particular plight?
3) And since the Issue was raised regarding white supremacy, should any such quota apply to ministers/theologians of European Caucasians decent only or should every ethnic people group be required to have said amount of books on their shelf?
I do not write this tongue in cheek, but if we are going to measure cultural and theological sensitivity of people by the books on people’s shelves, then who will be elected to select said books and measure their theological prowess? And what if one disagrees with the theology of the Author are they required to maintain the book on ones shelf to ensure the qualification of cultural sensitivity.
Brent,
Man looks on the outside, and God looks at the heart.
If a person does something unintentionally, and unknowingly, what does God see?
Does God see sin there?
If God doesn’t see sin there [as i don’t think He does] why should anyone else rebuke that person for his or her actions? Is it a sin to NOT buy books from black authors if such action is neither intentional or knowingly discriminatory? What does God think?
I think you have stepped into a pile of dog doo.
Race relations between Christians are not reconciled by the secular means many well intentioned black activists promote. Fighting for a piece of the pie, or a greater voice, or reparations or shaming whites or promoting black power or any secular method will not work to secure unity in the Kingdom of God.
Blacks in this country will be subject to racism, and our congregations should condemn each and every act of racism encountered, but the social struggle against racism is at odds with the Christian struggle against racism because our weapons are not the weapons of the world.
So as long as secular weapons are promoted for Christian use, such promotions will always be divisive and ineffectual for unity.
So my take away from what you’ve written is that you’re fine to exclude certain groups of people as long as you’re doing it unintentionally.
This thread has gotten out of hand. Comments are now closed.