Thursday, October 22, 2009

The "New" Racism

Of course it's not new, but people are beginning to wake up to how poorly Hispanic ethnic groups are being treated in the USA. What troubles me the most is how often I hear "good Christians" using slurs or making statements like "they should go back to where they came from."

In my own perceptions, I have seen many, many more negative comments and actions against Hispanics than I have witnessed against Blacks. That's not a statistic as much as it is just a witness to the prevalence of racism against the Hispanic community.

In a special worship service led by a sister Hispanic church, I've watched white "Christians" folding their arms and saying, "This is ridiculous. Why are THEY leading worship here. They can't even speak our language!" Never mind that the mission money they sent went to help support this Hispanic church. Btw, the worship was awesome...and I have to admit that I told off the old lady who said the comment.

I've heard an unbelievable number of Hispanic "jokes." Seriously, why are these "acceptable" when our culture refuses the Black equivalent?

I hear all the time about the "Mexicans commiting crimes" near where I grew up. Right, and white people in Frankfort are model citizens.

Has the American people forgotten that we were all immigrants? Even the Native Americans are not native to this land. Since the continent split off millions of years ago, it has always been an open land, a free land, a place of new starts, and a hope for a new and better life. For ancient Europeans (it is thought they first discovered North America), for Native Americans, for European immigrants, and now for Hispanics, Indians, Africans, and everyone else. Apparently, we've learned little from our earlier fights...You know the ones where German-Americans were singled out for being Krauts. Or Irish immigrants fighting Italian immigrants. Or the established English looking down on everyone else.

Perhaps, we should look back into our history to find what makes us great...the infamous Melting Pot. Where we give and take culture. Where we borrow and share the best from each other. Where we learn to help out the foreigner in our land, because we too were a foreigner in a strange land.

Funny...I've heard that before: Exodus 22:21 says, "You must not mistreat or oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt." A little bit later it also says, (23:9) "You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it's like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt."

Why do we never learn. Perhaps it's time for Americans to embrace each other. If you want to stop Illegal Immigration, don't attack the people coming in...Go after the US and Mexican governments that encourage the illegal trade of human labor. Go after the corporations that are illegally and unethically using cheap/slave labor.

But for the love of your own soul, treat our Hispanic brothers and sisters well.

14 comments:

M.A.C. said...

Hi Mark

Perhaps these so-called Christians are not as good as they would have us believe they are. Or perhaps rather than just Bad Christians they are no Christians at all.

There is something wrong with Christianity today! Maybe its just the word but I doubt it. Perhaps its the way we worship, nope just a symptom. It could be ignorance.

Ya that's it, sounds plausible lets blame it on ignorance. Since it is the biggest disease in the world more so than H1N1 or the Black Plague, or all the other cancerous diseases that eat at mankind.

Denominational Divergence probably has nothing to with it. Since the very delivery and labor of denomination is born in the spirit of divisiveness.

I mean to believe that Jesus Christ was sent to set-up on earth a new religion called Christianity is unbelievable. Also to believe that God supports denominational divergence is another missed it by a mile belief.

Consider that Christianity went from a persecuted belief to a persecuting religion under the rule of the Romans for 1500 years. And that all of the denominations currently 38,000 are born of that bad seed. Which would make us all "Bad Christians" if we believe in the system of denominationalism.

What do you think?

Mark said...

Thanks for visiting MAC.

Interesting thoughts. I do lament the rendering of the Church. I do believe Jesus came to leave a united body faithful to God.

I also lament the attitude of "I read the Bible on my own, I know what it says, and everyone else is wrong!" attitude that has born many denominations...and many "non-denominations" as well.

However, now that it's done, I think it will be nearly impossible to bring it all back together.

That's why I try to work very hard through ecumenical ministries where possible. In my practice of ministry, I have seen most Christian churches understand that we truly are one body, but we have some differences of how we like to do things.

Aside from a few fringe groups, most churches want to work together, support each other, and love each other.

I would disagree if one were to say that denominationalism is the culprit behind racism in churches. I would agree that the same spirit of "self-righteousness" that divides any group would be a major factor for both...but that also extends to everyone who says "They are wrong, and I am right." This exists in denominations, non-denominations, or even groups that stand against denominations.

Faith says, "God is righteous, and Christ is my righteousness."

As to the major shift Christianity/following Jesus took after Constantine is way to big too cover in a comment...but, yes, that was a major shift...and probably not for the better.

One cool thing about God, though, is that God makes good out of bad. And what some may have meant for evil, God has worked for God.

Mark said...

that was supposed to say, God worked for good...but it works either way I guess.

M.A.C. said...

Mark,

I agree that God made it work for the good and that God is higher than our highest thought. However with greater knowledge comes greater responsibility. Ignorance is no excuse in regards to the law.

Lets hypothesize for a moment and imagine that there is a bullet heading for two persons we love. We are able to stop the bullet from hitting one of them at the cost of our own lives.

One person is called Christ the other denomination. Which one would you save, tells that it is not impossible to stop what's started. For everything starts with the power of one and proceeds to the power of many.

M.A.C. said...

Also all is possible with God, yes?

Mark said...

The irony MAC is that the divisiveness you seem to hate in "denominations" is coming through in your "anti-denominations."

If you'll read my response with open eyes and mind, you'll see that I chose some words carefully. One eye set to the ideal, and one to the practical reality of where the Church is and isn't.

My work in ecumenical ministries is my effort to bring us to unity as one body of Christ...even if we do worship in different buildings with different names for how we do things.

The irony that I find in my ministry setting is that the "denominations" usually LIKE working together. It's the non-denominationals, fundamentalists, and anti-everythings that refuse to work together.

I'm not trying to be mean, but I think your heart is set against good people trying to do the best with the situation we were literally born into. We now work together to mend those fences, but change doesn't come overnight.

All things are possible through Christ who strengthens us...but not necessarily in our time or in our way.

M.A.C. said...

Mark,

What did you mean when you said;

The irony MAC is that the divisiveness you seem to hate in "denominations" is coming through in your "anti-denominations."

FYI Mark I never said that I hate anything all I am doing is expounding the truth about denominational divergence. And it includes all sects as well as the non-denominational. If you look at my blog, my message is "Reaching Out to God's People Everywhere" And as it is with all things institutionalized. Change is slow to come. I apologize if my words seem hateful to you. I assure you that hate is not my motivator.

Consider;

"You may remember the story of how Satan and a demon of his were walking down the street, when they saw ahead of them a man stoop down and pick up something from the ground, look at it, and put it away in his pocket. The demon said to Satan, 'What did that man pick up?' 'He picked up a piece of the truth,' said Satan. 'That is a very bad business for you, then,' said his demon minion. 'Oh, not at all,' Satan replied, 'I am going to help him organize it.' says Satan 'We will use money as the lure and make it irresistible to the greedy, we will build a theocracy that will stand the test of time.'

Tricking the entire of Christendom would be a great trick don't you think? Plus to believe that Jesus Christ came to start a new religion called Christianity is a bit of a stretch. Unless you know of some scripture that details Jesus' mission here differently than my own bible.

My work in ecumenical ministries is my effort to bring us to unity as one body of Christ...even if we do worship in different buildings with different names for how we do things.

I congratulate you on your work for unity. Let me ask you a question Mark. Do you think that when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ that he could say I never knew you? My mission is to the church and the people who populate it.

The irony that I find in my ministry setting is that the "denominations" usually LIKE working together. It's the non-denominationals, fundamentalists, and anti-everythings that refuse to work together.

Mark are you calling me a fundamentalist that is anti-everything?

I'm not trying to be mean, but I think your heart is set against good people trying to do the best with the situation we were literally born into. We now work together to mend those fences, but change doesn't come overnight.

Perhaps your not trying to be mean, only you know that for sure. The thought must have crossed your mind for you to say it. Also I agree that change is slow but just like an alcoholic recovers by admitting there is a problem so must the whole of Christendom admit that denominational divergence is a problem that is born in divisiveness. Just because I am saying the hard stuff doesn't make me divisive.

Repenting from sin is biblical and denominational divergence is sin.

Mark said...

I did read your blog, which is why I responded the way I did. I've encountered this sort of monologue before with other issues. There's always someone who is "enlightened" above everyone else, who has THE truth, who knows ALL the answers.

And, yes, I know Jesus knows me, because I take seriously the passage from which you ripped that text, which is about helping the poor, feeding the hungry, relieving the plight of the oppressed. You can have your pristine church. I'll take a rag-tag group of "sinners" building the Kingdom of God.

MAC why are you here? To dialogue or to monologue?

If it is to dialogue, great. Please, keep coming...but in the spirit of Jesus.

But if it is to monologue and pontificate, I'll block you off the blog. K?

Thanks.

M.A.C. said...

Mark,

There's always someone who is "enlightened" above everyone else, who has THE truth, who knows ALL the answers.

I am sure that is what they said when they killed the prophets and God's only begotten Son. I don't claim to have all the answers but I do know that denominational divergence is sin. Just pointing it out nor am I the first to do so.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, et al.

And, yes, I know Jesus knows me, because I take seriously the passage from which you ripped that text, which is about helping the poor, feeding the hungry, relieving the plight of the oppressed. You can have your pristine church. I'll take a rag-tag group of "sinners" building the Kingdom of God.

I would love to hear your testimony. And as for my pristine church it doesn't exist because I do not attend church in the traditional sense. However I do gather with other believers and share fellowship and evangelize.

MAC why are you here? To dialogue or to monologue?

I found you through Google and I am here to dialogue. However if you have a problem with my dialogue, I will stop trying to have meaningful dialogue with you. If that is your desire. And without hard feelings on my part.

If it is to dialogue, great. Please, keep coming...but in the spirit of Jesus.

But if it is to monologue and pontificate, I'll block you off the blog. K?


I do come in the spirit and if you want to block me that is your choice.

Good Day!

Mark said...
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Mark said...

Ah, but Church is not something you attend...it's something that some is. It's an identity, a way of life, an ontological statement of unity in Christ.

I appreciate your disagreement. Though I would say that Christians have more in common than not.

I guess in the end, I'm not sure why you chose a topic of Racism against Hispanics as a forum for ecclesiological debate, but hey, OK. Sorry, if I've read too much sermonizing into your posts.

As I said before, you're welcome to come over to the blog anytime and dialogue as long as its in the Spirit of Jesus.

Welcome aboard.

M.A.C. said...

Mark,

So lets hear your testimony don't try to wiggle out of it. Plus I asked a bunch of other questions that you ignored while you were being difficult with me.

Instead of just dialoguing...

Mark said...

LOL! Right. You come on this blog. Attack part of who I am, who the readers of my blog are, and I'm giving YOU a difficult time. LOL! Right. I'm hoping you were teasing, but either way it did make me laugh.

My testimony (yuck, I hate that word...how about story?)? My story about how I came to faith in Jesus? Why I still follow Him? I'll blog that soon.

M.A.C. said...

Mark

I'm glad you have a sense of humour...