I Love God but I Question the Church

I have been running from this post for weeks now. God has been convicting me and I have been actively ignoring His call. But today, I submit. If you know me personally, then you know that I’ve been angry about the church not being very vocal about the racial tension in America among other things. The church is loud when it comes to being pro-life but seems to be silent after that life has a name and a skin color differing from well…let’s be honest…white.

I’ve been angry but I’ve also been scared. Scared to stand up to an institution that I’ve been a part for most of my life. An institution that brings about fear and condemnation to those who dare to question it. But God has shown me that I truly only answer to Him and that just because someone has the title of Pastor, that does not give him automatic authority over me.

American Christianity has become an economic powerhouse. It’s dominated by mega churches in wealthy, affluent areas with multiple services a year dedicated to giving or financial freedom. Now, don’t get me wrong. Not all churches fall into this category but if your church is more focused on the members tithes and offerings than they are about giving back to the local community, you might want to take a closer look at the leadership.

Economics and consumerism is driving the modern day American church which is one reason why many churches haven’t actively spoken about racism. If they were to take a hard look at themselves, they would have to face their own biases. They would have to ask themselves why they don’t serve is diverse communities or why their members are predominately white and wealthy. A few black members in your congregation doesn’t make you “diverse”.

Many churches would also have to come to terms with possibly losing money if their biggest supporters, I mean “tithers” weren’t appreciative of the church supporting a movement like Black Lives Matter. Many pastors would have to question whether it’s ok to silently alienate a portion of their congregations in order to continue to bring in the money.

But in all honestly, some church leadership won’t ask these questions. They will stay silent and hope that this movement fades. Some churches still strongly believe in segregation and it shows in how they welcome visitors of another race. I remember going to a new church with some friends a while back. They were all white or white passing and I was the only black one. When we walked into the church, they were all greeted so welcoming. I mean hugs and smiles. I got a pat on the back and a very cold “welcome”. I felt so uncomfortable the whole service. I couldn’t even focus on the sermon. I felt out of place among other followers of Christ and that should never happen.

The church needs to be as vocal about racism and any other injustice, as they are about being pro-life. Because in order to be pro-life, you must care about the whole person from conception until death and beyond. 1 John 3:11 states “For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (ESV). It’s very simply actually, but we’ve complicated it. We’ve added conditions to our love. God does not add conditions and neither should we.

Too often, these conditions aren’t based on anything biblical but they are based on racial bias. I have been told many times how I’m not like “those others” when Christians try to explain that I’m different from what they were expecting when they saw a black girl in their church. I have, for far too long, felt the need to be more white and less black or as Christians have said “ghetto”. Christians are judging and condemning people based on preconceived notions and biases instead of just loving the person as they are. Just as we are asking cops to stop being judge, jury and executioner, Christians need to stop trying to be God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We cannot judge and condemn people to hell because of their sins. We cannot save them because we are not Christ. And we cannot intimately know their heart and their relationship with God because we are not the Spirit.

So, I challenge the church and I challenge my Christian friends, take note of your racial biases. Look deep within yourself to see the prejudice that you may have in your heart. Then challenge your church leadership to do the same. Have deep and uncomfortable conversations. You may realize that you want to find another church. You may be able to change your pastor’s heart. Don’t let pride keep you from doing the right thing. Don’t let economics drive your decisions and don’t let racism continue within the Body of Christ.