Race Matters
I have sensed that I need to start writing again. I have written a lot in the past and am now starting to seek out magazines and journals that might want to hear what I have to say. Right now, I'll stick with the blog.
For most of my life, I have been fascinated by the racial conversation in the United States. When I was in grade 8 in Canada, I wrote a bio on my hero - Jessie Jackson - my teacher didn't even know who he was.
I have now lived in the States for almost 7 years. In that time I have come to see how deeply entrenched racism is in this country. It is simply in the air we breathe. You have to live here to truly understand the depth of it. And it is racism primarily against blacks and black men in particular.
Over the past year, I have become a bit more outspoken in the pulpit about this issue. And the tragic thing is I have received more pushback on this issue than anything else controversial I have ever spoken on. It's incredibly depressing to see Christians wanting to completely suppress what has been a significant part of the history of the United States: the legislated racism for so many years under slavery and then under Jim Crow. The truth is racism is a spiritual stronghold in this country and will continue to be so until supernatural power from on high exorcises it out.
This stronghold manifests itself in many ways. One of which is the suppression so many Christians so powerfully try to impose on any kind of dialogue on the subject. This must stop. We need to confront this stronghold head-on. Reconciliation is a part of the gospel. And we need to have the full gospel in our churches. Will write more in the days to come....
For most of my life, I have been fascinated by the racial conversation in the United States. When I was in grade 8 in Canada, I wrote a bio on my hero - Jessie Jackson - my teacher didn't even know who he was.
I have now lived in the States for almost 7 years. In that time I have come to see how deeply entrenched racism is in this country. It is simply in the air we breathe. You have to live here to truly understand the depth of it. And it is racism primarily against blacks and black men in particular.
Over the past year, I have become a bit more outspoken in the pulpit about this issue. And the tragic thing is I have received more pushback on this issue than anything else controversial I have ever spoken on. It's incredibly depressing to see Christians wanting to completely suppress what has been a significant part of the history of the United States: the legislated racism for so many years under slavery and then under Jim Crow. The truth is racism is a spiritual stronghold in this country and will continue to be so until supernatural power from on high exorcises it out.
This stronghold manifests itself in many ways. One of which is the suppression so many Christians so powerfully try to impose on any kind of dialogue on the subject. This must stop. We need to confront this stronghold head-on. Reconciliation is a part of the gospel. And we need to have the full gospel in our churches. Will write more in the days to come....
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