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This is part of a series of posts inspired by the book ‘Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism’ by Drew G.I. Hart. These were originally written and posted on my personal Facebook page.

I got back on Twitter when quarantine started thinking I’d have more time on my hands (yeah, right). Most of the people I follow are Christian authors/ministers/academics and one of the hot topics across social media was debate over what is called Critical Race Theory (CRT). Last year the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution stating CRT can be used as a “tool” but that the Bible holds ultimate authority, which I guess duh? But it was the only resolution passed with significant dissension. The argument goes: the going-in doctrinal position is that “racism” is a term used by the world (i.e. those outside the church) to divide, and that racism does not and cannot exist in the church because, as the Apostle Paul explained, “all are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). So to even consider CRT is in itself divisive and worldly. (Simply put, racism is a sin. And since Christians have repented of their sin, they therefore cannot be racist. A convenient excuse to ignore the issue, but I digress.) Another strike against CRT is the accusation of ‘Cultural Marxism’ which is intended to shut down debate without considering its merits (but more on that in a later post).

What is CRT? It is a sociological area of study that applies what are called critical methods to race relations. CRT stretches the definition of racism beyond the relational to the social and structural and divides people groups into the oppressed and the oppressors. But that’s too academic. Hart references a couple of “critical race theorists” who explain that definitions of race are social constructs that historically are “at best imprecise, and at worst completely arbitrary. They may be arbitrary, but they are not meaningless.” Basically, social definitions of race are used to intentionally categorize and separate people into subgroups for economic and/or political gain. In summary, “racism is ‘a racialized systemic and structural system that organizes our society.'”

You can see why this could be divisive.

But applied to white-dominated systems it makes sense. The other day on Twitter someone challenged readers to identify any full-professors (i.e. tenured) who teach theology or biblical studies at Evangelical Christian colleges who are Black. (It was a loaded question because the person asking counts as one) After a lot of guesses and attempts to stretch the definition of ‘Black,’ turns out the answer is 3. In over 150 colleges and seminaries, across the entire country, there are only 3 tenured theology/bible professors who are Black. In the entire country. Three.

Not a big deal?

I probably have over a hundred books spanning theology, biblical studies, and Christian living. Skimming my shelves while reading this latest chapter I counted a total of seven minority authors (female authors don’t fare any better, I’m afraid). What difference does that make? This means my personal theology is being shaped by old white men. My academic and spiritual formation are disproportionately influenced by a single demographic, and even though subjects and doctrines cover a spectrum of Christian tradition, it is still arguably one-sided, representing a Western Anglo-Saxon Protestant worldview.

Those are just books. How many TV shows do you watch with leading cast members who are minorities? What news media do you consume that comes from a minority point of view? We probably don’t even recognize this given ‘white privilege’, but imagine being a Black child growing up watching the same TV you did and attending a church where pictures of Jesus depict him with blond (or at most light brown) hair and blue eyes. What long-term effect does that have? That type of racism isn’t explicit, it may even be subconscious. But it shapes the order of our society. We are surrounded by it regardless of our individual contribution towards it. That’s what CRT is meant to address. And the largest Protestant Christian denomination in the country is divided over whether this subject is even worth talking about.

This is part of a series of posts inspired by the book ‘Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism’ by Drew G.I. Hart. These were originally written and posted on my personal Facebook page.

One of the first things that jumped out to me reading ‘Trouble I’ve Seen’ by Drew G.I. Hart, is how he distinguishes “horizontal” racism and “vertical” racism. Horizontal is inter-relational. It’s what we think of when we are quick to the defense of, “I’m not racist!” because we have social proximity to other races. On that scale, you probably aren’t racist in this sense. Relationally, you consider others on equal footing.

But vertical racism is something different altogether. Vertical racism isn’t relational, it’s structural. While you might have black friends (horizontal defense), those friends live at a lower rung on the cultural (vertical) ladder. So maybe you’re not personally racist horizontally, but do you recognize your privileged position vertically? So when someone argues, “that’s racist!” we get defensive and take it personally when it’s the vertical systemic issues that are being addressed. No one is saying you favor burning crosses on someone’s front yard, but maybe you’re supportive of a system that has historically been oppressive (even if subtly behind the scenes).

For example, a month ago in my Facebook feed someone posted about a Black Graduation put on by “Black College Expo”. Someone snidely commented, “That’s racist! If there was a white graduation people would flip out!” That comment ignores the vertical racism that exists in education and college admission. It also ignores who is putting this on when there are similar organizations and events for Christian colleges, women promoting specific fields (such as Society of Women Engineers), legacy organizations (like Daughters of the American Revolution), and so on. So the overreaction reveals a personal vertical racism that we’re often blind to.

Biblically, when I think of vertical racism, I think of justice. Justice, simply defined, is ‘getting what one deserves.’ But biblical justice kicks this up a notch- it is related to the principle of shalom, or peace, and includes mutual flourishing. Biblical justice is more than getting what one deserves, it is ‘getting what God intends.’ This is done by removing vertical differences between people, not by any self-designated virtue (which is colonialist) but by the grace of God. Watch this video from The Bible Project to see what I mean.

This is part of a series of posts inspired by the book ‘Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism’ by Drew G.I. Hart. These were originally written and posted on my personal Facebook page.

The race card. Sometimes you’ll hear the argument, “you’re always playing the race card!” as a means to dismiss another’s point of view. You might even use that as a political argument, “there they go again, playing the race card” while complaining about ‘identity politics’. The problem with the “race card” is that it’s just one card and ignores the deck.

Let’s call it instead the ‘ace card’. If you’re playing a game and holding an ace card, that doesn’t mean anything without the context of the game and knowledge of the deck. An ace card might be high or low value. Its importance might depend on other ace cards, like in poker, or it might depend on its suit, like in spades. If you’re playing a game like spades, hearts, or gin it may or may not be a good thing to be holding an ace card based on what else has already been played. In other words, the value of your ace card depends on rules of the game, the context within the game, and knowledge of the deck as a whole.

When we argue about the “race card” we’re only focusing on that single card. We don’t consider its context and we ignore every other card within the deck. Yet for minority communities, they cannot separate a single card from their whole deck of experience or the context of the unfair game being played against them. So in order to overcome racial division we need to study the whole deck and the context in which that particular card is being played.

Why is the death of George Floyd a thing now, in this particular moment? It is just a single event, an individual “race card” that without any other information we cannot measure its value. It is only when considered in a particular context and seen as a pattern within history that we can assign a specific value to this individual event. Only when we recognize the game and see this as one card played from a very, very large deck, can we begin to understand, relate, and empathize with other players unfairly losing the game.

As Drew G.I. Hart describes the difference between the “race card” and the entire deck of systematic racism, “White people must learn to define individual incidents in light of the larger patterns of society.” We cannot limit our experience to a single headline in the news, we need to listen and learn, and stop being so defensive and dismissive because we only see a single card.

A friend of mine once told me that she didn’t want to go to heaven because the thought of sitting on a cloud for all eternity strumming a harp sounded boring. I don’t know exactly what heaven will be like- we’re told of mansions and streets of gold- but when you look at it that way, it doesn’t sound that appealing, does it?

But we cannot avoid it.

We are promised in Revelation that every nation will ultimately worship the Almighty. And Paul tells us that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, whether we want to or not. Standing in the presence of infinite glory, we will be overwhelmed by worship.

It’s a little early for one of my flashbacks, only going back two weeks, but it is worth revisiting after the tragedy that ended Junior Seau’s life. This was a post on our lust for violence in sports. Was Seau another casualty? It’s too soon to say, but our appetite for the hardest hit has not been satisfied.

“You will never give your approval to those foolish racing and throwing feats, and yet more foolish leapings. You will never find pleasure in injurious or useless exhibitions of strength. Certainly you will not regard with approval the strivings after an artificial body that aim at surpassing the Creator’s work.” -Tertullain (c. 197)

“In the chariot games, who does not shudder at the madness of the people brawling among themselves?” -Mark Minucius Felix (c. 200)

“Yet they call these “sports” in which human blood is shed!” -Lactantius (c. 304-313)

*Quotes from A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, David Bercot, ed. More thoughtful insight from our Church Fathers can be found at this blog post from the Vatopaidi Greek Orthodox Monastery.

“Are you entertained?” -Maximus (Gladiator, 2000)

As I write, I’m watching Sportscenter on ESPN as they discuss the upcoming NFL draft. Ironically right after debating the characters and checkered pasts of prospective draftees and whether that will affect their draft positions and potential career they continue the story of the “bounties” that the New Orleans Saints paid out to their players based on how vicious the hit and/or the star status of their victim. The NFL came down strong on the Saints, suspending just about everyone in the front office and coaching staff and the question now is not if, but how hard, the NFL will penalize the players involved [those sentences have recently come down: a year suspension for a linebacker, 3-5 games for two others. More penalties may still come]. Meanwhile we cheer on convicted felons (Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Pacman Jones, et al) and alleged felons (Cam Newton) so long as they help our fantasy football team.

Two days ago [April 21] in the NHL playoffs, Phoenix Coyote winger Raffi Torres laid out the Chicago Blackhawks Marian Hossa, who had to be taken off the ice in a stretcher. Torres is suspended indefinitely [now reduced to 25 games and is under appeal] (his third suspension of the year). Media outlets like USA Today question if the on-ice violence has skated out of control. (Since the start of the playoffs, the NHL has suspended 8 players and fined two more, not including the pending judgment on Torres.) The Governor General of Canada (Canadian proxy to Queen Elizabeth II, yes I had to look that up), David Johnston, calls the violence this season anti-Canadian and undermines Canadian culture. Serious words considering that hockey flows through Canadian blood.

As aghast as we make ourselves out to be over these trends, our eyes are glued to ESPN’s “Top Plays” which highlight the hardest cross-check in hockey or tackle in football. We were just as complicit in baseball’s steroid scandal, as we drooled over highlights of “back-to-back jacks!” “walk-offs” and “bombs” made more frequent by the use of performing enhancing substances. And our money lines the pockets of basketball millionaires who complain about playing for certain coaches (Dwight Howard, who has his own post coming), having to feed their family (Latrell Sprewell and many others), or not getting paid to play in the Olympics (Dwyane Wade) as we wear their jerseys, buy their shoes, and pay tickets to watch.

At what point are we going to pay to watch “athletes” try to kill each other in the arena as was the case in ancient Rome? Oh wait, the popularity of boxing, “the gentleman’s sport” or the “sport of kings”, is being usurped by Mixed Martial Arts. (interestingly it is argued that the popularity of professional boxing began to wane when in nationally telivised bouts a year apart two fighters died. Benny Paret went into a coma after sustaining 29 straight hits, with 18 blows coming in six seconds, from Emile Griffith before the referee called the fight in 1962. A year later when Davey Moore lost to Sugar Ramos by knockout, he hit his neck on the bottom rope as he fell damaging his brain stem.)

And it’s not even isolated to sports. Cross “The Running Man” with “Battle Royale” and you get this year’s biggest box-office hit, “The Hunger Games“.

So where’s the line? How violent do sports need to become to turn us away? How much more can we tolerate overbearing parents fighting at Little League games before we’re disgusted to the point of not participating? How much more corruption do we need to see in amateur athletics (I’m looking at you college football) before we say enough is enough and turn of the major networks who pay out billions to broadcast athletes that don’t get paid.

I can’t cast stones as I’m as guilty as anyone. But the recent headlines have caused me to pause and reflect on what I value and why I’m such a sports addict. Truth be told, I haven’t had cable or satellite in nearly ten years. I always say if I were to subscribe, it would be for sports. As I’ve noticed my interest wane just by not watching as frequently, I wonder if it wasn’t for the internet if I’d even care at all. But I still want my fix. Last year I swore off college football over the absurdity of conference realignment. But I couldn’t stay away. I’ve lost interest in the NFL as I no longer spend all day Sunday watching games. Yet I participated in a fantasy football league last year. When is enough going to be enough? I’m not asking you, I am asking myself. Am I entertained?

I apologize for the lack of content this week, I’m away on business travel and my hotel doesn’t have wifi. Also please forgive my typos as I’m thumbing this in on my phone.

Regardless I want to put something up to follow up on yesterday’s Elephant Room ‘conference’ hosted by James MacDonald (http://www.theelephantroom.com/). I didn’t watch from one of the satellite locations, but I tried to keep up on twitter.

For background, the Elephant Room is a forum for pastors and ministers from different traditions, methodologies, and even core doctrines to sit around a table and “talk it out”. The intention is to display Christian love without all the bickering and name-calling that now, thanks to twitter, we hear about far too often.

I just want to list off some of the tweeted quotes. With a limit of 140 characters, I wasn’t able to catch the context of these quoted, but found then worth sharing nonetheless. I encourage you to share your impressions based on the quoted and even better, if you watched the conference I’d love to hear your thoughts.

First some context, and again I didn’t catch the context of these statistics, but they are worth having fresh in your mind as you read on. “3500 people leave the church every day and don’t join another. 6000 churches close their doors each year. Only 2% of churches are growing through conversion (as opposed to growth via children growing up and professing their faith)”

-Mark Driscoll: we’re not trying to be Calvinists, we’re trying to be evangelists (but what if we disagree on the nature of the gospel that is the core of our evangelism?)

-James MacDonald: the whole gospel
to the whole world with our whiole heart

-Steven Furtick: Presenting the gospel creatively is not watering it down

-Results don’t define theology (I didn’t catch who said this and I’d love to hear the context because there has to be more to this quote)

-They will know you are my disciples by your love -MacDonald (which is all well and good, but why did you kick out @PirateChristian and @EBenzBlog and threaten to call the police on them?)

-T. D. Jakes: I’m not going to force my theology into my denomination. (there was a whole session on the relevance of denominations with the rise of church networks. I really want to see a replay of that.)

-Let a mans fruitfulness, his confession speak for him -MacDonald

-Constant destructive rhetoric is hurting the church -MacDonald (maybe, but I’d argue the preaching of cheap grace, the emphasis on being seeker-sensitive, and the lack of the call to discipleship hurts the church far more)

-We don’t say something privately but we’ll speak up publicly and lob grenades -Furtick

-Wayne Cordiero: You can teach what you know bit ultimately you wll reproduce who you are (perhaps my favorite quote from the day)

-Jack Graham: The way to get the walls down is to take the roof off and let God in (I really like this one too)

-Structure can decrease as maturity increases -Cordiero (hmmm, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this)

-Real boldness is to stand with somebody even if it costs you something-Furtick

-I want to see young pastors passion to reach others exceed their passion to review books -Driscoll (or to write best-sellers also)

Like I said, I’m limited by what I found on twitter. The Elephant Room was a trending topic yesterday and is still buzzing this morning. I’m hoping to find some wifi later and see if there are replays anywhere. In the meantime, discuss away.

Nothing new from me. I have a couple of posts in the queue, but my computer crashed on Friday so those will have to wait. I’m also on the road most of this week so I won’t have the chance to update much. I’m hoping to be back up full swing this time next week.

In the meantime, just ’cause, check out this sermon from David Platt:

I haven’t been able to post as much as I would’ve like this week and worse, I haven’t been around the blogosphere to check out all my favorites. Perfect timing for my small group to go on a two-day media fast. I’ll be back Friday…

Well, kinda sorta. I’m not quite ready to get back into the full swing of things. I jumped on the most recent Blog Carnival, but in my haste, I didn’ even link it in my entry (please forgive me!). But I wanted to dust off this site because next week I’m going to start a series on Francis Chan’s book, Crazy Love. Not sure what or how, but my wife and I are starting a group in our home Monday night and I was thinking of posting my thoughts on how it went on the Tuesday after. Might be a recap, might be some deep thoughts, we’ll see.

One of my biggest regrets being part of this blogging community is not being able to get around to reading everyone else’s terrific contributions. I’m working on that. I love Peter’s online paper and I see Scott Couchenour mentioned me on his most recently. What a great idea for an aggregator! In fact, aggregating was one of my favorite things to do on this site, though it was terribly time consuming. So I’m going to look into paper.li and other similar readers. I downloaded the Pulse App for my iPhone so I can import the blogs I follow from Google Reader to have them on the go. I’m hoping those will both help me keep up to date as I prioritize my time at home better.

I’m all tweeted out, too. I jumped on today because of the Challenger anniversary. But you probably won’t see me much around there for a little while. At least until I get my time management better sorted out.

I also have some other updates to this site that I’m working on. You can see some progress with the added “resources” tab. I have a lot to add to that page, so there’s still much to come.

So what to expect in the coming weeks?

• Crazy Love! My wife and I are super excited to be leading a group (that won’t stop growing and we haven’t even started yet!) in our home and I’m looking forward to sharing with the rest of you.
• Music-Mix Monday. I know, cheesy alliteration. But I’m going to share some music to start our week with. And in the early going, those will align our hearts with the Crazy Love discussion that night.
• Flashback Friday. I will continue this as I have several years of posts to dust off and share.
• Weekend Reading will have to be put off for a while. I’m hoping to get back to it soon though.
• And then whatever comes to mind in the meantime.

Thank you all for sticking with me. The death of a blog is to not update it, so I’m grateful there are still a few of you here. And I’m hoping to be back up to full speed soon. God bless!