Baptist Affirmative Action — September 21st, 2009
Posted on September 22, 2009
If I may I would like to climb upon one of my many “Soap Boxes”. For those of you who are not familiar with the phrase “Soap Box” allow me to boil it down for you. A “Soap Box” digression is a moment of releasing all of one’s aggravation on a commonly discussed topic. The topic I would like to tear open is the topic of “How to Reach the Black Community”, espoused by many well meaning Southern Baptists. I have been told on many occasions that in order for a Black community to be effectively reached by a local White church, said church should, if not must, call a Black minister to its staff. In essence, the Black community will trust First Baptist Whitey if he is willing to give a Black man money and the keys to the joint. The “let’s hire a black man to really show our love for our neighbors” strategy is Baptist affirmative action. Baptist affirmative action is not that man is limited but, God is inadequate. Affirmative action, at this point in our culture, says that a Black man needs the government to help him become equal with others. I believe it is an insult to the many Black men that I know that do not need an endorsement from the government, because they are more than adequate to compete for jobs. Furthermore, I would never want to work for a bigoted racist because someone made him hire me.
Now back to the subject as it pertains to our current topic. The thought that only Blacks can reach Blacks calls the power of the Gospel into question, in turn calling the power of God into question. When we determine that a White man cannot reach a Black man for Jesus we limit the ability of God. We place limitations on God and determine to “help” Him get the job done that only He can accomplish. I am sick and tired of hearing that if God is going to save Black people it is only going to be through other Black people. You are saying one of two things when you make this narrow minded determination, either you do not believe that God can use you to accomplish His will, or more likely you do not want God to use you to accomplish His will. Whichever statement you make you have decided that the Black people in your realm of influence can and will go to Hell. The roots of racism run deep in Southern Baptist life. I have heard too many preachers, deacons, and lay men use the “N” word, tell horrible “Black” jokes, and out right say they do not want anything to do with Blacks. It is time we quit using the excuse we can’t reach Blacks and repent of our sin that we won’t reach Blacks.
I am not the “Perfect Cracker”, but I am trying everyday to break free of my own bigoted mentality. God wants us to reach out to all people. God will use a Believer that is broken hearted for the lost. People all around us are going to Hell today. We must repent of our selfish attitudes and racist dispositions. The time has come to charge wide open into the gates of Hell and drag out its captives. Our neighbors, no matter their color, are going to a deserved Hell like we were, but thank God Almighty that someone, somewhere loved us enough to not care about themselves more than they cared about our eternal destination.
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