WHEN CHURCH HISTORY CAUSES YOU DESPAIR

I have just finished reading an article in the September issue of the Christian Century that not only saddened me but left me feeling despair for the future of the Christian church. I don’t blame but rather commend the Century for publishing the article. I also commend the author, Matthew Schlimm, for writing the article. The article, Noah gets drunk, Then He Curses Ham, relates the Biblical story of how the racism in our society began and then Matthew traces the way in which prominent Christian leaders made use of that story to both justify and support racism throughout Christian history.

Yes, I know how the Bible reports how God works through imperfect leaders to advance the Divine cause.  I know that David committed adultery and murder in pursuing his affair with Bathsheba, and God even worked through that family life to eventually bring to birth our Messiah. Yet I don’t read religious scholars advocating that clergy commit adultery and murder in fulfilling their ministry.  Yes, I know that the initial twelve disciples that Jesus called all abandoned him at a critical time, one betrayed him, another denied him, and a third doubted him. Again, I don’t read of Christian spokes people justifying such behavior as appropriate for the clergy who guide our churches.

While I knew some of the history of the Noah—Ham story, Schlimm’s article confronted me with a shameful chapter in our church’s history that has contributed deep harm in human history. As I continue to exercise my ministry, I have learned that while God does work through imperfect people and communities, it begins with them trusting God enough to confess their sins both as individuals and communities and allow God to respond to those sinful confessions with a transformative love that opens a fresh future.

I believe that the vast majority of active Christians do believe that the toxic poison of racism needs to be addressed by the church in a manner that offers hope and healing to both our churches and our society. I’ve even written a novel, SHOCK AND AWE: A Church Recognizes its Racism and is Awed by God’s Invitation.  The novel seeks to provide an example of what it might look like for a church to seriously engage in this type of ministry.

I’ve also written several booklets that suggest a step-by-step procedure for implementing an anti-racism ministry in your church in a manner that would stimulate the faith of members and offer some healing hope to the church. If you write and request it, I’ll send you some material for free. (steve@smccutchan.com)   Well, not quite for free. Your initial cost is to commit to reading it and discussing it with at least two other clergy.  I will also send you some additional material to expand your possibilities.

Let’s change the direction of history and give God the glory.