Things you need to listen to, to understand race, white privilege, Ferguson, and the Gospel

I am not going way into the specific issues of the death of Michael Brown, but rather the cultural problems in this country that make it difficult for us to speak the same language on the same terms.
Ferguson seems a long way away from San Jose, CA... but then again it is very close to home and the privilege that comes with living in Silicon Valley.

I will give you one example. Nearly every tech company in Silicon Valley has finally had to own up to the fact that they are run and filled by mostly White and Asian men. I don't think it is conscious or intentional racism but a subconscious lack of awareness to the privileges afforded these groups in this valley. This illustrates the key disconnect for many Whites on the issue of racism and racial injustice in this country. The problem is not primarily "bad life choices" and a "ghetto culture" but blindness to privilege and opportunities available to Whites and many Asians. This is stuff that no app will fix. Its insane to me that many think these issues can be addressed with better hiring policies or that some even entertain the fact software and education will resolve it. Its chiefly a spiritual problem of pride, arrogance, and blindness to cultural privilege. The appropriate fruit of the gospel is humility regarding your advantages and embracing others different from you in Christ, not self-righteous pride in that you worked harder, made better choices, or are more talented.

For me personally, I woke up to these realities slowly but one story from a prominent ministry leader in inner-city Denver, Jeff Johnson, crystallized it for me. He recounted working with some African-American teenage boys through his ministry. These were good Christians doing good work in inner-city Denver. They were meeting at Starbucks when out of nowhere a couple of police cars pulled up, grabbed one of the kids he was working with, and aggressively arrested him. Jeff pleaded with the cops saying, "He is a good kid. You got the wrong one." This kid was calm throughout and essentially said, "This is our life." That is when Jeff realized, when the cops show up white people are relieved, but African Americans are often scared something bad is about to happen. I was never scared when the cops came to bust us while I was partying in college. My response was more of a "Dang, we got busted," and frequently felt free to joke with the cops about it in the moment! I had no fear someone was going to jail, be beaten, or get shot. (Here is a great vid basically showing the same thing: http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-should-you-respond-to-ferguson)

For me, the most beautiful experiences in church is when I have experienced unity in Christ with diversity - culturally, racially, and economically. But these are experiences have been sadly rare, for unity in diversity is intrinsic to the gospel and it is my conviction this is our only hope.

Ephesians 2:13-16
¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 

A sermon you should listen to:
Matt Chandler is a pastor in Dallas, TX and head of the Acts 29 network and I am super encouraged by the direction he is taking the previously way too "hipster white guy" Acts 29 church planting network. LISTEN to this sermon.
http://www.vergenetwork.org/2014/11/24/lets-talk-bluntly-about-race-matt-chandler/?mc_cid=ab224dee3f&mc_eid=5b33394c6f

A brief word calling us to brotherly love in the church by Russell Moore, head of the Southern Baptist Ethics Commission:
http://www.russellmoore.com/2014/11/24/ferguson-and-the-path-to-peace?utm_content=bufferaaa73&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

An article showing the social divide that makes us blind to the issues, look at the charts if nothing else:
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/08/self-segregation-why-its-hard-for-whites-to-understand-ferguson/378928/

Also, a bunch here by Leonce Crump (a black A29 guy) and others:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/august/its-time-to-listen-saved-and-silent-will-white-evangelicals.html?paging=off

Online dating preferences:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/facebook-data-reveals-how-weirdly-racist-we-are-when-it-come

Join me in weeping over our sins and the tragedy in Ferguson, and longing for the kingdom where all are one in Christ on earth as they are in heaven.

From Pastor Jason: Seven Things to Do When God Speaks to You

Sunday was one of those Sundays. I don’t know about you but it was just different. From my perspective—up on stage experiencing it all with you—God was speaking to many of us. The word sank deeply. The truth hit you in between the eyes. Something forgotten or avoided was brought to the forefront of your mind. A few of you have even shared with me through texts or emails or in person what God has been saying to you. I imagine there are more. And so today I wanted to give you a few ways to respond that I have found personally helpful when God has spoken to me …

One | Thank him. I know it’s basic. But don’t forget to thank him. The God of the universe spoke to you! He spoke to you! He stirred your heart, highlighted his truth, and gave you his gracious attention and love. No matter what he said, it was a gift.

Two | Write it down. Few things bring clarity to a thought like writing it down. You may not be a fan of keeping a journal or diary. That’s okay. Grab a Post-It note. Open up an app. Blog about it. Write it on your hand. No matter what the medium when we write things down it helps us to remember and articulate our thoughts beyond vague sentiments.

Three | Seek clarification. It’s important to make sure we’ve heard God correctly. Talk to your spouse. Share it with your Gospel Group. Pray. Read Scripture. But … let’s also be honest. We can be pretty good at muddying crystal clear waters. Sometimes instead of just doing what God has clearly said we can foolishly delay. So seek clarification. Unless it is perfectly clear. In that case, move on to #4.

Four | Respond. Confess sin. Stop sinning. Ask for help. Embrace that idea. Apologize to your kids. Have coffee with that coworker. Invite that neighbor to dinner. Simply put, it’s time to be doers of the Word.

Five | Tell someone. Update the community. Bring your brothers and sisters into the experience and process with you. Undoubtedly it will not only encourage us, but it will help each of us with our own processes of listening and responding to God. Let the church be the Church.

Six | Worship Jesus. It might be obvious, but God is officially up to something in your life. It’s a gift. It’s grace. It’s for your joy! It’s for his glory. So worship Jesus with a glad heart.

Seven | Listen again. There’s more where that came from.

Can't wait to hear more about what God is doing in your lives.

Peace ...
Pastor Jason


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Men’s Retreat - full amount is due this Sunday. Have your money for Jean, please!!
Ladies Bunco - It's on for March 15th gals. RSVP here if you haven't already.
**NEW** Curriculum coming to our Little Dwellers in the Toddler Room! Our 2 & 3 year olds will now enjoy a craft or activity along with music by "Songs for Saplings" paired with a Bible verse and a devotional reading from author Sally Lloyd-Jones. Check out these new resources here and here.