Sunday Morning the Most Segregated Hour in America
I’m not sure how much you all know about my family, but here’s a little background info:
- I am a work-at-home-mom to two beautiful little girls that were brought to us through the gift of adoption.
- My husband is a pastor – in a Southern Baptist church.
- I am white.
- He is black.
Yup. That’s our family.
We love one another, our children, the Lord, and our church. But my heart aches for the church as a whole.
Why? Because Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America. And our churches reflect that.
Does that make you sad? If not, therein lies the problem.
White people want to worship with white people.
Black people want to worship with black people.
That’s wrong. So, so wrong!
Have you ever read Revelation 7:9 and John’s view of Heaven?
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Did you read that? He saw a multitude from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages – worshiping the Lord!
Now if Heaven looks like that, why don’t our churches look that way?
Because we don’t want them to. And that’s heartbreaking.
You see, let me tell you a personal story.
About a year into our marriage, Q began applying for youth pastor positions. Tons of applications later we were finally in talks with a church in Alabama. We heard from the search committee almost every day. They were so excited to meet us — until they realized that Q was black and I was white.
Silence. Weeks of silence.
And then they called (or maybe emailed)! “We can no longer consider you for this position because of your marriage.”
You want to see an angry Christie. Pose as a godly body of believers and tell me that you don’t accept my marriage!
We were heartbroken. Not only for that particular church body, but for the church as whole. Because we knew that this wasn’t a single sentiment, but a widespread belief. In fact, I can count one or two other churches that turned down Q, a qualified pastor, because they “didn’t agree” with our marriage.
Let me stop here. If, for some reason, you agree with these decisions. Let me implore you to watch this video and hear what God thinks about interracial marriage!
Not only are our churches not accepting of hiring staff of a different race, but they aren’t willing to reach out to their communities and invite people that look different than them to worship. There are churches that are literally dying because they will not accept the people in their community.
My heart aches.
My greatest desire is to see the church on earth look like the church in Heaven.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are churches that are multicultural and multigenerational – and they’re beautiful! They are a beautiful picture of the Kingdom of Heaven!
But, we have a long way to go.
Would you pray for the church? Not the church buildings, but the church – the people. The people that claim to know Jesus, but are so stuck in their sin that they can’t see God’s true vision for the church. The same view John had of heaven.
A church body from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
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Shirley says
I’ve actually been thinking about this lately. I’m constantly excited about our church because it is very multi-cultural – and I see people of every color / walk of life worshiping sincerely. However I have been in churches that are the opposite of that. Racism and the issues around it grip this world tightly; I do think it breaks God’s heart that racism also grips His church.
We should all be praying about this – at the very least.
TC Avey says
The church, the Body of Christ, does need prayers. We need God to show us HIS glory, HIS will, HIS love, HIS will for HIS bride.
Your post reminded me of a problem my family is having:
We are having a difficult time finding a church for my family. We want my widowed mom to attend with us, but if we like a church, she doesn’t. Seems we can’t find one that ministers to both age groups (as well as to the needs of our son). So many churches seem geared toward one age group or another. It’s proving to be a challenge.
Thanks for your honesty.