emerging mosaic

Warning this may sound like a rant to some, read on if you care.

I am beginning to sound like a broken record but I am amazed at how many Christians in the blogosphere are playing down the Michael Richards tirade. Here is just a sampling

he apologized get over it, and I’m tired of being outraged besides he’s not a Christian it is no wonder the church has no credibility and is still so segregated.

I’m not trying to single out these bloggers as bad guys I don’t know them and don’t believe either of them condone Richards behavior.  They among many others are symbolic of the incredible insensitivity of the church to the damage done by racism and ignorance in the church of the depth of racial separation in this country.

Why do people who follow Christ try to explain away this sinful behavior that is so prevalent in America? Are we afraid to admit our own prejudices and confront our own complicity with racism? Why do we not see that there is no room in the kingdom of God for this kind of quiet acquiescence? Can we not find a prophetic voice to speak into our faith communities and the world that this is not God’s way? Where is the mutuality of the body (If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing 1 Corinthians 12:261 Corinthians 12:26
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
26 If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.

As person of African descent I was hurt deeply hurt by what came out Richards mouth. It was a cultural and emotional h-bomb. What deepens the hurt is the response of some of my brothers (I haven’t noticed this from sisters) in Christ who I can only assume just don’t get it. I don’t why I am surprised because it is not the first time I’ve seen this from Anglo-Christians. It is no wonder we have such declining credibility. We talk a good game. But when it comes to time to put our money where our mouth is, walk the talk and be the people of God & call for repentance where it is needed, we wilt away.

We say “Its no big deal”, “he is just a comedian”, “he just lost it that’s all”, “they called him cracker”, “there were people laughing”

I was outraged and disturbed when I heard Michael Richards I am deeply saddened by what i haven’t heard from so many of my brothers.

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My esteem of moby, artist, musician, entrepreneur and Jesus follower is going up all the time. I find his candor and perspective on the Christian faith refreshing. Check out this recent post on the insanity of how some are practicing faith in America and the contrast in actual teaching of Jesus.

It was sparked by this news article Neighborhood fights over peace wreath, here is a photograph of the wreath

Read the post truly insane | moby.com

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The protest was called off after a meeting with Driscoll. Read about it or here

Driscoll’s comments about Ted haggard’ recent problems has generated protests from a group called people against fundamentalism. This is why I was so disturbed frustrated by Driscoll’s remarks. When he says things the way he does it just perpetuates already high levels of cynicism about Christians in our culture, creates divisions in the body and undermines the Christian witness. Now while I support their right “take action” on what they call his “misogynist religion”, I am saddened that it has come to this. Haggard situation was painful and unfortunate enough but this just adds to the brokenness. How can we learn to be healers, wounded healers instead of fix it experts?

Here is some of what they say about Driscoll and the protest on their blog. 

‘He has been relishing in his misogyny, rolling around in it like a feline in catnip. His latest women-bashing came in a blog post about former pastor (and former head of the Christian umbrella organization National Association of Evangelicals) Ted Haggard’s marital infidelity. As is typical with misogynists and other abusers, Mark blamed women for the terribly hard time pastors have controlling their sexual urges: “It is not uncommon to meet pastors’ wives who really let themselves go…” The post makes for an interesting read; Helen, over at Conversation at the Edge dissected it well, so I won’t rehash it here.

Mark also regularly rants against men who don’t meet his minimum testosterone bar, which seems to be a Father Knows Best, 1950s, I-Am-Man-Cook-Me-Dinner, Bear-My-Children sort of fantasy ideal. His poison, though, is woven insidiously through much of his writing and thought. (See for example how he just has to bring the hammer down in an unrelated post here.)

After standing by while Misogynist Mark beats up on women regularly, it is time for us to stand up for the oppressed. People Against Fundamentalism is sickened by the injustice preached from the Mars Hill pulpit. We are done standing by while Mark the Misogynist takes his misguided religion and hollows out the humanity, dignity, and equality of the women in our midst.

So, we’re organizing our first direct action. On Sunday, November 19 December 3, we’re going to take a physical stand against injustice outside the Mars Hill Ballard Campus in Seattle at the 11am service.

Read the whole post » Take Action on December 3

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