This academic quarter at Fuller Seminary has been very enjoyable. One of the classes which I am involved this quarter is a class entitled, Race and Identity in Paul. It is taught by an incredible professor, Dr. Love Sechrest. This class has facilitated my ability to research the issue of race within the context of the New Testament, where I have learned that the term "Race" is a social construct within the walls of this country, whereby the political society needed a term to determine who was white and who was not, for purposes of 'land rights', voting, etc. This gives new meaning to the Declaration of Independence, since it states that:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...
"Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed?" Therefore, the governed have to agree to the power instituted within the structure of the Government, but if certain human beings are not considered equal, then the entire Declaration of Independence does not apply to them.
This started me thinking about Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wrote another book which is not so well known, entitled Notes on the State of Virginia where he was seriously wrestling with the issues of slavery, but does not concede that Africans should in any way be considered equal to whites. It does not seem difficult to understand how Jefferson as a European white Enlightenment thinker would believe such a lie, yet many within modern Christianity look at Thomas Jefferson as the greatest Christian of all time, even though he was a Deist, not a Christian. He believed in God, but Jefferson's God does not involve himself in the affairs of humans, but allows humans to "run the earth". Jefferson has approximately 25o slaves by the early 1800's, and signed a bill to end the importing of slaves into the U.S., implicitly knowing that the value of slaves would rise, i.e. laws of supply and demand, then Jefferson sold his slaves to creditors to free himself from debt. Jefferson in his earlier career had wanted to end slavery, but his career as a politician would never have maintained such a bold move. Without actively moving towards justice, we as humans will become entrenched in the environment in which we live, which is what I believed happened to Jefferson.
Since this is now well known concerning the construction of race as a politio-social development of late modernity, how does this affect our theology concerning the engagement with God's creation? Should then integration, i.e. the church as another race of humans be something which we are pursuing, or should we merely let segregation continue?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...
"Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed?" Therefore, the governed have to agree to the power instituted within the structure of the Government, but if certain human beings are not considered equal, then the entire Declaration of Independence does not apply to them.
This started me thinking about Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wrote another book which is not so well known, entitled Notes on the State of Virginia where he was seriously wrestling with the issues of slavery, but does not concede that Africans should in any way be considered equal to whites. It does not seem difficult to understand how Jefferson as a European white Enlightenment thinker would believe such a lie, yet many within modern Christianity look at Thomas Jefferson as the greatest Christian of all time, even though he was a Deist, not a Christian. He believed in God, but Jefferson's God does not involve himself in the affairs of humans, but allows humans to "run the earth". Jefferson has approximately 25o slaves by the early 1800's, and signed a bill to end the importing of slaves into the U.S., implicitly knowing that the value of slaves would rise, i.e. laws of supply and demand, then Jefferson sold his slaves to creditors to free himself from debt. Jefferson in his earlier career had wanted to end slavery, but his career as a politician would never have maintained such a bold move. Without actively moving towards justice, we as humans will become entrenched in the environment in which we live, which is what I believed happened to Jefferson.
Since this is now well known concerning the construction of race as a politio-social development of late modernity, how does this affect our theology concerning the engagement with God's creation? Should then integration, i.e. the church as another race of humans be something which we are pursuing, or should we merely let segregation continue?
3 comments:
When you say integration of the church as a separate race of humans, are you referring to how Christians tend to separate themselves from society, creating a completely different subculture? I'm not just talking about moral belief structures, which are inevitable, but I'm talking about a media and culture construct. Just listening to all Christian music and watching Christian created movies...or something like we've talked before - going to places non-Christians hang out...like bars and socializing and being light in those environments. Over the last month I've been going, but not drinking (just 'cause it makes me cloudy and not such a good witness)...and it's been going well. I've been able to hang out and get to know my co-workers better, and sometimes talk about issues related to God in healthy conversations... and drop seeds about my faith... with my witness and testimony...here and there... you know, baby steps - until they're ready to hear everything I have to say. I found it interesting what you had to say about Jefferson. Thanks for the history lesson as well. :) Tell Kelly I said hi! :) Tell her I talked to her old softball coach, Mr. D., and he says he remembers her. :)
Hey Janet, thanks for the comments. To clarify a bit, what I mean by third race is that within the structure of culture, there are distinct differences which separate humans from one another. Galatians 3:38 is in my opinion dismantling those differences. Once the differences have been placed within the framework of the story of redemption, then the church, not simply me as an individual will be able to affirm others. Within our overall society, there are distinct differences, such as rich and poor, black and white, etc. The church is to be a third race, where we accept the differences as unique. We do not believe that one race, or one economic idea is above another, we share and accept the weak, the hungry, the marginalized, because society has actually caused some of the misery of people.
Bars are incredible places to connect with people, because it is a place where people can be honest. I do believe that overall, the church needs to address some of the ills of society, to stand against the power of evil, which can oppress.
In terms of "everything" Christian, I do not agree with it, but in terms of simply going along with culture, that is dangerous also, because culture only wants clones. They want people to purchase, buy, and consume products, which directly and indirectly affect the lives of our own nation, and other nations through globalization. Thanks.
...I see what you're saying here... totally makes sense...
...I do find that in bars, people are more likely to let their hair down - but I do agree with you that we can't become so "relevant" that we get lost in the shuffle and become like everyone else... and become a product of consumerism - like you said...
Hope you guys had a good Thanksgiving!
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