Recently I was asked a question that completely caught me off guard, but not because I didn't have thoughts on this particular topic, but more so because it came at a time when the topic of conversation revolved probably around something trivial like sports, so literally out of the blue...
"What do you think it'll take for African-American youth to join the mainstream..?"
And my immediate response was, "What exactly do you mean by 'the mainstream'?"
And after further conversation it was broken down into much more manageable 'PC' kind of questions, questions that revolved around education, gangs, housing, culture, etc.
I don't exactly remember where the conversation went from there, but some of the questions that spawned are ones that I've been struggling with for the last couple of years. These questions paint with a broad brush so there are obvious exceptions, but for example, why do minority and poor youth end up at low performing/low funded schools? Why is the draw to join a gang so powerful? Why do minorities and the poor live in deteriorating communities? Why are schools, neighborhoods, and the workplace still for the most part homogeneous? The list goes on and the list is long.
The mainstream Christian would argue that the absence of Jesus is the reason issues such as these exist, and that if 'Jesus' were present in their lives and in their communities that it would alleviate these issues. Or that the problem is systemic so it’s the Governments job to find the solution. Or that this is simply a matter of personal responsibility. Or it’s just the way the world is and despite our efforts evil and brokenness will remain.
Ultimately the answers to these types of questions aren’t quick and easy. Often times when you dive deeper and seek answers you will end up with even more troubling questions.
Despite your stance on the source of the ‘solution’, here’s another question to ask yourself if you haven’t already, what does Jesus have to say about this?
Is our sole purpose as followers of Jesus to get as many people on our boat as the world sinks? Or does following Jesus mean getting our hands dirty with the injustices of today?
I believe a personal relationship with Jesus and following him has everything to do with fighting injustice and defending the poor. But at the same time it's dangerous to minimize the personal, redemptive, healing, and transforming power that Jesus has in our individual lives.
The Christian faith should be holistic, integral and balanced.
(See Isaiah 1, Matthew 9:12, Matthew 25:31-46)
take a read, chew on it, let it simmer. more later..
1 comment:
As i read this blog I thought of all the actual answers to the series of questions that you posed: Like the schools are bad in this area as a direct result of the property taxes not netting enough money and In America there are real life historical implications and deliberate actions that resulted in the African American population being plagued with poverty and resultingly crime. Hopefully as generations that are used to and were witnesses of and to slavery and the Jim Crow area age and leave this world, in their place will be brighter more enlightened and Christ like minds embracing equality. That is one hope I have.
But as the poor in the city tend to be minority, do not forget the much larger rural poor which are mostly white. There is actually more poor people that are white in america than of minority ethnicity. We also tend to criminalize poverty, especially in the cities.
All these and more answers roll around in my head then I realize there are deeper answers. Why is there poor and need? Is it a result of sin? I do not believe that the poor are in any way poor because of sin!!!! How do we love the poor biblically? I do know that sharing Jesus is more important than any material assistance we can provide.
I dont know. I am reading this awesome book called SUBMERGE about how to live among the poor and be a light. I like the conversations you are starting here.
Get back at me with your thoughs. Build.
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