Understanding the Scope of Racial Oppression

Racial Oppression is a beast. For most whites in America this is a topic that they know very little about. When people think about racial oppression or racism Western whites tend to only think in terms of individuals. This is what I call "individualized racial oppression" which is defined as personal prejudice and discrimination, where certain beliefs and assumptions about the abilities, motives, and intentions of others is made according to their race. Discrimination means differential actions towards others according to their race.

This is most typically the way in which we define racism. Personal meditated racial oppression can be both intentional and unintentional; both omission and commission. It manifests itself as lack of respect (in poor or no service; failure to communicate options), suspicion (shoplifting vigilance; everyday avoidance, not limited to but including street crossing, purse clutching, locking doors, standing when there is an available seat next to minority), devaluation (surprise at competency, stifling aspirations) , scapegoating, and dehumanizing (police brutality, sterilization abuse, hate crimes).

Now when I discuss this issue with most whites their response is along the effects of why are we still bringing this up. Sure my parents and grandparents may have been racists but our next generation sees life differently. And to this I am grateful that many have moved beyond this individualized form of racial oppression. Thank God in America we have moved far beyond where we used to be as a country and this kind of racial oppression is not as socially acceptable as it once was (not to say it doesn't exist because I know it still does especially in older generations). But while I commend many for moving beyond the individualized racial oppression we have much more to overcome because this is just one form of racial oppression.

It is extremely hard for whites to recognize two other forms of racial oppression which is what I want to discuss. Institutionalized Racial Oppression and Internalized Racial Oppression which stems from the former. One of the reasons these two are so difficult to teach is because for the most part they go unnoticed by the majority culture. There is not a particular antagonist who we can point to and oppose because these issue lie deep below the surface.

Institutionalized Racial Oppression is defined as people having different access to goods, services, and opportunities of society by race. It is normative, often legalized and manifests itself as inherited disadvantage. Again it is structural having been codified in our institutions of custom, practice, and law, so there is no single identifiable perpetrator. It is often evident as inaction in the face of need. It also operates in both material conditions and access to power.

The material conditions affect quality education, sound and safe housing, gainful employment, appropriate medical facilities, and clean environment. The access to power includes differential access to historical information (for example my wife was tracing her family tree but had to stop because no information is available pre-civil war because blacks were not given birth certificates) resources (including wealth and organizational infrastructure), voice (including voting rights, the ability to shape the country's decisions in which they live in...as well as control in the media)

The impacts are great. The association between the socioeconomic status and race in the US has its origins in discrete historical events but yet persists due to contemporary structures that perpetuate those historical prejudices. Race and socioeconomic status are directly correlated and upheld by systems. In the current historical curriculum taught in most affluent public schools little information is written on slavery, segregation, forced integration, blockbusting or the entire Civil Rights era. This means that for the most part people remain completely ignorant to the past challenges and structural limitations that urban people of color face.

For example just take a look at the statistics on how much typically that whites leave to their children in trust funds and inheritances, then look at blacks who for generations were not allowed to own property, invest in the predominately white systems, and how few business loans were given to people of color a few decades ago. All of this has created systems placing blacks far behind whites in the ability to create capital through networking and business creation.

What stems from poor schools, poor social structures and systemic racial oppression is a horrible mindset for many urban poor blacks. This mindset is what I call Internalized Racism Oppression which is defined as acceptance by members of the stigmatized races of negative messages about their own abilities and intrinsic worth. It is characterized by their not believing in others who look like them, and not believing in themselves. For example in our life on life mentoring program one parent was shocked that a person of color was going to be mentoring their child. They asked me specifically for a white mentor believing that a person of color had nothing to offer their child in the way of encouragement, networking and skill.

It involves accepting limitations to one's full humanity, death of aspirations and dreams, self-determining capabilities, one's allowable range of self expression. It also manifests itself in embracing another culture as superior (use products for hair straightening, bleaching of skin, self-devaluation (use of nicknames, rejection of historical ancestry and culture (assimilationalist- the only way to be successful is to act white and completely embrace the majority culture).

The impact is a resignation to ghetto nihilism, helplessness and hopelessness (dropping out of school, failing to vote, engage in risky practices-selling drugs, using drugs, sexual promiscuity).

So there is the problem but what are the solutions? This blog doesn't afford me the time to share the various solutions but I will give just one: Genesis 1:26-27. People of color as well as whites need to go to back to the beginning of creation where God made man in his image and likeness. Every single human being is fearful and wonderfully made by a Creator who shows no partiality even though for centuries His church did. Pastors and churches need to convey a message of gospel hope that when Jesus came and died for the sins of world part of his cosmic plan was to reconcile all people groups to Himself. Understanding your position before God as a hopeless sinner in desperate need for a Savior and Redeemer levels the playing field. It causes the wealthy to boast in their humiliation and the poor to exalt in their position that they are indeed equal in God's eyes. As men and women are humbled they seek to serve the kingdom as a reconciler conscious of the gross sins that were committed and offer repentance where it is needed and forgiveness where it is needed.

In the end the thorns and thistles of racial oppression has put a definite negative mark on the people of God but through the cross we can shed our superiority and inferiority complexes and come to a Savior who makes all things new. Lord I pray that we would all, both black and white, rich and poor, become instruments of reconciliation sensitive to the need but aware of our own prejudices and flaws. It is only through humbling oneself and learning from the past that we can effectively move forward.

Grace and Peace,

JW

Raw & Uncut

In my teenage years I sold and abused drugs, so much so that my All-American basketball status was overshadowed by conversations of "I know him he deals crack cocaine". What I learned during those times of street hustlin was an important principle that can be applied to the gospel. Let me explain. The typical street dealer almost never has a pure product of what we call "raw and uncut". Typically by the time the drugs hit the street level they have been cut by different additives to multiply the amount and increase profit. You simply do not sell raw and uncut to your clientele if you wish to make a larger profit. 

I had much success in always finding the purest form of cocaine I could find and I would add very little cut to keep the drugs potent and powerful so my folks would come back to me. While others in the game were watering down their product mine was considered the raw and uncut. What the junkies knew was "the purer the dope the greater the high". 

In so many ways that is the gospel. It is most effective when administered raw and uncut. The purer the gospel we proclaim the greater the high. When I say "high" I don't mean ecstatic experiences but rather a deep sense of knowing your infinitely lost but yet infinitely loved. There are a few additives I see people using to "cut" the gospel. What are those cutting agents you ask? 

1- Relativism, or antinomianism. Simply put making the gospel of Jesus Christ about a ticket to get out of hell free. This form of the gospel says no matter what you do Jesus loves you and is well pleased regardless of what your life looks like because after all we are all sinners and no one can add up to God's standard. It downplays how we pursue holiness and surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus. 

2- Legalism- The second is equally deadly. This view intermingles works with faith and is a response to human pride and arrogance that we can somehow make ourselves right with God through our righteous deeds. This view is sometimes the most subtle to invade our hearts. We tend to react to licentiousness or antinomianism by adding works as a prerequisite for salvation. Even well meaning Christians who see an apathetic response to the obedience laid forth in Scripture can find themselves crossing this line unknowingly, placing emphasis on works for salvation. 

Both of these views distort the gospel of grace. The raw and uncut gospel is that Jesus saves sinners. It is His incarnation, atonement, substitutionary death and resurrection that secures our right standing with God received by faith and repentance. It is the gospel that takes me deep into my heart to see I don't add up to God's standard and holiness. It doesn't leave me there but rather causes me to go deep into seeing God's grace and mercy, love and patience for sinners. 

Working with the poor I often encounter Christians who are adding to the gospel. They see the lethargy of Western Christians, the materialism and isolation and react by adding justice and good deeds to the gospel. I understand why we do this because human pride wants to elevate our own experience and standing with God by what we do. 

The raw and uncut Gospel is the good news...good news is something has already taken place, and that good news is that Jesus saves sinners by grace through faith and that faith never remains alone if it true faith in surrendering to the Lordship of Christ. The more we preach to ourselves and others the uncut gospel the deeper with go into our sins but the more we see grace. That grace, that love Christ has for us then compels us and motivates to love others, do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. You don't have to add works to make the gospel message more powerful. When rightly understood the gospel produces deeds of love and mercy. It has to happen if we are indeed in Christ but we must not make those deeds of love and mercy part of the gospel. It is the effect of the gospel taking root in us in it's raw and uncut form. 

Ephesians 2:8-10 sums it all up for we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, but faith never remains alone...it produces the righteousness and compassion of Christ in us that changes who we are and propels us to walk in good works that the Lord has foreordained for His people. 

Can Gospel Rap Redeem Hip Hop?

Disclaimer: This blog may be premature as I am still working through this issue. In many ways I have more questions than answers but I want to begin this discussion because I feel it is an important one to have. In no way do I wish to condemn the brilliant work I am seeing from current gospel rap artists. That is not my intent. I simply have a bunch of questions brewing in my mind regarding hip hop. Those of you who know me personally realize my testimony and background as one who used to drink in hip hop. One who used to sell dope in the hood, carry guns, abuse women, smoke weed everyday, sag my pants, and walk around with a F-U mentality. 

I love listening to Lecrae, Derek Minor and most of the solid gospel rappers. I love what they are doing, the concerts and the message they put forth. I buy their albums and vibe with their work. Let me repeat...I LOVE them! So please don’t see this as a diss. I simply have questions that I believe we need to critique and address if we want to impact urban youth. I work in urban ministry and find myself around urban youth who have been drenched in hip hop culture just like I was. So the following is simply questions I have as to the effectiveness of the current gospel rap music. 

Hip Hop... What is it? How do we define it? How do kids in the hood see hip hop? Can you be hip hop and value education? 

For most folks in the hood hip hop is a culture not simply music. Most modern hip hop artists condemn education and promote a self-centered, materialistic lifestyle. The young fan of hip hop introduced to gospel rap finds it incompatible with real hip hop as he sees it. Hip hop music is simply not what it started out to be. It is now a culture that is pervading kids nationally. It used to be you could clearly discern between hip hop and gangsta rap, hip hop and R&B. You could clearly see distinction between Keith Sweat and Tupac. But now the R&B guys are tatted up and speaking the same things the thugs are talking about, so much so you can’t find an album that doesnt have a collaboration of those different artists. Everybody wants to be hard now, even most of the R&B dudes. Hip hop culture, not just the music has taken over the inner cities. 

The Problem

The young men I have spoken with disdain gospel rap as real hip hop because to them hip hop carries with it a thugged out mentality. In their eyes you cannot be educated, stay in school, care about others and still claim to be hip hop. Hip hop as they see it through their lens is gangsta, it is popping bottles, it is being hard and carrying heat. It is driving nice cars, buying out the bar, and living life as a modern day god in society, being idolized by others and influencing culture. 

On the other side people from the burbs and middle class think holy hip hop (thats the term they use) is breaking down barriers in the hood and promoting Christianity but is it really working? Are kids in the hood responding to this new form of rap? Or do they simply find it incompatible with true hip hop as they see it? Why do most African American churches resist gospel rap as a form of evangelism and deem the hip hop culture (not people, culture) unredeemable? I don't think most suburban pastors who endorse gospel rap and use the word hip hop in association with it understand that hip hop is it's own religion. 

KRS-one defined hip hop as a religion, a way of life which is antithetical to the reality of the gospel which calls us to self-denial and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The gospel doesn’t call us to blend in a culture that is promoting death and narcissism. No indeed the gospel calls us to abandon ourselves and put on Christ. 

With that said I am certainly not denouncing gospel rap. I am simply coming to ask some hard questions. Most suburban pastors hoping to see racial reconciliation who admire young theologically sound rappers fail to address these concerns because they have never lived in the hood nor realized the impact hip hop culture has on urban youth. They don’t understand nor recognize what urban youth are saying about gospel rap and hip hop. They (Suburban pastors) think its a great tool to bridge the gap between urban youth and the gospel but who are the majority of people buying the albums and going to the concerts? Primarily not urban youth, rather suburban kids, or old heads like myself who already know Jesus. 

Having lived the hip hop culture for over 15 years I have experienced the destructive nature of it. It influenced me to sell dope, sleep with women, and chase the boastful pride of life (all came from my filthy heart yet fueled by hip hop music & culture). I needed deliverance through a Savior who would take me out of that culture not teach me how to do it in a way that glorified God (2 Cor. 5:17). 

Is Gospel Rap making a difference in our inner cities or is it simply a cool form of rap that myself and many others love to listen to? Can gospel rap provide an alternative to the hip hop music that is currently engulfing urban culture? I hope so. I personally think it is amazing how talented these artists are and how deep theologically they think through certain issues. So if they are speaking the truth why are so many black churches against it? I believe this is so because they find it incompatible as well to divorce a death culture from Christianized version of it. They simply cannot assimilate solid theology over the very same kind of music that has contributed to ghetto nihilism. I am not saying they are right but they certainly have a point especially when you understand that hip hop is a religion. 

I believe Gospel Rap is never going to be fully endorsed because it is, in the opinion of many, mimicking a cultural movement that has devastated urban America. The term hip hop cannot be associated with what gospel rappers are doing but can we truly make a distinction? Thoughts? Feedback? 

Discipling Urban Youth

When we talk about discipleship in the evangelical circles today it typically is limited to spiritual matters. Most times when people discuss discipleship it involves small groups, personal spiritual disciplines, prayer, scripture memorization and accountability. All of these are good things, great things in fact. But we typically stop short of teaching a fully orbed gospel of the kingdom which permeates every aspect of life including the physical realm. Why? 

Well first of all I would argue that we see discipleship as only post-conversion. We have missed that a form of discipleship takes place before people actually become Christians. This is especially true among urban youth. Discipleship is definitely teaching believers to mature and grow in grace and usefullness for service. But it is also pre-conversion in that it deals with core cultural concerns relating to urban issues that an urban youth has. Carl Ellis defines discipleship as, "When you engage someone with the person of Jesus Christ through practical encounters and conversation". 


I bring this up because many times urban youth do not connect with our methods of evangelism. Before we can bring these men to a point of making a decision for Christ, they need to see how the gospel of the kingdom addresses their core issues. We also need to be aware that urban youth suffer from broken value systems. That means discipleship involves far more than simply teaching them the Bible and memorizing Scripture. We need to connect the Bible in a way that teaches achiever values and breaks down subsistence values. Sometimes it is not simply a moral or character flaw that is holding them back, it is the fact that they have adopted faulty values that lead to nihilism and despair. 

One Size Doesn't Fit All

I hate those hats that say one size fits all. I mean who are they kidding as if me and Barry Bonds can wear the same hat. Well I believe the same is true for urban ministry. While there are a myriad of models out there to observe and learn from I think every city and context is different.

When working in urban ministry there are a myriad of people to glean from. Legends like Dr. John Perkins, Bob Lupton, Mo Leverett and Randy Nabors just to name a few. I have had the privilege to spend time with these men and all have great insight into best practices of urban ministry. But like with everything else everybody has blind spots. We all carry our baggage and presuppositions to how effective ministry should be done. While I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for the wisdom these men possess I also see the need to charter my own course, implementing and practicing what fits into my context.

You cannot simple visit a ministry or a city and think that same model will work for your city. I have experienced this with our recent mentoring program we have launched. No two places are alike and there is a great need for heavenly wisdom in what we attempt to do for Christ. The more I labor in his kingdom the more I am convinced I need to charter my own course, God's course for what ministry looks like in my context. It's not that I devalue anything I have learned and observed from others because I have received priceless insight I wouldn't trade for anything. It's that I think we become more dependent on models and methods from others than we do insight from the Holy Spirit.

Trying to impose what others have done takes away your own personal discovery of crying out to God for wisdom and humility. I have noticed lately that when I pray and search the Scriptures for myself I tend to teach others and inspire them from a deeper resevoir than simply reteaching what someone else has come up with through their personal discovery and time with the Lord.

All that to say "DO YOU". Learn your community, learn your people and their desires. Take time to listen both to the community you minister to and those whose resources you wish to tap into. Be careful of the swinging pendulum that makes people scared to death of taking initiative or saying the wrong thing, and don't take your ball and go home when people don't necessarily agree with your philosophy. Practice discernment and seek wisdom. Ultimately if the Holy Spirit is not in it there is no power in what we are doing. Spend more time praying and less time strategizing.

JW

Rethinking the term "Incarnational Ministry"

I have been convicted lately after doing a thorough exegesis of John 1:14 that the term "incarnational ministry" is actually theologically inaccurate. Now before you get your panties wadded up in a bunch let me please qualify and explain. By no means am I downplaying the huge impact of those who move into the inner city, or go live in a foreign missions field to live out the gospel. I have a great deal of respect for Dr. John Perkins and many others who see the need to relocate and move to the communities they desire to reach. I am concerned not about the practice and methodology of this kind of ministry, rather the enormous theological implications of what the incarnation is. So let's be really clear up front I am in no way attacking anyone who relocates and ministers in the inner city the live giving message of Jesus Christ.

While certain aspects of "incarnational ministry" are commendable, the very notion that we can do "incarnational ministry" is false. At the center of the gospel is the incarnation of Jesus Christ which is a unique and unrepeatable event. The incarnation is not a model or on-going process of ministry by which the Bible speaks it is one-time event that forever changed the course of human history. I want to share with you both practical and theological problems with the notion that we can do "incarnational ministry".

The practical

While again I commend those who move into the community they wish to serve the idea that you have "incarnated" is a falsehood. For one I see a great many who make the move and feel as though they take on the suffering of the community, but in certain areas keeping their kids either in home school, or private institutes. The reality is those who feel they have incarnated can choose to leave the community anytime they wish. They can pursue avenues and opportunities foreign to those who are indigenous. I was told of a missionary family who went to live in Africa, to "incarnate" so to speak, and when their baby came down with a serious health condition they fled back to the states for treatment. While they desired to live on the level of the villagers and endure discomfort, stress and health problems, they could never fully incarnate with the people.

In so many ways it would be like saying when Jesus experienced persecution he decided to just go back to being with the father. I don't think those who practice "incarnational ministry" can ever truly become incarnational. They always have options not available to others. They have resources and social capital not accessable to those they minister to. They have educational experience and networks that quite frankly indigenous people do not possess. They already see life through a different scope and can never truly change their thinking and presuppositions to conform to those who they minister to.

The Theological

The term "incarnational ministry" also does violence to the Scriptures. They say to the indigenous people follow me as I follow Jesus but this practice does harm to our call to follow Jesus, not individuals. We should point people to follow the one who incarnated not us. Unfortunately not all but some who do "incarnational ministry" become proud and haughty as if they are Jesus themselves. The incarnation is a single event of the Word becoming flesh and we can no way repeat that. As a matter of fact the Bible never uses the idea of "incarnation" as a model for ministry. While it is certainly important to embody the gospel, engage in relational ministry and bear witness to Christ our work is NEVER incarnational for we are NOT Jesus we simply represent Him. We are not equivalent to Jesus but rather subordinate to Him.

In John's gospel he displays the uniquiness of the incarnation; it can never be repeated again. Again I am so thankful for those who minister in word in deed and don't wish to downplay or change what they are doing. I simply don't approve of the term incarnational ministry. There is no way we can as fallen sinners repeat the incarnation through our ministry. While God sends the Son who then sends us this no way implies that we are to attampt to incarnate because that is humanly impossible. We must see the diety and humanity of Jesus Christ as once for all and it is Him that we proclaim in our ministry. We are not those who bring about redemption (which is a core concept of incarnation-Jesus qualified to pay for our sins) God alone is through His Son. We simply can't imitate what Jesus has done we can only proclaim and live it out but that is not incarnational.

My hope is not to offend you it is to make you think deeply about what the incarnation provided for us as believers. You must always see the incarnation in connection with the perfect life, crucifixion and ressurection of Jesus. We can't take out one part of that chain and use it as a ministry model. Let me be clear how much I value those who practice what they call "incarnational ministry". I am grateful for them and hope they see this is not to divide or belittle the efforts and methods by which they do ministry. I myself have been called to urban ministry and know the importance of living life among the people you wish to minister to. I will just no longer call it "incarnational"...

Social Capital

One of the reasons I believe mentoring an inner city child is so important is because they lack social capital. As a young man growing up I had two parents who took me to camps, gave me opportunities and pushed me to succeed. I also had coaches and mentors who modeled what it meant to love their wives, discipline their children and show up for work everyday.

Most inner city youth lack positive role models. They instead seek out popular rappers, drug dealers, and entertainers who promote a narcissistic, self-indulgent lifestyle. When they want to find jobs or get help inquiring about college they have few men and women in their corner who can provide the networking and resources they need.

This is why I feel mentoring is so necessary. By involving yourself in the lives of others and using your resources you can open up doors for a child that may otherwise be shut. Imagine if you never had parents that pushed you, had relationships with networks, or graduated from college or worked good jobs. I doubt we would be where we are because we would be the exception not the rule. Serve in the role of a mentor. It will bring you great satisfaction as God uses you to expand a young persons vision for their lives.