The Richness of Diversity and Why We Need It

It has been evident and obvious to me over the last few days that most American’s seem to live in a homogeneous bubble. Just take a peek at all the comments and links splattered all over social media and you will find many speaking emotionally, rarely taking the time to think through a comprehensive grid. 

But how can we think through a comprehensive grid when our circles, churches and families are primary monolithic and unbalanced? 

I have the amazing privilege to be a white man married to an educated black woman. I also happen to have 3 children, 2 of whom are very educated and thoughtful bi-racial teenagers (my other child is bi-racial and smart too, she is just too young to understand yet!). If you look at my facebook “friends” you will see a diverse group made up mostly of minorities. God chose in His infinite wisdom to groom me by placing me in an urban black context during the most impressionable years of my life. 

This allows me to see events like the Trayvon Martin death through a wider, more comprehensive scope taking into consideration many factors though I am certainly not an expert on race, and am certainly not black so I could NEVER completely carry the burden of what it means to be black in America (Thought my kids would argue I was born the wrong color...lol). But although I may be white, because of my experiences I view life differently and see things from a more robust worldview. 

I feel the pain of blacks who have been racially profiled and put into certain categories all their life. I know what it’s like for my wife when white’s ask her for the “black perspective”, as if she or any other black speaks for the entire race (Why we project that any individual speaks for an entire race is beyond my comprehension and lacks common sense). 

I feel the pain of whites who have experienced liberal mainstream media taking advantage of every racial opportunity to spin and promote for the purpose of gaining viewers and making a dollar while ignoring many other justice issues. 

I feel the pain of blacks because the systemic racism and segregation that built this country on black labor continues to operate through a white racial framing (most whites have no idea they think through this lens...read “The White Racial Frame” to learn more). 

I feel the pain of whites because they see gross hypocrisy in outcries of justice when Trayvon Martin’s life is valued but most blacks are silent regarding black on black killings that take place every year by the thousands. I feel the pain that innocent children are aborted (disproportionately black) and for the most part there is no outcry of injustice. It seems to many whites that the only time black life is valued is when it is taken by a non-black person. 

I feel the pain of blacks that experience on going racism in our country and know first hand that white privilege exists. I also feel the pressure blacks face to “prove others wrong” because unfortunately stereotypes exist in which they start out on an unequal playing field. I also feel the pain of the young men I mentor and the challenges they face as black men growing up in the inner city. One of my 11 years old's commented yesterday that “he wished he were white” because he already has internalized racial oppression and carries a low view of himself because from his vantage point, "life for a black man is hard"... 

I feel the pain of whites who have tried to understand race but live in fear of being rejected and misunderstood when it comes to speaking out about race. 

I feel the pain of blacks who don't understand why more whites simply fail to have compassion toward a family who just lost a precious son. 

I just feel pain that most of the polarization I have seen is from Bible believing Christians who don’t have a wide enough pallet of friends to see a bigger picture here, on both sides of the spectrum. 

This is why I believe race is still a huge theological issue that needs to be addressed from our pulpits. Preachers cannot talk about revival and restoration in our country if they are only addressing it to one people group and fail to deal with the sins of the past and the damage that has caused and will continue to cause. America is made up of a diverse group of Christians and we need the “manifold wisdom of God” which Paul speaks of in his letter to the church at Ephesus. 

How is that so many pastors can speak to the "ism's of life; materialism, hedonism, sexism...but never address racism as a theological and ethical issue?

I feel the pain of blacks when whites constantly comment about how good our country used to be. We speak as though our nation has always been God fearing and project this idea that the country was built on Christian principles while ignoring the mass killing of Native Americans and the institution of slavery which happened not only under only the churches watch, but was based on a theology and anthropology contrary to Bible though using Scripture wrongly. 

Until we re-assess this glorified view of America, neglecting due diligence in our understanding of historical facts from black history, we will never progress because we are not dealing with the past from a broad enough lens in order to move forward in a repentant manner. 

While God has been gracious to America I believe it is actually in spite of us, and simply because He is merciful not because we have always been so moral, so upright, so good or so loving. In actuality the church in America has always been divided over race and mixed race congregations are the exception not the norm. 

It is interesting to me that Jesus told His disciples “they will know you are my disciples by the love you have one for another”. Not your intellectualism, not your piety, not your beliefs, but LOVE. Love is not cynical or sarcastic it is patient and long suffering. Love is not emotional and reactionary but intentional and thoughtful, speaking the truth yet doing so patiently. It considers implications before it speaks and responds. 

Revival and change will not happen until love is seen and experienced across ethnic and socio-economic lines and until then we will remain polarized and divided, mocked by the world around us, not because of the offense of the gospel, but because of the hypocrisy they see. 

We need a new movement. 

A movement where we are needy and dependent on one another’s gifts and experiences. Where white churches take on the cares and concerns of poor blacks in a dignifying way, realizing how much history has played a part and seeking to learn from them about suffering and the injustice and oppression they have faced and continue to face. And black churches need forgiveness and a willingness to be vulnerable and patient when explaining hurts and frustrations, realizing that whites unknowingly operate out of a framework that requires deconstruction on many levels. 

Until we realize that race is an issue that must be tackled we will remain stagnant in our country and divided. Sure conversions will still take place and God will accomplish His purpose, but we will all miss out on the richness that diversity brings in how we understand Scripture and see the world we live in. 

So in conclusion I don’t have an opinion of the Trayvon Martin case because I wasn’t there. I am not an attorney, I don’t know the law, and I don’t know facts because the whole case was propagated from the very outset. While many have jumped to conclusions and chosen a side, I feel pain for all those involved. 

I feel pain for the Martin's on the loss of their son. I feel compassion toward the issues that many blacks in America. I am always ready to listen and learn and repent where I am wrong and seek forgiveness. 

I just know that this case has exposed a deep need in our country for racial reconciliation and that is something that only the gospel can bring about. Only the gospel brings broken sinners together unifying them at the cross of Christ where we are equally broken before a holy God and in need of a new record (Christ sinless perfection), a new life (guided by the Holy Spirit), a new family (made up of every tongue, tribe, and nation), and a new found repentance which promotes continuous vulnerability and love one for another. A love that will be willing to suffer rejection and misunderstanding but remain faithful to God’s call for the restoration of all things. 

Khari & Joseph

Over the next few months I will chronicle stories from mentors regarding their involvement in the Aspire Movement. Most of these blogs are written by the mentors and will serve as a way for you to see inside our program and explore how these mutual relationships provide inspiration and hope. 

Joseph is one of our pioneering mentors who has now been matched with Khari for 2 years. They have contributed to each others growth and development and Joseph has earned the right to speak into Khari's life. Joseph is also quick to note that Khari speaks into his life and is never short for words of admonition and encouragement as well. 

In Joseph's own words...

"Six months after taking Khari to his first Auburn football game I found myself heading back down 280 from Birmingham on a different excursion. Not to a football game, but for a few other first time experiences. A few I had anticipated and some I didn't. 

I picked Khari up at his house in West Birmingham to take him fishing for the first time. He was extremely excited because we had been talking about going for some time. Not being a great fisherman myself, I knew just enough to point him in the general direction. Thankfully the place where we fished was a fully stocked pond and large mouth bass came easily.

We also had our first golf cart driving experience at the pond, which proved to be more difficult than catching fish. After a miscommunication, poor driving instructions from me, and a "panic break", (as Khari calls it when you slam the gas and you intend to slam the brakes) we became one with the pond finding ourselves chest high in the drink while finding the golf cart fully submersed. This was definitely not a first experience I had planned for.

Thankfully we were able to retrieve the golf cart and restore it to its original working condition. We also restored our nerves eventually as well and were able to calm down a bit. 

Accidents happen, especially when you try new things. We were able to discuss that trying new things and failing is a part of life. Without trying new things there are no new experiences. 

No growth is possible. 

Through the Aspire Movement I've been able to experience many new and sometimes uncomfortable things. I think I am beginning to scratch the surface in understanding that these are a part of our journey and we are blessed by trying new things. Praise God for new experiences".~Joseph 

The transforming nature of mentoring

After college like many athletes I stopped working out with the consistency I did during my basketball playing years. Eating too much, working a desk job and neglecting my body became the norm. I managed to put on 100 pounds and got up to 310 pounds at one point last year. 

As many of you know I mentor at risk inner city youth. One of my young men is grossly overweight and participates in limited physical activity. He is only 11 years old and wears a 50S jacket. I wanted to share with him the importance of working out and staying in shape but who was I to speak into his life dealing with my own lack of discipline and activity? 

God began to convict me as I worked on my annual plan for growth and development. The plan focuses on 4 different phases, one of them being the physical body. As I looked through my goals from the previous year I realized how lethargic I had become in setting goals that were not very challenging. 

When I thought about my mentee and my own lack of discipline toward remaining physically healthy I started developing a deep motivation to challenge myself in this area. It started so simple, skipping those cinnamon crunch bagels every morning from Panera, eating smaller portions and drinking water instead of soda. 

Before long I developed a passion to walk and start jogging again. I was losing weight at a furious clip and became convinced that indeed I could lose 90 pounds this year. My students picture became my motivation. 

A few weeks ago I was challenged again by one of the mentors in our program. He wanted to compete in a triathlon to raise money for the Aspire Movement. Then he put me on the spot and asked me if I would participate as well. Realizing that God had been readying me for this challenge all year I embraced it and began working even harder than ever. In September, Lord willing, I will compete in my first ever triathlon to raise money for our program. 

As I sit and think about these students and the challenges they face on a regular basis I realize that disciplining my body is not so bad. I realize that in order to be a godly role model I must show forth the discipline of Christ in all areas of my life not simply spiritually. After all my spirit resides in this mortal flesh that if not taken care of can break down and fail to function. 

It is through mentoring that I am learning that teaching is best through imitation. My student now comes to the pool with me and is learning to swim. He too is starting small. God is teaching us both simply through our ever growing relationship where we care about each others entire being. 

I want him to be a godly man and husband one day. I want him to value education and his health. My desire is to see him become a leader of men and follower of Christ in every facet of his being. And through the relationship I am learning the importance of being these things myself. 

Won't you consider donating to our ministry as we seek to recruit more mentors? Won't you give into a ministry that is not only changing urban youth but people like me as well? 

*Update* - Today I embark on a 101 mile bike ride. Now you know why I ride. It's not just for me but for change. We have been featured in Birmingham magazine so go check out that link as well! Birmingham Magazine Article

Clink the link to participate in our fund raiser so more children will have mentors and inspirational experiences they wouldn't otherwise have. 

Learn more and donate

Realities of Urban Work

This past week I had the privilege of taking a few of the young men I mentor to Kids Across America summer kamp for a week of sports, adventures and learning about Jesus Christ. They were truly blessed by the counselors and staff that poured into them encouragement and love. 

One of our young men stated his desire to not only go back to kamp next year, but to continue to go until he is old enough to become a counselor and kaleo himself. He was deeply impacted by the week and has a vision for his future. 

When I dropped him off at his home after returning from kamp he paused in front of his house and tears came to his eyes. He looked at me and told me he wished he could come live with me. 

As I carried his bags into his house I was reminded of the serious challenges he faces on a daily basis and the nagging influence of a ghetto nihilistic culture in which he finds himself. There were beer cans spread throughout the home, cigarette butts and nothing seemed to be in order. 

The environment was toxic and my spirit cringed as I took in the scene. His mother’s live in boyfriend was in the back using the computer to produce music. This was supposed to be his present after returning home from kamp but I doubt he will even get the chance to use it for educational growth. More recently his mom intercepted a gift card we had given him for clothes for kamp. 

The situations we face in urban ministry are downright overwhelming and the injustices these kids experience on a daily basis mar and hinder their growth and development. I found myself in utter despair on the way home but remembered something. 

HOPE. 

Hope that what we are doing through our mentoring program and church plant are going to make a difference not only in his life and many other children, but the lives of the parents as they see something different from their children. Hope that the gospel can breakthrough even in the most difficult of circumstances. Hope that he will not be a statistic or get a girl pregnant before marriage. 

All we can do is seek justice and offer hope through the gospel. We cannot produce or manufacture results. We simply sow and show the gospel through our lives, both actions and words. We continually point them to Christ as the One who suffered unbelievable poverty so we can be unbelievably rich. 

It is my hope that Christ will break into his entire family but the harsh reality is that urban work is not for the faint in heart. One must constantly believe and trust that Jesus can and will change the hearts of men. I hold dear this verse in my heart at all times and I commend it to every worker. 

“Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that your labor in Him is not in vain”. 

Generations Apart (Part 1)

Recently I was attending a conference and one of my favorite pastors made a remark that really hit me and awakened me to the challenges that lie ahead for my generation. No, I am not talking about the state of America and the current ethical and moral crisis we find ourselves in. I am not talking about the hot button social issues like abortion, same sex union or anything outside the church that is displaying the depravity of humans. 

I am talking about the younger generation and older generation displaying their generational arrogance within the confines of the church. These are men and women who both love Jesus, His church, and ministering the lost. 

I believe post-modernity has created a disconnect between generations and how we view the way things should be done within the church. Younger folks who lacked mature role models growing up tend to distance themselves from older generations and accountability. I know this because I was certainly one of them for many years. 

But the older generation has its hang ups as well in failing to make adjustments and contextualizing to a new generation with a limited attention span. In this post I would like to simply point out the needed responses of both generations. I will speak directly into some issues we are wrestling about in my next one. 

First, I believe the younger generation needs to take a long look at the amount of “artificial experience” we are receiving. While there is more information readily available to young people through technology and other avenues exposure doesn’t necessarily make experience. I see a lot of entitlement from my generation as we make demands and assert ourselves. I believe this is because we have learned so much information in a severely shortened time span. Exposure to more sermons, theological views and vast arrays of media certainly can assist the younger generation and help them acquire an expansive amount of knowledge. But it cannot and will not replace the experience of the older generation and the emphasis on learned and applied wisdom. That takes time and years of God shaping and my generation needs that! 

Secondly my generation needs to be weary of disconnecting from those who have gone before them, upon whose shoulders we stand. I have seen this detachment take place as my generation breaks away claiming that “they just don’t get our current culture”. Pulling away from older, more experienced men and the inability to show honor leaves my generation trying to navigate issues that we are ill equipped to handle alone. Again we may be right about cultural issues and bring less historical baggage but we tend to lack brokenness and perseverance that older men have to offer us. Whether or not an older pastor is in step and current with the challenges we face, he may have served God faithfully for decades and we can draw strength from his walk. 

Thirdly the younger generation struggles with resentment toward anything that resembles traditions or Christendom (i.e...liturgy, Holy Week calendar, hymns). The younger people get hurt because the older generation fails to listen to them and they have seen those in authority let them down. We have also experienced the emptiness of vain repetition and seem to throw the baby out with the bath water. Turning away completely from anything that resembles tradition to make way for new and exciting forms of ministry may be good yet lack depth and substance. 

But I have a word for my older generation as well. One of my principal concerns in the responses from them toward the younger generation is that they seem to be widening the gap instead of narrowing it. 

The older generation tends to struggle with inflexibility. They tend to equate anything new as wrong and assume age and wisdom are the same thing. Many times their experiences have left them cynical and wounded. While they mark out the younger generation as too experiential and preferential of style yet they too hold fast to their own stylistic preferences as though they don't have their own preferences. 

Secondly the older generation displays its arrogance through insecurity. I have heard from older pastors that they have to fight against feeling jealous of the younger generation pastor and the perceived threats to their ministry from the younger generation as they age. They see themselves and their generation as losing control, they see younger men as more gifted and they subtly feel threatened. The  spirit of competition this can engender also drives the younger generation away because they feel more controlled than discipled and encouraged. 

What needs to happen is what I saw taking place at this conference today. We need more open dialogue and conversation between young and old. The young need to respect the wisdom and experience of the older men and the older men need to realize that the young people tend to have a better pulse on the challenges we face contextualizing to a growing post-modern generation. While younger folks would do well to embrace and honor their elders' insight, older folks would do well in being flexible and listening to what we have to say. 

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.