Color Conundrum

A few weeks ago a man asked if he could attend SouthPoint, the church I’m the pastor of. He didn’t ask me, he asked one of our members. He asked if it would be a place where he would be allowed to attend and worship. Now that might not seem the least bit odd to you, but it made me mad. It angered me on many levels.
Why would you have to ask if you were allowed to go to church? We live in the United States, the greatest country on the globe. Freedom rings! Each man is free to live within his constitutional rights. Right? Go to whatever church he chooses. Shop at whatever store he so desires. What could possible make a grown man in the Untied States ask the ridiculous question, “Can I go to your church?”
Did I mention I’m white? Did I mention that the man in my story is black? On top of that He’s married to a woman who is not the same color. She’s white. Can you believe it? I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself, ‘big deal. Racism is dead,’ but what resides deeper in your heart? For most people, on the surface, we tout ‘all men are created equal’, but under the thin veneer of humanity we find the residual affects of decades of mistrust, and fear that still lurk in the recesses of our hearts and souls.
This man and his wife visited a ‘white’ church (does that title make you cringe? It should). They were told after the service that there was another church in town where they would feel more comfortable because this church was not for them. They visited the other church. It was a ‘black’ church (does that title make you cringe? It should). After service they were told by one of the elders that this was not the right church for them, and perhaps they should try somewhere else.
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 10, tells us that race is no longer a dividing factor. In the Gospels Jesus modeled it. He preached to, and healed the Jews and the Samaritans. So call me crazy but if the Son of God does not divide based on color then why should we? We don’t struggle with race. That is, we don’t struggle with race until it comes to our house. Until we are confronted with it face to face. Many times, once we are confronted with it, we slip into our true default mode; racism. It doesn’t matter your color, racism is still a problem. Desoto County, for years has been bi-culture. Now with a greater influx of Latinos, are we going to draw more lines, or begin to wash away the partitions that have separated the great people of this area for centuries?
I’m hoping, praying, and believing that we will all take a cue from our master and savior and begin viewing the different cultures for their sameness instead of their differences. Realizing that no matter the hue of the epidermis, Desoto County is chocked full of incredibly gifted and talented people. The color of skin does not affect or have a weigh on the attitude of one’s heart.
I grew up in church singing a little kids song. The lyrics were: “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” As a child, I never realized how profoundly world changing those little words really were.
As we begin to address the issues in our own hearts, we will in turn make our county a brighter, happier place. A place that our children can call home with their heads held high. Where the color of ones skin becomes convoluted in light of their gifts, talents, and character. I know that’s what I want for my children, and I know that’s what you want for yours.