Why is Sunday morning in Wilmington the most
segregated time of the week?
Should this change? How?
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13 comments:
yo what up family, but yes i do believe that the most segregated time of the week is on sunday, i believe this because whenever you go to church, if your white you don't go to an all black church, and if your black you don't go to an all white church, just because of the filling that you would not feel welcome just because of your color, and it should not be like that because in the house of the father everybody is welcome and everyone is family, if we can not unite and become one body in christ just because of our color than how are we going to be able to.... i will finish later the bell just rang got to go to class
Peace family... Much Love
i like how trent refers to us as family. i am going to do that too because we ARE a family!
after last nights chat, i do agree that sunday morning can be the most segregated part of the week. yet its hard because as Christians we are to be open and loving and accepting of all types of people. this actually really stomps me. i feel like if someone that wasnt white came into sunday school at our church on sunday they would probably feel uncomfortable. and vise versa, if we went to a church where whites are the minority.
i wonder what it would be like if our sunday school went on a somewhat "field trip" to a different church, just to see what it is like at different places.
i remember when we went to jamaica last summer and our group went to a jamaica church where we were the only white people there. during the service there was a 20 minutes time period where people came up to us and were so welcoming and appreciated us being there. it really made me think about how we react when new people come to our church. and i can honestly say im not the one to just run up to someone new and tell them im glad that they are there. i dont know if anyone else has ever felt that way?
wow okay i didnt expect this one to turn out so long. i hope it doesnt come off as rambling. i may end up with more thoughts on this later...
I think that since the beginning the the whole race issue, people have become accustomed to going to and all black church or an all white church. it is hard to go into a place and be the only person of a certain race- i mean wouldnt it be kind of uncomfortable? but we also have to look at the fact that we are all gods children and it doesnt matter what color our skin is, as long as we are together worshiping God!
i remember this song in preschool that we used to sing and it said "red and yellow, black and white, they are precious to His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world."
i know that was kind of random, but isnt it true? it doesnt matter what other people look like, as long as we are together and praising Him.
i know that today our society can be very stereotypical, but as soon as we can all be more understanding and accepting, we will finally be able to unite as one big family- thank you trent.
i also think kara had a fabulous idea- i think it would be awesome to take a field trip to a different church. i t would be an awesome experience to see how others worship !!
i probly didnt make much since- but oh well!
gods love all around!!
sara nunnally
Thanks Kara, Trent, and Sara for your thoughts!!
I hear what you are saying about being uncomfortable...but is that a good reason to avoid unity?
Answer this:
"What could be gained by increasing diversity?"
God is Good,
Nate
Trent,Sara,Kara-
I agree that for many worshipping where the people do not look like you may be uncomfortable but, that isn't a reason to keep things seperated.
That quote about Sunday at 11am being the most segregated day in America was said by Dr. King, a great leader and preacher who has been dead now almost 40 years. It pains me to see that that is still the reality.
What is the value of diversity and what does it really mean for us to be one in Christ? Nate poses a great question. We learn alot from being with people who are different than us. We learn each other stories. My good friend Oprah always says when you know better, you do better. Perhaps this is the case as we seek to be church (because church is not a place we go to, or a thing we do, it is us). The bible says wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I will also be. It does not say where two asians are gathered in my name in an all asian church, there i will be. When any and all of God's children are praising Him and worshipping Him, He will be there. So now we know that there is something incompatible with segregated worship spaces, not just race but class and socio-economics. We know that it if we are precious in the sight of God we are called to be a family. How do we take the knowledge, the challenge of the cross and do something different? If we continue to do what we have always done the results will be the same. If we visit a church, say i liked their music, and then go back to sunday school and don't extend grace and hospitality to all people. What did we gain? How do we look past outward appearances and divisions and see the God in us, in all of us?
i know this is long, and random.
ok skip what i was talking about before, nate's question, first nate this is what i think can be gained from increasing diversity, i believe that if increase diversity that we would be able to draw more people to the lord, b/c it is like a team in a sport, for example the titans, when they first had to go to the camp they hated each other, but they had a coach a leader who was determined that he could bring this team of different color of different custom to come together and prove to people that we they could all get along and come together and unite, and when they did they became this team that could not be beaten, they were individuals that worked through there problems and became a family, and as other people around them saw this they started to unite with others and get along and stopped looking at the color of their skin and there custom, the titans were strong, willing, determined, and were you united as a family and no matter what people thought of them they did not care they would not let people break them apart, and they could have not done this with out there coach that was determined and had his mind set that it was going to work, and that is one step that us christains need to see is that there is a leader in all of us and if we tried to go after all types of people to bring to christ, no matter who or what they are, skin color, custome, and etc., than that would make a huge impact on others b/c you are being observed all the time from others wether you like it or not people look up to you and you could make a difference in somebodies life and you did not even know it, here is another example, i heard this story about two years ago that i will never forget, this kid, jack, when he was in high school was walking home from school in the pooring rain, he did not have many friends, everybody made fun of him and picked on him, and while he was walking home another kid from his school, John, that was kind of poplular pulled over and asked if he needed a ride, Jack got in the car with him and on the ride they just talked to each other and John dropped him off, after that had happened they became best friends and hung out all the time, well after about twenty years, Jack was at an awards bankquit for something i cannot remember, but John his best friend was there to support him, and when Jack recieved the award he gave this thanks he thanked his family and etc., but then he said that there was some one that he really had to thank, he said when he was young and he was walking home and he was very depressed, that this person came from no where and picked him and he said that they became best friends after that, but what this person did not know is he was walking home to go kill him self and he said that he would like to extend the award to his friend John who save his life, just doing a little bit for someone can change there life, but some people are so focused on themselves, and it is like what nate said about worship, that some of us want the focus on us and that is what some people think when it comes to race is that they are not the same color as me they don't do the same stuff as me, they don't belong, and that is having all the focus on you, what you think is right and what you like, but it is not all about you, and i think that is the biggest step for all of us is trying not to have all the focus on us, and there is someone that is always focused on you and the is the Lord his focus is on each and every one of us, to make sure that we are on the right path and to make sure make sure are safe and we are trying to spread the word, and that is were we need to give back give our focus on him for all things he has done for us and will do for us and we should do our part by drawing all types of people to him no matter who they are, and i end with this, if we can stop this diversity and unite as one in christ we would be able to do spectacular things that words are not able to explain,
MUCH LOVE FAMILY,
GOD BLESS
sorry i did not know it was that long holy hippo, that would take three weeks to read sorry
I agree with Trent about how seeing a bunch of seemingly different people unify in support of one thing is beautiful and will cause people to look. We can see this when we look at Gandhi, or the civil rights movement or even after September 11th.
My mom always told me charity begins at home and spreads abroad. And as a family, our home is with God and in the house of God. When we reflect the kingdom inside the 4 walls it is easier to expand the kingdom outside of the walls.
I'm not sure that the reason is just race that seperates churches. I recognize that as well as the economic factor, both of which may influence how each person interprets the bible and what kind of faith they have. So we aren't just going to church with people who look like us, but also people who think like us. We are presbyterians and if we step foot into a catholic church for instance we arent neccessarily going to hear the same type of message as we would hear at SACPC. We want to go to church with people who are like us so that we avoid conflict. Thats where I see the biggest difference.
i agree with the anonymous person, we are more focused on do they do the same things we do
My family and I have been to a few all black churches when we lived in Winston-Salem. We didn't feel unwanted or uncomfortable at all. The greeters and everyone we met were very welcoming and excited that we were there. The fact is we're all brothers and sisters in Christ and if you let race be a factor in your relationships with each other then your not living as Christ wants. If people hold any racial tensions then we cant be united with Christ.
i think that everyone has different way of worship. and this mainly influenced on how you have been brought up in the church. it's not that we're brought up to believe that the "white" way is better, but that this is how you have been raised. i do believe that people should not be segregated , but two different people will never have the exact same belief on one issue, so there will always be since of segregation no matter what we do. i hope that we'll be able to welcome but when given the chance have we actually done it?
Well here it goes...Tucker's 1st attempt at blogging! As a disclaimer this may come across as a little preachy, so I apologize in advance, but Whitney's "Oprah-talk" tonight at the FOLD really started me thinking about this subject of race, and this division which was created by man, and not by God.
Before I begin this epic response let's put this in a frame of reference...We were created in God's likeness, and as far as I can tell his greatest desire is to have us return to the kindom he has prepared for us. Nowhere have I read that Heaven has an admission policy based on race!
Here in lies the problem -
What can we do with our earthly lives to increase diversity, and to break down the barriers which keep us from glorifying God now?
I liked all the poigniant remarks and questions this evening (I continue to be impressed every day by the quality people we have in the FOLD - you all give me hope for our collective future) but I have to single out the intelligent thoughts brought up by Corinne, Matt, and Natalie. I think that they are really on to something with the way that they filter out the negative people who want to perpetuate stereotypes, and how they chip away at this problem.
It's just like the answer to the question:
"How do you eat an elephant? -
A: One bite at a time"!
It is the simple gestures that make the difference, and in my opinion we have been charged as Christians to get to know others on a deeper more spiritual level every chance we can get - now I understand that people (of any color) may be a little resistant to our advances, but as was pointed out tonight, consistency is key in changing the hearts of others. This may feel a little uncomfortable at the begining, but remember it takes a tremendous amount of pressure and heat to turn a simple lump of coal into a diamond!
I felt like the discussion tonight could have lasted all evening. This tells me that not only is there a problem, but we have already been working on a solution - good for you, and keep up the good work!
In conclusion:
My vision of Heaven is one where there is no division between anything, and there is a free flow of energy (all souls exist in the most perfect place without any earthly boundries) If this is anything close to Heaven I think it is in all our best interests to start creating a little Heaven on Earth right now!
Start today...Begin with a smile, be a "balcony person", like Trent's story - you may not know "Jack", but if he crosses your path I'd like to think we would all take the time to bring him into the family.
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