THE DAILY RACE
Faith seeking an understanding without race
“For He is our peace; in his flesh he made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall that is hostility between us.” ~Ephesians 4.14, NRSV
If you have been called to live a race-less life or would like to learn more about the ways that a belief in race negatively impacts the practice of faith, then please consider inviting the Reverend Starlette McNeill to speak at your church or organization. Email us at 4thedailyrace@gmail.com. We would love to cultivate a sacred space in your community to dialogue about the healing effects of a race-less life.
Discussion
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Hi Starlette,
I know that you are very busy, as we all are, I wanted to know If you would be open to offering some input, networking/collaboration with Accord1 and some of what our organization is establishing. Any of your help would be greatly appreciated!
Please contact me at
Kevin.Robinson@accord1.org
Posted by accord1 | February 25, 2013, 10:43 AMDid you see the story about what Rob Parker had to say today about RG3 on ESPN’s First Take?
Here is a link: http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/12/13/rob-parker-questions-robert-griffin-iii-race/1767071/
As a white man in America, I am totally offended! From his comments am I to assume that all white men vote Republican? Where does Parker get off bringing up RG3′s skin color? And what is the “cause” he is referencing? For me it doesn’t matter what color the players skin is on the team I root for. All I care about is if they can run, pass, block, and win games. That is the only “cause” I care about when it comes to the Skins. They can be purple with yellow dots for all I care. Just win. It is amazing that such lunacy is filling the airwaves. It sets us further from the goal of a raceless society.
Posted by Bland Campbell III | December 13, 2012, 8:29 PMGood evening Dr. Bland,
I couldn’t agree with you more but I am not surprised by his comments. I have heard such nonsense before. His words do much to reveal the simplicity and the limitations of race. The argument is that if one is to be socially colored black, that he or she can only do/ sound like/ be associated with this or that. It is assumed that there is a monolithic “black” experience and one way to be identified as a socially colored black person. Thus, one can be deemed not “black” or not “black” enough based on a set of criteria which read more like stereotypes.
I am still trying to figure out what “the cause” is. If you find out what it is, let me know.
Posted by Starlette McNeill | December 16, 2012, 6:12 PMOutstanding job on the blog and topic selection. All the best.
To the contrary, on Anthony Bradley’s one minute message, he has mis-characterized the proper application of Black Liberation Theology. The theology is not employed as a replacement for the Gospel. More accurately, we as Christians know that the concepts of Black Liberation Theology exist alongside and in harmony with the other tenants of the Christian faith. If we believe we serve a merciful, gracious and unconditionally loving God who delivers us from the grave circumstances, injustices and plaguing problems of earthly life without regard to the origin of such problems—that is, whether those circumstances are the self inflicted result of our own sin or due to the fallen state of the world around us—then we know that we can look to the same God to deliver us not just as individuals, but as whole communities, as a country or society, from political oppression and social injustices we face in the fallen world. Just as much as we walk in Christian love toward others, remain holy in Christ, repenting of our individual sins and exercise our faith in His ability and will for our lives, in the process of becoming more than conquerors (as Christ has called us to be) over our physical illness, financial constraints and employment challenges, we can apply the those same principles in seeking God’s deliverance from the pandemic-level problems. While we may be more familiar or initiated as Christians with understanding God’s deliverance on an individual basis, Scripture simultaneously identifies God’s deliverance from political ills and injustices by way of the Moses story, the Esther story, the story of the Widow and the Unjust Judge, and various other narratives. The application of Black Liberation Theology no more requires elimination or departure from the basic tenants of individual repentance for sin than the Bible does when it calls our attention to multiple aspects of Christian life and thought (e.g., fast and pray; love your neighbor as you love yourself; put on the full armor of God; rejoice in the Lord always). It merely calls us to give attention to more than just one thought process as Christians. Oftentimes in life, we are simply called to multi-task.
Posted by Erin | October 29, 2012, 1:39 AMThank you so much, Erin for your reply. “Multi- task”, huh? While your point is well- taken and well- stated might I add, there are countless Christians who only see Christ in black and white, who only understand Christianity in light of Black liberation theology and who, dare I say, need God to be black/ white/ red/ yellow/ brown/ beige in order for them to believe. For persons like this, race is their faith and God is just a character in its narrative, evident in the writings of James Cone who argues for God’s blackness. For many people, if they are not able to identify with God “physically” and by this, I mean racially (though impossible since God is Spirit), they cannot accept the spiritual condition that God offers to them through Jesus Christ who also must “look” like them.
Too often, I have seen the causes of social justice and “racial” reconciliation replace/ push aside the call to love, to endure and to forgive. Persons use race as a pass, an excuse for their poor Christian witness, their inability to practice all that Christ commands. While I hope that there are many more that believe as you have argued, that would utilize these theologies as a tool for examination and cultivation of one’s faith, I am finding more often than not that race and its theologies do more to mislead us than to walk alongside us in our journey with God.
Posted by Starlette McNeill | October 30, 2012, 5:57 PMHey Star, it was a privilege to get to present in the same block of presentations with you at the conference last week. I would love to get you to write an Immerse article for us. Let me know if you are interested and I will have our general editor contact you with specifics, dates, compensation, etc.
Peace to you.
Mike King
mking@youthfront.com
Posted by Mike | May 14, 2012, 3:04 PMAbsolutely. I would be delighted. It was really great to meet you and to hear such a refreshing expression of Christ’s ministry.
Posted by Starlette McNeill | May 14, 2012, 3:09 PMIt is great to see that, although you have been through all of this, your passion lives on. My very best to you…
Posted by PetExpapbat | February 23, 2012, 5:02 AMThank you.
Posted by Starlette McNeill | February 23, 2012, 11:37 AMExcellent!
Posted by John C. McNeill, Jr. | April 4, 2011, 8:31 PM