Atoning for Racism

Recently, I had the honor of talking with Rev. Ken Jones of Glendale Baptist Church in Miami. Previously, Ken was pastor to a large and diverse congregation in Compton, California of all places as well as being a host at the White Horse Inn (aka: tonic for pietists and theological liberals).

I talked with Ken for a future episode of the podcast, but Ken emailed me his thoughts about a recent episode of the podcast- our talk with Rob Lee, great-grandson of R.E.

Because Ken’s point was so counter-intuitive and counter-cultural as to be on Gospel point, I thought it worth posting in advance of the podcast with him. So often when preachers speak of ‘prophetic preaching’ they really mean something along the lines of wagging their fingers at the White House, the House, and the Powers.

Ken helpfully (and in a biblical fashion) calibrates ‘prophetic’ back towards the believing community:

Racism is a continuing problem within the Church; therefore, it should be confronted through our prophetic preaching NOT as a means of healing the Nation’s problem of racism but, rather, to confront racism within the hearts of those within the covenant community called Church.

Racism is NOT something for which the Nation needs to atone. This suggestions confuses America for the Church- and, more problematic, obscures how atonement has already been made perfectly for our racism, once for all, by Christ upon the Cross.

Racism, in any and all of its forms, is but a manifestation of the self-inclination of our fallen nature and our inability to love our neighbor as ourselves.

In his Incarnation Christ has redeemed our corrupt, sinful nature, and in his Death Christ has already atoned for all that defiles us.

Including racism.

What is incumbent upon us is to recognize the residue (or worse) of racism that resides within us, confess it, and repent of it.

Christians who do not have clear distinctions between Law and Gospel can easily turn racial reconciliation into a work that we hope merits our justification rather than the fruit of the Gospel of justification that results from the all sufficient atoning work of Christ.

Racism does not end by exhorting the nation to cease in its racism. Diversity does not come to the Church by exhorting the Church to seek diversity as its ends. Racism ends and diversity comes by preaching the Gospel, for the end of racism and diversity within the Body are the fruits of the Gospel. They are not the Gospel.”

Look for the podcast with Ken to drop. I imagine it’ll generate good conversation.

 

Follow @cmsvoteup