Racism in America and in the Church

[Pastor Michael Samuels]

Here is a response to a discussion on Morning Joe on MSNBC.

Re: Joe Wilson

"As a pastor, I try to honestly and sincerely treat all people with respect and as valuable. I however, beleive that the Joe Wilson statement, "You lie!" in the place and forum that it was said is indicative of the racist spirit of those in the country and especially the south. I am from NC and have lived in different parts of the country, although there are truly good people of all races, I think that the country is very racist and culture biased. Joe Wilson should sit down! He raised a million dollars because he voiced the racist venom that is still at the center of this country. Yes, people of other cultures have made great strides but let us not deceive ourselves, if a few brave men,women and children from 1900 to 1964 did not fight for civil rights, this country would most likely be in an overt slave system.I'm not writing this out of a hatred of people because of their color. I love many people regardless of their color. But we must not deceive ourselves. We must deal with the truth and reality of what is happening in america."

In 1993 when I moved back to NC after living in Ct. almost 18 years, God began to deal with me about the demonic spirit of racsim that is still dominate in the south. Over the years He has given me a kingdom strategic plan to deal with it so that it is weakened, broken and loses its power over cities, states and especially the south, mid-atlantic and mid-western states. God is going to strategically start a fire from Atl. that is going to shake the world. Get ready.....

Yes, God is real and He is the answer! Love is the key to victory not hate!

What are your thoughts?

[Bernard Tyrone Shepherd]

I am a 30 year old Youth Pastor living in the South in North Carolina. I have been married outside of the race and have biracial children. I have experienced the racism on both sides. Just because we are in the world does not make us of the world as stated by the Bible. We have a responsibility to uphold God's laws and his commandments as stated in an earlier post regardless of what the world does. The church has to set the example and be a solution and not be the example and part of the problem. We as Christians of all races are in the same fight. The fight to win souls and stand against the prince of this world. One team one fight.

[Eric Hancock]

The Spanish called North America, Florida, which eventually became more focused on its present location.
The English called North America, Virginia after Queen Elizabeth I (The Virgin Queen)
John Dee pushed to call it Atlantis (inspired by Plato).
The northern part of North America was called New England in 1616, but was often referred to as Norumbega.
Western North America was named Nova Albion by Francis Drake as he repaired his boat (Golden Hind) a short distance north of present day San Francisco.
Areas of past British control was called British North America.
Regions under control of the Hudson's Bay Company was called Rupert's Land, which eventually made up a large portion of the Dominion of Canada, the modern state of Canada.

So really there was never really an official name for "America" before it was called that

[Eric Hancock]

This is true,,if we go back to the time before the Mayflower landed on Plymoth Rock who was here First? and who was slaughtered like cattle and there land taken? I heard a woman protesting about OBAMA not being legal,,she stated WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK,,WELL THE INDIANS ARE SAYING THE SAME THING,,So with that said we focus on the Hitler error as well as the african slave trade error...But this was Indian land FIRST and your right sister Maria Espinoza you too have a history of abuse

[Maria Espinoza]

'Racism in America is in every race..Me Being Hispanic & Navhoe Indian I obtain Racism
everyday by Whites & etc. USA Americans don't want to admit it,but Hispanic & Indians have been treated
very bad in this so called USA of America. We have gone through the slave system just as Blacks have.

[Pastor Michael Samuels]

Both of you are correct. At the base of racism, I believe is control and power. The devil just deceives mankind into using race (a visable tool) to divide men and to attempt to destroy all of us.

[A.W. Bowman]

I am sorry to say, but I think you are right on at every point. -sigh-

Of course the church is a strong hold of racism - it has to be. That is, it is not that racism should be in the body of Christ, but as long as prejudice exists among the religions of people of any culture/society, then it will be reflected throughout that society.

In practical terms this means that “Christians” are the ultimate source of all prejudices within our Christian society. [Yes, Pres. Obama was correct when he declared that America is no longer a Christian nation. And, that is the fault of the church in America.]

What we see is many self professing Christians are not really Christians at all, For the many are not true disciples of Jesus Christ because they do not obey His commandments, nor do they seek to live a transformed life in His image. The results: If one actually believes what they preach and teach, the church would have NO PREJUDICES ALLOWED HERE posted at the entrance to the church parking lot. Will that happen? Not likely. Why? If a person actually practiced their professed religious convictions at church, they would also be compelled to practice those same convections out in the world.

Is there any hope left at all? Yes, but it is slim. It has taken almost 2,000 years to just start the reconciliation between Messianic Jews and the Gentile (Roman) church that split back in the 4th century. A separation not approved by God, and which has most likely delayed the fulfilling of the time of the Gentiles. It was an act designed to delay God’s plan to remove the wall of separation between the Hebrew nation and the world and thereby unite the two men into one, through the act of atonement of Jesus Christ.

It matters not the color of one’s skin – if you hate your neighbor, you do not love God.
Further, if the love of God is not in you, then you are none of His. It does not matter what one professes with their mouth, as long as their heart is far from Him. One’s heart must conform to their confession or they worship God in vain.

Racism is but one prejudice that must be addressed in the assembly of the saints. Even so, not all prejudices are evil. One must learn to discern the difference – and practice it.