What has the clergy said?
 

It's obvious reading social media, including this publication, that bigotry and racism are still present in our society. I would be very interested to hear what has your clergy person said about this topic and what
"take away" points did you glean?

The question suggests an end result being sought is, the total elimination of bigotry and racism.
Statiscaly and realistically ....unrealistic!

Most of what we hear is from MSM and a faction we can't talk about and when losing an argument playing the race card-- no matter the race of the accuser.
Every time I hear the word racist, I tend to give it NO credence at all because it is SO overused.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

Now where have I heard that before?

BTW would you agree that our society is so much better now than say 60 years ago?

We had been moving in the right direction until fairly recently.

2012

It is a real shame that it is "overused" and still even being used.

I like the words "tolerance" and "understanding"

Doesn’t that depend on your definition of the problem? Some people live in denial. Or redefinition. I have noticed a huge drop in Covid cases in Florida in the last few days. Could it be a redefinition of who has Covid? Maybe what is Covid at all? In N Korea there is none at all.

Clergy has a wonderful ability to define problems in their ways sometimes. Depends on your faith.

If we are purposely reducing testing, then cases better drop.

That was the only motivation behind the changes made, albeit quietly.

Yes, in economics we referred to these types of measures as “rubber rulers”. Forgive my scepticism no one wants Florida free of Covid more than I do.

What has the clergy said?

"Please send donations!"

Jesus said "love one another...as I have loved you"
Not that Jesus didn't get impatient or angry from time to time at trying to bring 12 non scholars up to speed

Another meaningless cliche.

Has the clergy even spoken about this in their sermons?

I remember a sermon when I was a teenager in rural Missouri with this very topic. The minister actually had the foresight of racial entitlement--not 'white privilege' that is being thrown around by MSM and a segment of society today but the beginning of the reparation talk and how misguided it was.

Didn’t mean to derail the topic. I can’t remember any clergy addressing bigotry or racism, but I was in Bible College. We were regularly sent to Africa and other places in the world. We spent up to 4 years to learn the language of where we were going. I studied to be a Bible translator. To write the Bible in languages which may not have a written form yet. Also to help out in any way we could with what the people we went to needed. Clean water etc. We went by invitation only. Somehow racism never came up.

perhaps it's not overused; rather, it could be that racism is simply being called out for what it is/has always been?

isn't that what the Europeans did here?

Overused and untrue cliche, Lois.

Interesting, or sad, that no one shared or heard(?) sermons on racism or bigotry.

I had a one on one discussion with my minister a number of years ago on a topic close to this. I did not agree with him on everything but we did agree on “do unto others as you would want done unto you”. I treat others as they treat me. Am I supposed to love these people who are burning down buildings, hurting and killing others? Am I supposed to tolerate these people who want to burn down everything this country stands for and turn the other cheek? And when I say these people I mean both black and white. When you cannot have a meaningful conversation with these people it will lead to racism and bigotry on both sides. Racism and bigotry has existed since the beginning of time. Will it ever go away totally? I doubt it as it is part of the human condition. Is it better now than a hundred years ago, definitely but it will never cease to exist.

My Pastor speaks about it. He asks us to love everyone regardless of their color, gender, nationality, etc. He talks about how Jesus told us to love our neighbor and how we cannot be silent against injustice to people of color.

FBC Leesburg
 

Pastor Cliff Lea had a couple of (online) meetings with pastor John Christian (Leesburg commissioner). They spoke candidly about racism and what to do about it - strong messages to church members. Later, Cliff, John and another black pastor had a joint Lord's Supper online - incredible! Proud of the unity message from these three local pastors! Contact pastor Cliff if you want more information.

Treating others as they treat you is not the same as “do unto others as you would want done unto you.” The latter is the way of peace and love for your fellow man, the former is the way of retaliation and hate. Loving those who do bad does not mean you agree with what they are doing, but it just may help them rethink their course of action. Also consider Matthew 5: 44-47.

Share with us your solutions.

I have found and this is NOT validated that it depends on the pulpit speakers. It appears very little is heard about politics from the Catholic pulpits, but the homily's follow the scripture of the day on caring and respecting others and on not destroying another's work. One of my favorites is the parable about the good Samaritan, a black man.

Is there a point here in the questions? Can we hear YOUR opinion?

They may preach it, but look around you in your sanctuary. How many minority people do you see? Does your church openly invite minorities in? When they do come are they made welcome by all? The sermon can say whatever it says, but unless the congregation actually lives it, it really makes no difference.

If you listen to the right clergy, they are. Listen to Tom Hughes, Jack Hibbs, JD Farrah, James Kaddish, Barry Stagner, Jan Markell, Andy Woods, Don Stewart, and many others.

Of course you won’t hear it from a lot of the main stream mega church leaders because they’re afraid of talking about controversial issues because it might affect the number of people and dollars that come into their churches.

However meany of the pastors I listed do have thousands of people in their congregations and they don’t shy away from the controversial issues. I recommend searching them out on YouTube. Don Stewart even does a one hour daily show explaining how the current news events relate to bible prophecy.

"What has the clergy said?" Do you really need someone to interpret the Bible to you? Read it yourself and you will find the answers to the right way to proceed in all situations you may confront. Morality and value systems are different for each individual so only their personal interpretations of right and wrong will determine the message they receive.

I would ask a rock for advice BEFORE I would ask clergy anything. They would ask me (a week later) to give them money $
to build them a pretty NEW church and continue their luxurious life. Also corrupt lives - like Jerry Falwell Jr.'s has been shown to be lately. He HAS fallen but he did NOT Fal .........well !!!!!!

Because being goaded and shamed and accused is not the way to change anyone. And neither is watching ornery and law breaking folks being deified no matter their color. People are walking all around the truth. If most of us aren't broken in the area of pretty kind hearts and pretty fair takes on things, why try to fix us?

I don't think that a lot of the anger witnessed and alluded to has ANYTHING to do about race. It has to do about all, everyone, each individual of every hue being responsible to the best of their ability. You lose me when you burn down buildings of innocent people who worked hard to have those buildings. I don't care if you are green with yellow polka dots. STOP IT!!! Stop making a big deal about race when it isn't about race. It is about obeying the law and working hard and saving your money after seeing that laws are in place for everyone to be able to do that. Which I think we have. When you do affirmative action that signals to me that some people need breaks and pity. I don't like PITY.

About recent changes - International Affairs expert Richard Haas says that CV will not CHANGE History, but it will ACCELERATE History. So, I assume it will ACCELERATE either more or less Racism. If so, buckle up America!

Reminder...the topic is how your clergy has discussed race relations in recent times.

The thread is being derailed by a discussion of covid case counts. Please stay on topic or the thread will be closed.

Moderator

Great post! Remember that Falwell - fell well into a sex scandal and fraud. And remember the young boys, who received a type of absolution, and the Priests, who got transferred around early in that scandal. I guess those are examples of "good advice".

I wish that my teachers in grade school had used "rubber rulers" back in the "dark ages" of primary education..

As to reparations ---- I read that Abe Lincoln had a idea to send back Blacks, that volunteered to do so, back to Africa. Maybe his getting assassinated prevented that. And maybe(?) 50% of Blacks would have taken him up on that offer. And maybe (?) the present generation of those returning to Afrrica would be happier than those presently in America. It probably (?) sounds racist for me to say that. But, I think I am not. And I am not advocating any future repatriation or resettlement. (Native Americans are in greater need of reparations.) I just wish we were all one color or, better still, we could all be perfectly comfortable with our diversity. Diversity is good, but can be turned into problems when foreign countries and others are determined to use 'wedge issues" to spark a race riot or war. We are in VERY precarious times. Do not turn diversity into hatred!

Thank you for your service, which was as good or better than military service. Very empathetic and humanitarian thing to do. Also good learning language skills and experience broadening by travel and leaving the US "jingoistic bubble".

Racism, especially systemic racism is a worn out crutch. You cannot mandate an "opinion." You can only mandate ones actions and treatment of others. No one can outlaw prejudice, or bigotry. Laws only mandate equal treatment regardless of ethnicity. I have known several racists that were/are great people and treat minorities as if they were colorblind. These same people would risk their lives for those same people and they treat all people with equal kindness. Being prejudice does not make a person a bad person. Treatment of people badly makes bad people. You will never rid the world of prejudice. Protesting and demonstrations only serve to change the laws or how laws are enforced, not change people's minds. You do not garner support by destroying property and assaulting people that don't agree with you. If one wants to erase racism, you must gain the respect of those that are prejudice against you. Motivation, hard work and kindness will gain you respect.

I am NOT a RELIGIOSITY proponent, but I can live with the other poster (OP)'s diversity. We are not ants or bees with only one mind. The OP has, obviously, a strong education and intellect. The OP seems to be openminded. Probably never cheated or harmed another human being. I have been surrounded with MUCH worse throughout my life. Just on what little I have read of the OP posts, I believe I could trust them. And if I were correct, I would not mind more in TV Land around me.

Where do you go? When you've gone TOO far?

Some good logic there. To me it means, for example, today - don't spend energy hating the looters, but ask yourself WHY? And 3 WHYS ---1 ) Are they in need of food or money because of no work, or possibly just greedy? ---2 ) Are they anarchists and Antifa setting the stage and sparking the LOOTERS ?--- 3 ) What is the ROOT cause of the protests and so MANY protestors being involve - is their cause just ? What is more important - that some EGGS got cracked or does society deserve a NEW omelet ????