Adding Ethnic Diversity To Our Lives, Churches

As mentioned in one of my previous articles, the November election was an historic event and demanded the Christian take a serious look at how to respond from a Biblical perspective. There was an overwhelmingly positive response to that article. However, I was both surprised and saddened when the people who responded favorably to the article went on to share their own personal frustration with conversations overheard at their churches. From racist comments in narthexes and meeting rooms to sarcastic bigotry from the actual pulpit, I heard a multitude of disturbing and wearisome comments. How far we have come, yet how far we still need to travel.

And now we come to February the shortest and often most dismal month of the entire year; a month where we celebrate Presidents’ birthdays, our love for one another, and usually the beginning of the Lenten season in the Church Year. Interestingly enough, most Lutheran churches in the Fort Wayne area will miss a celebration that seems even more important this year in lieu of the election – Black History Month. Before your eyes roll and groaning sighs are heard, let me explain.

In January, I was hard pressed to find a Lutheran church mentioning, Martin Luther King, Jr. (who actually has his own national holiday) let alone talking about the contribution of other Black Christians in our churches or schools (If your church or school did or plans to – I applaud you!). I am even more saddened when my children must attend their Lutheran school on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to make up a snow day –I think there is something wrong with that.

It seems we are more willing to celebrate “Hallmark Holidays” such as Fathers’ or Mothers’ Day and even have grandiose Octoberfest celebrations to honor our German heritage, only to pass by opportunities to educate our communities about and promote our black brothers and sisters (and that is only the beginning – what about other cultures and people groups?).

Maybe this is why when I go to church I see a lot of people who look just like me. Or why people comment that racist remarks and sarcastic bigotry are heard coming from some pulpits and narthexes of the churches in our area. Maybe instead of being so quick to call Black History Month merely an attempt at being “politically correct,” we need to use it to benefit our churches, our neighborhoods, and our society.

Throughout the Bible God continually calls people to recall the events that symbolize His saving power in their history. The feasts that were established in Israel helped the people remember and celebrate their past. For the same reasons, given the centrality of Christian faith in the history and lives of African Americans, it is important to remember and celebrate as a church the spiritual contributions of African Americans.

Historian Carter G. Woodson created "Black History Week" back in 1929. Known as the "father of black history," Woodson sought to spread the word about the accomplishments of African Americans. This was a brave and bold move given his times. The early 1900s were a turbulent period in American history. The lynchings of African Americans were commonplace, and the mere suggestion of anything interracial was viewed as a threatening and subversive act.

Woodson hoped that "if people understood our contributions and accomplishments, they would respect African Americans." Through God's grace, America has achieved a degree of harmony and has made much progress, yet we still have a long way to go. I believe by celebrating Black History Month in the church we are able to see God’s work through African Americans and how they have and continue to have a positive impact on our lives.

Some people argue that a month-long emphasis on one race is not helpful or necessary in 2009. I suggest that the ability to share in the joy of a person of another race is one of the hallmarks of our faith. It's the Christian thing to bear one another's burdens in times of sorrow, as well as to join one another in times of happiness.

Others argue that a Black History Month celebration diminishes the accomplishments of other racial groups. I believe that being an advocate for one's own group does not mean being anti-anybody else. If individuals don't first possess confidence in themselves, who else will? So let’s celebrate Octoberfest and Black History Month, and let’s add even more ethnic diversity to our lives and more importantly to our churches. We may find our attempt a foretaste of the feast to come in heaven!

First appeared in the FWLutheran February 2009
Robert S. Henry