(This Post was originally released October 2018)

3 Anecdotes about Racism in the Church

From them you will be:

1. Encouraged
2. Angered
3. Frustrated

But my friends, this is where it begins. With you and me (IN THE CHURCH) looking honestly at the issue.

Where are you in these 3 stories?

Below are 3 ways of dealing with racism:

The Right Way

The Wrong Way

The Typical Way

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THE RIGHT WAY

The first time I saw this sidewalk insert, I eagerly sought the story.

The broken part of the sidewalk says,

AN HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE

As the story goes, that part of the sidewalk had been there since the church was built at this location in 1892.

But, in the mid 60’s someone asked, “a bit too loudly” if all people were welcome, as the sign said.

Nobody answered, but the next week the sidewalk-sign was gone, replaced by a blank slab of cement.

Sometime late in the 90’s, in its broken state, it was returned to the sidewalk to proudly show that, YES, All People are welcome.

That it lies there in a broken state tells its own story, don’t you think?

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 THE WRONG WAY

A few years ago I did a 4 night prayer revival during the Obama administration. The associate pastor of the host church continually talked down the President. And frankly, it got up my  nose.

I asked the Lord for a very tactful way to deal with it, and so the next night I pulled him aside and delivered what I believe the Lord laid upon my heart. It turned out to be so significant that I included it in both Book 1 and Book 2 of The Pray-ers.

Instead of giving you the conversation with this pastor, let me quote Alexander Rich, the itinerant preacher in my novel, who dealt with the exact same issue, just 130 years earlier, EXACTLY the way I did.

“. . . Alexander Rich continued. “You believe in the flood right?”
“Oh yes!” The preacher responded, “Worldwide disaster, worldwide flood.”
“Then,” Rich interrupted, glad at least that this young pastor had not caved to the growing debate about the age of the earth and the truth of the first eleven chapters of Genesis. “Then, my friend, if we all came from the same parents, do you know what that means?”
Brother Rich had the young man’s complete attention. He leaned forward, intrigued, eyes widening, and awaiting a deep truth.
“What that means my young racist friend is that you have a little black guy inside of you somewhere.”

Sorry for the shameless plug (www.ThePray-ers.com).

When I said this to the pastor, it shut him up, but only until the next day when he returned. I am sorry to share with you what he said, but I think you need to hear it.

He  cornered me after the service and then said, “They may be your relatives but they aren’t mine.”

No matter the amount of melanin in your skin, you and I BOTH have people in our lives that think this way.

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THE TYPICAL WAY

I was in another church for an all day intensive. At lunch, the pastor and I talked about the feedback he was getting from the Sunday School and Worship Services that I led. The feedback was a great blessing, and so after lunch we sat down, prayed about it and decided that I needed to come back for an all week prayer revival.

A few days later he called me. We chit-chatted for a few minutes and then he said, as broken as I have ever heard him, “Mark, my deacons said that you can’t come back, you’re too dark.”

Now BEFORE YOU GET excersised over this anecdote, let me remind you, this happens on ALL SIDES of the issue, Asian, Hispanic, White and Black.

True, there are some churches I can’t get into because I am too dark.

But there are other churches I can’t get into because I’m not dark enough.

Is it any wonder that Sunday is the most segregated day of the week?

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Whose Fault Is Racism

Obviously we can point our fingers at the deception of the evil one. But may I take this question in a slightly different direction?

Let me make a broad statement, that you may or may not agree has some merit.

“The unsaved can’t be expected to act like anything other than what they are, UNSAVED!”

QUIT LOOKING AT THE WORLD, expecting them to act differently!

But what about the church? My friends, in the church, we are the ones without excuse. Why? Because:

We are the ones that have the Holy Spirit living within us. And,
We are the one’s who have been given the grace to live above this.

Consider this. Do you think that maybe God loves us enough to discipline us?

If He does, it will NOT be:

Because the unsaved are acting like the unsaved.

Rather, it will be:

Because the church is NOT acting like the church?

May God have mercy upon us, in spite of us.

ADDED IN 2022

One of the Congressmen I pray with in DC (https://markmirza.com/?s=washington+dc) likes to say, after I have said, “We, the church, are the problem.”

“Yes, Mark, but we are also the solution.”

 

MARK S MIRZA

GA NDP EEO

Tired of acronyms?

I’d like you to hear my heart regarding EEO (Engaging Elected Officials).

It’s easy to engage the elected officials that WE AGREE with, but what about those we do not agree with?
ANSWER? We usually DO NOT engage them at all!

I want that to STOP, in the State of Georgia.

Now hear me clearly, I do not want you to give the podium to ANYONE who does not qualify to sign the “Speaker’s Agreement” which I know you are making ALL OF YOUR SPEAKERS sign.

Remember, the National Day of Prayer Task for is NON-PARTISAN. We need to stop ignoring those we disagree with politically. How will we have an impact upon them if we keep ignoring them? Scripture is even more succinct, (Romans 10:14 HCSB) But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?

It won’t happen, folks.

You see, I think we can figure out an Equation that the Georgia NDP can do. . .

1. First, decide now, to invite EVERY elected official in your area, from State Senators and Representatives to County Commissioners to Mayors to Dog Catchers. If you’re a Dog Catcher I apologize for putting you at the bottom of the list, but I did capitalize your title.
2. Second, remember, just because they are invited, DOES NOT MEAN, they get to speak (even if they’re an elected official). So, in your letter, tell them (if they are not going to be allowed to speak), “Mr. So and So, or, Madam So and So, we will have a special seat for you in the front row, and during the service we will come down off the stage and pray for you by name.”
3. Finally, if you are not already, begin now to start TELLING THEM BY EMAIL, you are praying for them. I would email them weekly or every other week (no more than weekly). And when you tell them you are praying for them, ASK THEM if they have something in particular you can pray, on their behalf. You will be surprised by their responses.

Also, this will give you some “street-cred” because you took the time to reach out to them.

This third point above, LETTING THEM KNOW you are praying for them is HUGE! Last week I got a call from a State Senator. He said, “Mark, we don’t know each other, but I wanted to thank you for your emails. They are very encouraging.”

Here’s my goal:

I want us in the State of Georgia to figure out how to do this. I want us to work out the details and fix the kinks. So, if there is something I missed, or something odd you experience, I want you to tell me.

You see, I think that if we figure out the right “Equation” for Engaging Elected Officials (do you feel a knew acronym comin’ on), there may be other states who will want to do this too.

I know not every elected official will participate, but how exciting if ANOTHER THING that the National Day of Prayer is known for, is Engaging Every Elected Official.

Holy smokes! It would become the EEEO, instead of the EEO.

I know, I know, I know. “Preachers, they do everything with acronyms.”

It’s true! I can’t tell you how many times I’m talking with someone on the phone and instead of chuckling I want to say, LOL.

Sorry.

This year folks, EEEO, Engage Every Elected Official.

 

Blessings,

 

MARK S MIRZA
Founder/Author
C: (404) 606-2322
W: MarkMirza.com