Pentecost and Prejudice

A transformed heritage

My Dad and Mom were both born in the early years of the Depression in what they would call ‘normal’ conditions. They were both in their twenties and thirties during the civil rights movement of the 50’s and 60’s. My Dad was raised in a predominately black rural community and my Mom was raised in what was officially known as a “sundown town,” meaning any person who wasn’t white needed to be out of the city before sundown.

I should have had a different upbringing. Culture was set to fill my head and heart with an agenda to perpetuate hatred. But the grace of God entered my family years ago and the normal cycle of hatred, prejudice and racism stopped. I never heard the “n” word come out of my parents’ mouths. I never saw or heard a slang derogatory word from my Mom or Dad simply due to the color of a person’s skin. How could they have lived that life and modeled that love to their family? They were not products of a natural culture; they were products of a transformed life. Both sets of my grandparents were baptized in the Holy Spirit during the Pentecostal Revivals that swept through the mid-west in the 1920’s and 30’s. Pentecost changed my heritage. My grandparents were transformed by the Pentecost of Acts that empowered people with boldness and authority. It also unified people from different cultures, race and language with a heart to do life together. My grandparents taught my parents to live and love at a higher standard than the community around them. My parents taught me those same lessons.

Counterculture by calling

As a Pentecostal Fellowship, we are called to be counterculture. We are equipped to be the change the world needs to see. We are called to shape culture not surrender to it. The pull of our culture is so strong that it often infiltrates our thinking, at times without us even noticing. Our thinking and responding can unfortunately become more a product of the World than the Word. Friends, it is Biblically impossible to be both Pentecostal and prejudice. When we use words like prejudice, or racist, it often invokes several responses. People either become defensive, in denial, deceived, or open for discussion. Relating to our fellowship and every leader, I pray we are all open for discussion and not given to denial, defensiveness or deceit.

The Elephant Room

This week I had the privilege to sit down with seven Louisiana leaders and discuss the issue of racism. The goal was to record an hour of content and produce the first episode of our much anticipated “Elephant Room.” That 1 hour turned into 4, and our desire for one episode grew into a multi-episode production. I am so excited as Josh puts the finally touches on the video and gets it ready to air.

One of our discussion points focused on developing next steps of action. We have all taken part in meetings where we met, and then nothing. We talked, and then nothing. I believe we are all tired of ‘nothing.’ It is time to reevaluate our strategies of eradicating racism, or else we will continue to circle the issue with just talk, only to find ourselves back at the familiar, but unfortunate place of grieving another atrocity.

An honest look within

Our first step can be, and should be, an honest look within ourselves. We start by asking, “Is there any form of racism in me?” When we don’t have a white robe with a hood hanging in the closet, we are often quick to answer, “I am not racist”. When we are not ‘extreme’, we can easily think we are not ‘any’. Prayerfully look at the following list and think about each point with an open heart.

Recognizing racism in ourselves

Recognizing Racism in Ourselves and our Church

1. We are Homogenous, no diversity
   i.e.: our circle of friends; our leadership; our media, publications, music
2. We still feel compelled to describe people by the color of their skin...
   i.e.: That black person _______; Black babies are so cute; I was talking to my black friend.
3. We think saying “I’m colorblind” is a positive remark when it actually means, I don’t see you or respect the differences between you and me.
4. We remain silent and still in the presence of injustice upon others.
5. We remain silent in the presence of remarks or attempted humor that demeans, degrades, or diminishes people.
6. We are surprised by a person’s intellect or ability to articulate.
7. We use the words ‘them’, ‘they’ or ‘those people’ when consciously or subconsciously making distinctions.
8. We justify our innocence and defend the fact that we had no part in slavery.
9. We fail to see a system that gives advantage to white people.
10. We have preconceived ideas about people because of their skin color and culture
    i.e.: sports, food, intellect, professions
11. We find humor or make derogatory remarks concerning any part of a different culture
    i.e.: naming children, apparel, styles, personal preference
12. We feel superior, better qualified, or more educated simply because of skin color.
13. We measure unity by other people’s willingness to adapt to our ways or accommodate to our preferences.
14. The “n” word may not be part of our spoken vocabulary, but it’s used as part of our mental assessment of people.
15. When an injustice is done, we attempt to explain and justify bad behavior.
    i.e.: He should have never been in that neighborhood; He should have complied to the police; He should not have been wearing that hoodie.
16. We readily explain our choice as preference instead of prejudice.
    i.e.: that church just isn’t my style: that person makes me uncomfortable.
17. We think that because we’ve had a Black President, we assume every person has an equal opportunity for success.

Louisiana Assemblies of God
P.O. Box 7388
Alexandria, LA 71306
318.445.6238