Racial Justice is too Important to Give to God

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A friend of mine recently expressed frustration on Facebook over the recent injustices towards people of color in our nation. One of the comments on the post was as striking as it was familiar. A white person expressed sympathy towards the plight of people of color in America today, expressed her own frustrations, and then concluded that we just have to ‘give it to God’.

Can I be so bold as to suggest that what we mean when we say ‘giving it to God’ might be the most backwards and unbiblical thing believers can do? To be sure ‘surrender’ and ‘submission’ to a holy God are undoubtedly biblical concepts, but those concepts only make sense when our will is in conflict with God’s. When we want true biblical justice, we don’t need to surrender our will to God because we know that our will is God’s will.

All too often what we mean when we say ‘give it to God’ is that we’re done trying, we’re throwing our hands up and hoping it all works out. It’s a very spiritual sounding way of saying -“I’m not going to do anything about this.”

Does this work in any area of life? If you lose your job, do you sit back and hope it all works out or do you get to work on a resume, and ask your friends and family if they have any leads? When your child is sick do you take a passive approach or do you get them to the doctor?

The entirety of scripture is the story of God inviting human beings to participate and partner in redemption and reconciliation with God.

My fear is that perhaps our real feelings are more sinister than simple exasperation, and are in reality an unwillingness to follow God into true participation of a radical reconciliation process.

As a white person, partnering with God probably means being intolerant of my church being 99% white and having no positions of leadership belonging to people of color. Partnering with God might truly mean moving out of my 95% white neighborhood and sending my kids to a school that isn’t 95% white.

Partnering with God means intentionally, purposefully and regularly praying against violence, against the idea that black men are to be feared and presumed guilty, and that poverty within minority communities is simply a choice they have made, and examining ourselves to eradicate any of those feelings within ourselves.

We can’t act as if God hasn’t given us a means of being co-laborers with Him, that’s not His nature, He has promised to prepare good works for us in advance (Eph 2:10). If we feel like there is nothing that can be done, that should be the signal within us that we have found God’s calling too radical and too impractical to be bothered with.

Photo by 1950’sUnlimited

Faith & Culture Writers Conference

fcwcI’m extremely excited to be leading two workshops at this years Faith & Culture Writers Conference.

The conference has a great line up including past Seminary Dropout guests Tony Kriz & WM Paul Young, as well as others like Romal Tune & Emily P. Freeman.

The two workshops I’ll be leading are:

Say It: Using Podcasting to Go Deeper

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Interviewing: The Art of Asking Good Questions

Like I said, I’m extremely excited to be apart of this conference and to be included in such a stellar line up. If you’re in the Portland area (and even if you’re not) I’d LOVE to see you there.


 

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Almost immediately after the conference we’ll be doing something big. Like really BIG.
*drum roll begins*

Like, the first ever, live taping of Seminary Dropout.

Here is your chance to be present at the first ever live taping of the podcast. Just like the non-live version, I’ll have an amazing guest (yet to be announced) and we’ll talk about faith and life.
There should be enough seating for everyone but just in case you’d better register here

Book Giveaway: Leroy Barbers – Red, Brown, Yellow, Black, White—Who’s More Precious In God’s Sight?

Now that you’ve heard my interview with Leroy Barber, and know how important his book is, here’s a chance to win it!

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There are 2 easy steps to enter:

1. Simply subscribe to Seminary Dropout in iTunes.

2. Leave a comment, any comment, in the comments section alcoholism below.

That’s it!

If you’re already subscribed to Seminary Dropout then you only need to complete step 2.

You must live in the continental US to win. Sorry, Hawaii, Alaska, and all other countries. I love you, but postage is just too much.

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO SUBSCRIBE

C.S. Lewis Got it Wrong on Violence & War

Several months back I reread C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity. I was struck at how many things he said with a tone of being new or controversial, while in todays Christian worldview they were commonplace. I can only assume that in that important work of Christian literature he established a new normal within Christianity, and for the most part I’m thankful for that. I love Lewis, he’s brilliant, he loved the Lord. I also think he was wrong about some things. For all the ways that he ignored culture and had a vision for the world as God saw it, in many ways he was also a product of his time.

While I think Lewis would shutter to know how readily many Christians rush to support war and violence today. He was far from a pacifist, and he left no doubt with this passage…

…the Christian in arms for the defense of a good cause – is one of the great Christian ideas.  War is a dreadful thing, and I can respect an honest pacifist, though I think he is entirely mistaken.

I say all of this because I want to borrow (steal?) Lewis’s rhetoric and turn it on it’s head, because it’s the exact (opposite) way I feel about the issue.

I can respect the honest violence-apologist, but only after they’ve ready closely the words of Jesus and how Christians have interpreted those words throughout history, especially before Constantine ushered in the idea of Christian military power.

More to the point if you’ve honestly read the Sermon on the Mount with a fresh ear, and read Christian literature on non-violence and still don’t see Jesus’s call in scripture to it, then although I still disagree with you, you’ve certainly earned the right to believe that God allows violence. But more than not, those I hear beating the war drum in the name of Christ have no theology behind it other than some vague notion about violence in the Old Testament, and a feeling that ‘God is on our side’. It seems like when something as serious and sacred as a human life is on the line, we had better do our homework and make sure that what we believe is based on something substantial.

Win Donald Miller’s Newest Book ‘Scary Close’!

Congratulations Ashley Hales, you won!

 

It totally slipped my mind in last weeks Seminary Dropout episode with Donald Miller that I was given an extra copy and I want to give it away to you!

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There are 2 easy steps to enter:

1. Simply subscribe to Seminary Dropout in iTunes.

2. Leave a comment, any comment, in the comments section below.

That’s it!

If you’re already subscribed to Seminary Dropout then you only need to complete step 2.

You must live in the continental US to win. Sorry, Hawaii, Alaska, and all other countries. I like you, but postage is just too much.

How Should Christians Feel About Muslims?

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We hear of  a new terrorist attack in the news seemingly every week. Isis, Al-Qaeda, mass killings, beheadings; it’s enough to make us scared.

I remember when the Sandy Hook school shootings happened and parents across the country were struggling to find ways to tell their kids that it was safe for them to go to school. The problem was that children don’t have a good grasp on the vast remoteness of something similar happening to them; the idea that yes, something horrible happened but, there are over a hundred thousand primary schools in the country and all but a minute number of them have had a very peaceful existence, is lost on a 6-year-old who’s scared.

By now maybe you’ve gathered where I’m going with this.

Many adults, Christian adults, also have a problem conceptualizing that the frequent reporting of Muslim terrorist attacks in the news in no way portrays a picture of  the minutia of Muslim terrorists in a sea of 1.57 billion Muslims world-wide.

So to be clear, to portray Islam as a religion of hate/war/death/etc., based on those Muslims involved in terrorists attacks is first, factually inaccurate, and facts should matter for Christians, we’re called to be truth tellers and seekers. We tend to act like there’s no one who calls themselves a Christian who embarrasses us. How would you feel if you were lumped in with Woodsboro Baptist Church as they protest funerals of members of the military, or the actions of Christians in the Crusades where the death toll is somewhere between 1 and 3 million? 

Second, and maybe more importantly, it’s no way to show love to Muslims in our community. I say ‘more importantly’ because it wouldn’t really matter if 100% of Muslims were terrorists or extremists, our call to from the mouth of Jesus himself to love our enemies does not change, and although many have tried, it takes an enormous suspension of disbelief to conclude that literal violence or even speaking hatefully is loving.

Don’t misunderstand me! This is not an ‘all religions lead to the same God’ post. I find it intellectually impossible to follow the Jesus of scriptures and also believe in that type of Unitarianism. In fact it’s this belief in the exclusivity of Jesus as Lord and Savior that compels me to share his radical love and not disparaging generalizations with everyone.

 

Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out. Is one’s first feeling, ‘Thank God, even they aren’t quite so bad as that,’ or is it a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies are as bad as possible? If it is the second then it is, I am afraid, the first step in a process which, if followed to the end, will make us into devils. You see, one is beginning to wish that black was a little blacker. If we give that wish its head, later on we shall wish to see grey as black, and then to see white itself as black. Finally we shall insist on seeing everything — God and our friends and ourselves included — as bad, and not be able to stop doing it: we shall be fixed for ever in a universe of pure hatred. -C.S. Lewis

Top 3 Posts of 2014

austin fischer3.) Seminary Dropout 029: Austin Fischer… Young, Restless, No Longer Reformed

Podcast episodes generally don’t attract as much views as a blog post (mostly because they are generally consumed directly from iTunes, Stitcher, etc.), so it’s big feat for one to become the 3rd most viewed post. Obviously the Calvinist/Arminian topic is still a hot one, and Austin adds a wonderful contribution to that conversation.

 

 

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2.) 5 Lessons Learned through Foster Care to Adoption

It doesn’t hurt my feelings a bit that the second most popular post in 2014 was a guest post. It’s well deserved. My friend and fellow blogger Kenneth Camp shares what he’s learned in his experience of foster care and adoption.

 

1.) 5 Ways To Be Unsatisfied With Your Church

This was actually posted in 2013 but some other publications picked it up and it’s become by far my most read post. I’m curious what your thoughts are on what’s happening in churches that made this the top post – was it anger, agreement, or something else?

Top Christian Books of 2014

Same as last year. A more accurate title would be “Top Books I’ve Read in 2014″, because this is solely based on my opinion, and because my criteria was that I had to have read it this year, but not all of the books were necessarily released this year. Also, it’s important to note that, yes, most of these books were written by Seminary Dropout guests, which may seem self serving, but honestly just reading the books of SD guests (which I must do to conduct the best interviews possible), leaves me little additional time for reading anything else.
Note: All links to books are affiliate links.

Now, on to the good stuff…

9. The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows (The Apprentice Series)

This is the first in a series of 3 books by James Bryan Smith. They’re somewhat devotional in nature, but don’t be fooled, these are not airbrushed light-hearted thoughts for your day. As James would say, it’s ‘soul exercise’, and he’s not lying, but more accurately it’s soul power-lifting, and yet the reader need not be a ‘super-Christian’.
Here’s my talk with James.

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8. Fight: A Christian Case for Non-Violence & A Farewell to Mars: An Evangelical Pastor’s Journey Toward the Biblical Gospel of Peace

These are two great books on Christian non-violence that came out this year. Although they’re on the same subject both books approach the subject very differently. While Brian Zahnd takes more of a personal approach describing his own journey as well as some philosphical arguments for Christian non-violence, Preston Sprinkle examines and deconstructs scripture to make a compelling case for CN-V. The pair are very complimentary.
My interview with Preston here & Brian here.

7. Fail: Finding Hope and Grace in the Midst of Ministry Failure

If you don’t know, working in ministry is hard. Broken relationships, moral failures, and a being left a shell of a human being, this is experience of too many working in our churches today. Sometimes the hurt is self inflicted but many times it’s not. There are far too few resources available for pastors and ministers. J.R. Briggs shares his experience of starting a Fail Convention for ministers to gather and talk about their failures.
Check out my interview with J.R. here.

 

6. The Shack

I’m late to the party, I know. I’m a contrarian so when The Shack first came out I assumed it was awful since every Christian I knew loved it. However many years later I heard Paul Young being interviewed on NPR and I liked what he had to say. I read The Shack, cried, and then invited Paul on Seminary Dropout.
Check out my interview with W.M. Paul Young here.

 

5. Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More—Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist

Hannah More had a fascinating life in an interesting time period. She was jilted three times by her fiancé, once at the alter. Her friends were a veritable who’s who of famous brit’s of the time. She was an abolitionist when most people looked the other way or were adamantly against the abolishment of an industry that contributed such a signification percentage of their countries economy. Hannah More based this conviction in her faith is Christ. It’s a good story with a great author. Karen Swallow Prior’s writing won’t let you put this one down.
My interview with Karen Swallow Prior.

 

4. Young, Restless, No Longer Reformed: Black Holes, Love, and a Journey In and Out of Calvinism
Acts 29 churches, The Gospel Coalition, and the Christian best-seller list, Calvinism is ubiquitous in the evangelical church & culture today. What’s an Arminian or Open Theist who is passionate about Christ to do?! Not to worry, Austin Fischer has us covered. Austin was once a die-hard John Piper reading calvinist, but then everything changed. Austin is transparent in telling his story. He’s also generous to those he’s disagrees with. If you’re a die hard Calvinist, a radical Open-Theist, or just searching, read. this. book.
Here’s my interview with Austin.

 

3. Slow Church: Cultivating Community in the Patient Way of Jesus

Slow Church is about the McDonaldization of the church and what it’s doing to us, some dangerous ramifications of the church growth movements, and why efficiency in the church may not be a good thing. I don’t normally use this word to describe books, but I’ll say that this book is important. If you’re frustrated with church as you’ve known it, read this book. If you’re not frustrated with church but wonder why those around you are, read this book. I’ll offer a serious word of warning here: be careful not to judge your own church because it’s not a ‘slow church’, even the transition of becoming a slow church, will be slow. Be patient with your clergy, and church members. A good first step is reading this book alongside them.
For a small taste of what Slow Church is about, listen to my interview with the authors Chris & John.

 

2. Girl at the End of the World: My Escape from Fundamentalism in Search of Faith with a Future

Elizabeth Esther has quite a story. Raised in a fundamentalist Jesus cult, Elizabeth spent her adolescence proclaiming judgement in the streets and preparing for the apocalypse. GEW is a case study in good intentions evolving into a thirst for control, and might have stopped there if Elizabeth Esther weren’t such an apt writer, but she is, and so it also feels like a best-selling novel. The story stands on it’s own, and then you remember it actually happened.
Listen to my interview with Elizabeth here.

1. Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart

Segregation was banned 1964, and yet here I sit in 2014 and our churches still look like a pre-civil-rights relic.
This is just one of the gems from DiC that has stuck with me:

‘…most people don’t see homogeneity as a problem as long as it’s not motivated by explicit prejudice.’

If I had to guess, most people would like their churches to be more diverse, but find it quite acceptable for them not to be. The diversity Christena Cleveland proposes isn’t just racial, but also economic, and theological.

If you haven’t picked up on it, this book might ruin you to homogeneous church. Let it.

Hear my interview with Christena here.

 

What books are on your list?

I Need Your Story!

I’m about to start a new project, it’s gonna be BIG and I need your help!

It can be a story about you or someone you know. The only two qualifications are that the story has to be about someone showing love, compassion, or selflessness, and you don’t mind it being shared in public if your skin care story is chosen. It can be a big or small. We all have at least one story we can share and I want to hear yours!

Send your story in 200 words or less (you can fill in the details when/if your story is chosen) to shane@shaneblackshear.com.

I can’t wait to hear from you!