Sins of Omission
When University of Connecticut sociologist Bradley Wright set out to critically examine all the dire statistics that have been mindlessly repeated about the state of Christianity in America, he had a hunch that most of them would fit Mark Twain's definition. And in general, he was right.
Evangelical Christians - as defined by what church they attend, and how often - are less likely to get divorced, less likely to do drugs, more honest, more likely to save sex for marriage, and more generous in all respects than the average American. They are well-educated, don't hate gays and lesbians, generally raise children who hold to their beliefs, and are more respected than they were 10 years ago. They don't always practice what they preach, or do so fully, but they do so more often than not. Ever the professor, Dr. Wright gives us a "B" overall.
But there was one glaring exception, which he found shocking and wished he could explain away. Evangelical Christians are, on average, more racist than the average American.
Curiously, having grown up in church, I can recall sermons railing against all manner of personal and social vices. I have heard repeated denunciations of divorce, usually with erroneous claims about the divorce rate of Christians. I have seen entire congregations subjected to insufferable jeremiads against behaviors which, by and large, they do not practice. But I have never heard a single sermon about racism. It was repeatedly addressed in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Our church in the city explicitly declared their intention to hire first an African-American pastor, and then an Asian one - and then did so. Our current rector even mentioned an incident of racial prejudice in one of his sermons. But by and large, the response of the present-day church has been silence.
Perhaps the real problem is that we don't practice what we don't preach.
Admittedly, Wright's finding that evangelicals are actually more racist cries out for explanation. One can't help but wonder if there is a regional bias to the data. Yes, the three most racially-integrated cities in America are Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta. But stereotypes usually exist for a reason. Are Baptists in Mississippi more racist than Catholics there - or atheists? Are Presbyterians and Anglicans in suburban Chicago more racist than their neighbors? And even if they are - who wants to hear a sermon about something that was supposed to be over at least 49 years ago?
But enough blame-shifting.
Every Sunday, there is a quiet spot in the liturgy when we can privately confess our sins to God. (I've always felt it should be at least 10 minutes long; maybe I'm a terrible sinner but after 30 seconds I'm just getting started). But immediately thereafter, we acknowledge that "we have done those things we ought not to have done, and left undone those things we ought to have done." Even if I'm feeling pretty righteous, it's the second half that always gets me.
Perhaps that's the real truth about the church in America. The problem isn't what we have done, but what we haven't.
Evangelical Christians - as defined by what church they attend, and how often - are less likely to get divorced, less likely to do drugs, more honest, more likely to save sex for marriage, and more generous in all respects than the average American. They are well-educated, don't hate gays and lesbians, generally raise children who hold to their beliefs, and are more respected than they were 10 years ago. They don't always practice what they preach, or do so fully, but they do so more often than not. Ever the professor, Dr. Wright gives us a "B" overall.
But there was one glaring exception, which he found shocking and wished he could explain away. Evangelical Christians are, on average, more racist than the average American.
Curiously, having grown up in church, I can recall sermons railing against all manner of personal and social vices. I have heard repeated denunciations of divorce, usually with erroneous claims about the divorce rate of Christians. I have seen entire congregations subjected to insufferable jeremiads against behaviors which, by and large, they do not practice. But I have never heard a single sermon about racism. It was repeatedly addressed in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Our church in the city explicitly declared their intention to hire first an African-American pastor, and then an Asian one - and then did so. Our current rector even mentioned an incident of racial prejudice in one of his sermons. But by and large, the response of the present-day church has been silence.
Perhaps the real problem is that we don't practice what we don't preach.
Admittedly, Wright's finding that evangelicals are actually more racist cries out for explanation. One can't help but wonder if there is a regional bias to the data. Yes, the three most racially-integrated cities in America are Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta. But stereotypes usually exist for a reason. Are Baptists in Mississippi more racist than Catholics there - or atheists? Are Presbyterians and Anglicans in suburban Chicago more racist than their neighbors? And even if they are - who wants to hear a sermon about something that was supposed to be over at least 49 years ago?
But enough blame-shifting.
Every Sunday, there is a quiet spot in the liturgy when we can privately confess our sins to God. (I've always felt it should be at least 10 minutes long; maybe I'm a terrible sinner but after 30 seconds I'm just getting started). But immediately thereafter, we acknowledge that "we have done those things we ought not to have done, and left undone those things we ought to have done." Even if I'm feeling pretty righteous, it's the second half that always gets me.
Perhaps that's the real truth about the church in America. The problem isn't what we have done, but what we haven't.
posted by Scott M Roney | 9:24 PM
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