Ed Stetzer - Race Relations, Affirmative Action, and the Church: More Reflections on The Help

Why is it that we still seem to struggle with this issue 150 years after slavery and nearly 50 years after the Civil Rights Act? Why can conversations with those of different races be so stilted, appreciation of our cultural differences so hard, and inter-racial friendships feel so forced?

Why is it that so few African Americans go to white churches and vice versa? That so few churches reflect the racial demographics of their host community? That so many white parents would still rather have their daughter marry a non-Christian white man than a godly, Christ-honoring African-American young man? Why the judgment on Mexicans? Are we concerned at all that certain areas of our country may be creating another generation of "helpers" out of Latin immigrants?

The church is trailing society in an area where we should be setting the pace. Followers of Jesus Christ, for whom there is "no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" should be leading the nation in racial reconciliation, not being dragged kicking and screaming by unbelievers into a life the Kingdom anticipates. Too often, the church trails the culture. For that matter, too many "Christians" were holding the hoses at Selma, not standing for equality. The church still trails.

According to research from Dr. Michael Emerson, recently shared by Mark DeYmaz in our Church Planting Leadership Fellowship:

• 92 1/2 % of churches in the US are racially segregated (with 80% or more of the congregation comprised of a single race or ethnic group).


• Churches are 10x more segregated than the neighborhoods they're in ...


• 20x more segregated than nearby public schools.

via www.edstetzer.com