I find it necessary every few months to explain why I’m writing the things I’m writing, and saying the things I’m saying.
Today’s motivation was a Facebook Messenger missive from a former pastor’s wife, who proceed to interrupt my Saturday morning’s rest and peace to accuse me of “slandering” White Evangelicals.
The post was long, cited Scripture, and called me to repent for my posts that criticize White Evangelicals obsession with Republicanism, Donald Trump, and racist White Supremacist politics.
Therefore, let me recap from my heart and soul.
First, I don’t hate White people in general, or White Evangelicals specifically.
If I hated White people, I’d be hating a significant portion of my ancestry (for the record, I don’t), and a number of family members, including my wife.
I don’t hate White Evangelicals. If I did, I’d be hating my wife, and men and women who I love and adore who fit that description. I wouldn’t be attending the wonderful church I attend, which is largely led, staffed, and attended by White Evangelicals.
No, I don’t hate either Whites or White Evangelicals.
The focus of my posts are Whites and White Evangelicals who do the following:
Conflate Christianity and the Republican Party into a ungodly single entity that attempts to incestuously mix politics and spirituality - two things that will never, ever rightfully coexist in the same space. They are like matter and anti-matter. They can’t occupy the same space without catastrophic results.
They continue to belong to Donald Trump’s Cult of Personality
Deny the existence of racism in America or argue that it is exaggerated and overstated
Are blind to the reality that White law enforcement are unnecessarily killing Black and Brown citizens
Who support racist voter suppression initiatives, including those passed in my home state of Georgia
There are many other points I could add to those above, but suffice it to say that I’m virulently anti-racist. Racism is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but it is real, exists, and is being promulgated by a large segment of society. This supportive segment is inordinately populated by White Republicans/Evangelicals.
I’m a Black pastor who will be held responsible for not using his talents and abilities to decry that which lives and breathes in God’s church that is not of Him.
I’m a Black man who lives in a state that vacillates between bemused frustration, rage, and mortal terror.
I’m a Black man who has a Black daughter, brother, biological and spiritual sisters, and friends and loved ones.
I don’t have a choice.
I have to speak out.
My life and wellbeing and the lives and wellbeing of many I hold dear are at stake.
If you feel slandered, search yourself.
Perhaps the old, unfortunately worded but accurate southern saying is applicable.
“A hit dog will holler.”