tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post8687930829219486485..comments2023-08-10T06:32:38.601-04:00Comments on By Their Strange Fruit <a name="top"> </a>: "Whites Only"BTSF:http://www.blogger.com/profile/02553697351488297764noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-24520653985109269052012-07-10T16:43:01.968-04:002012-07-10T16:43:01.968-04:00"Judging is easy; self examination is hard&qu..."Judging is easy; self examination is hard" -- so true!StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-41020103044607913612012-07-10T14:54:06.351-04:002012-07-10T14:54:06.351-04:00Nicely redirected. Judging is easy; self examinat...Nicely redirected. Judging is easy; self examination is hard. Thanks for the challenge.David Marshallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-72326292696974085262012-07-09T16:47:30.649-04:002012-07-09T16:47:30.649-04:00Many times Sci-Fi worlds allow us to examine our o...Many times Sci-Fi worlds allow us to examine our own behavior in a way that is impossible other mediums and can be a great tool for initiating dialogue. Have you read/seen Derrick Bell's Space Traders? It is certainly more overt, but is still an interesting thought experiment on our own behavior.StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-75676631960347947662012-07-09T15:16:19.913-04:002012-07-09T15:16:19.913-04:00There is an episode of Star Trek "The Next Ge...There is an episode of Star Trek "The Next Generation" where Worf discovers a settlement of Klingons & Ramulans that have formed a community primarily around the "Ramulan" Cultural values. The Kilingons are taught to deny their natural instincts to adapt to Ramulan values & customs. To the observant, the episode is clearly a polemic on structural racism and internalized racism, but it is addressed in a way that can be eye opening to those who frame, teach and assert Christianity in a predominantly mono-cultural way as if it were the "only way" for it to be framed, taught and asserted.Robertnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-72470013098166482102012-07-09T10:24:10.241-04:002012-07-09T10:24:10.241-04:00Such a convicting book! And yeah, I bet most of th...Such a convicting book! And yeah, I bet most of those stats still hold true. Not much change in the last decade unfortunately. <br /><br />BTW, I enjoyed the talk you posted a couple weeks back. Check it out folks: <br />http://www.christenacleveland.com/2012/06/video-overcoming-divisions-in-the-church/StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-64054489274000134332012-07-09T10:09:18.520-04:002012-07-09T10:09:18.520-04:00I'm glad you have found a church that strikes ...I'm glad you have found a church that strikes that balance well. What strategies are in place there to help combat our very natural tenancy to seek familiarity and similarity?StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-83845674701367796312012-07-09T10:06:43.671-04:002012-07-09T10:06:43.671-04:00Great post! I especially like the part about how w...Great post! I especially like the part about how we subtly (and perhaps inadvertently) succumb to the forces of homogeneity. If Emerson & Smith's 2000 research is still somewhat accurate (I think it is!), then over 90% of churches engage in "for [insert ethnic group]'s only" worship. There's plenty of room for growth on this one!<br />While there IS a place for ethnically homogenous worship (as you note), most churches should strive to represent and include the diverse people of theirChristena Clevelandhttp://www.facebook.com/christenaclevelandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-17402523545198527082012-07-09T09:59:29.238-04:002012-07-09T09:59:29.238-04:00diaryofaredeemedsinner (http://diaryofaredeemedsin...diaryofaredeemedsinner (http://diaryofaredeemedsinner.wordpress.com/):<br /><br />Division is unfortunately an all too common reality in the Church and yes it goes both ways. I have been unwelcome in a church before due to my "whiteness". If we as a Body simply structure our services, worship, and sermons around the scripture and what Christ says and not a particular demographic, culture, or society than our churches will be welcoming to all peoples. But unfortunately all too often we seek to cater to a particular group and our churches our structured around that group leaving the rest feeling outcast. I love the fact that at the church I attend now, which is majority black (reflecting the surrounding community) that people of all races feel welcomed and the services are not targeted at a specific group but speaking biblical truth which applies to all peoples regardless of race, sex, or culture.diaryofaredeemedsinnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-31567843466816293872012-07-09T09:55:04.321-04:002012-07-09T09:55:04.321-04:00ONe does wonder what runs through people's hea...ONe does wonder what runs through people's heads...<br /><br />Conference was in Alabama. More background here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/05/whites-only-christian-conference-alabama-william-collier_n_1651268.htmlStrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-55120782953081447792012-07-09T08:26:13.261-04:002012-07-09T08:26:13.261-04:00Division is unfortunately an all too common realit...Division is unfortunately an all too common reality in the Church and yes it goes both ways. I have been unwelcome in a church before due to my "whiteness". If we as a Body simply structure our services, worship, and sermons around the scripture and what Christ says and not a particular demographic, culture, or society than our churches will be welcoming to all peoples. But unfortunately all too often we seek to cater to a particular group and our churches our structured around that group leaving the rest feeling outcast. I love the fact that at the church I attend now, which is majority black (reflecting the surrounding community) that people of all races feel welcomed and the services are not targeted at a specific group but speaking biblical truth which applies to all peoples regardless of race, sex, or culture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-54382995246983432762012-07-09T08:05:45.122-04:002012-07-09T08:05:45.122-04:00This is a great post! What seems contradicting is ...This is a great post! What seems contradicting is that while the "intent" was not to offend anyone, the same "intent" was I suspect than to be "welcoming?" At some point in time, did someone not say, This might not look good to others, may be offensive etc. etc. and if so, I wonder what the response would have been. I also find it ironic that the church is called, The Church of God's Chosen. Yea. Ok. Anyway, thanks for this post. Well explained. Good viewpoints. By the way, where was the conference held?bbrownenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1475128319218423248.post-91910194916642559152012-07-09T00:27:31.716-04:002012-07-09T00:27:31.716-04:00Thanks to Dan for the heads up on this story.Thanks to Dan for the heads up on this story.StrngeFruithttp://bytheirstrangefruit.comnoreply@blogger.com