Curated topics for a disillusioned church
All of the resources that address racism. Visit our racism guided learning paths page to download our guides.
Critical race theory is being used by many people as a weapon and many people are not taking the time to dig into what CRT actually is. Is critical race theory a tool that Christians can use? Absolutely. Is it a tool that Christians will use to direct church doctrine? No. As Christians we must be nuanced and distinct in our response to CRT.
In a nuanced, informative, and kind sermon, pastor Jon Tyson defines privilege as "when you do nothing and you get something." Tyson then proceeds to give the history of the modern understanding of privilege saying that most people land on the rights side or the responsibility side on the privilege spectrum. Using Philippians 2:1-11 as his basis he says that Christians need a distinct approach to privilege - a redirection that elevates and benefits those who need help in our society.
Lamont English tells it like it is by stating that Christians are treating critical race theory in the 2020's the same way white Christians treated racism and white supremacy in the 1960's by blanket labeling it communist and Marxist. Sure, there are parts of critical race theory that Christians should reject, but there are also useful parts. At the very least Christians should do their homework and not parrot platitudes.
Priest Tish Harrison Warren argues that the church's response to racism should be different then the worlds - we should be able to admit systemic racism while also moving past the guilt and shaming of others and ourselves. We love the both/and worldview of this article.
The reason why many white people become defensive when talking about white privilege is because white people have never had to reckon with whiteness as an identity. Author, professor, and theologian Dr. Willie Jennings says that we have to recognize whiteness and it's deep roots in American society and the American church before reconciliation can happen. If you are white, this is a difficult, but needed, critique to listen to.
Dating back to the 1800's with the Chinese Exclusion Act to the Immigration Act of 1927 to putting Japanese into interment camps during World War II to the current wave of of violence against Asians in the 2000's there have been countless waves of anti-Asian laws and sentiment in the United States. Asian American Christian Collaborative president Raymond Chang says Christians and the church must speak up and declare that Asian Lives Matter.
Penned from a person who grew up extremely poor the author sympathizes with why poor white people react vehemently against the term white privilege, but ultimately comes to the conclusion that white privilege does exist and perhaps why so many poor white people have a problem with the term is because classism is mixed up in the term.
A thorough history of the church and its complicity with racism and white supremacy doctrine. An excellent starting point to learning about the church and racism working hand in hand. The next step would be to read or watch The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby.
An excerpt from the paper that started it all. Instead of categorically dismissing intersectionality, read the original paper and come to an opinion yourself. We found it to be compelling and a useful exercise to answer the twenty six questions included in the excerpt.
Grounded in Genesis in the Imago Dei The Gospel in Color firmly traces the evolution of racism back to the garden of Eden when sin entered the world. But, Jesus coming into the world and dying on a cross allows us to be reconciled to him while modeling what it takes to be reconciled to each other.
Sunday to Saturday 
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