“I hope it’s ok to ask this question,  he said almost apologetically,  “but what about race issues?”

The room was full for the wrap-up Q&A session for what had been an interesting analysis of the relationship between Jesus and his disciples during his three year ministry.

Sitting at the back were the only two African-American participants, one of whom had posed the question.

The wrap-up facilitator, clearly flummoxed, was not prepared for this question, inasmuch as race relations had never been discussed during the previous sessions.

“It’s ok,” he said. “I’m sure there are a few other Democrats here.”  Then he quickly moved to another subject.

A Post-WrapUp Followup

“This answer was very ironic” the black class member told me privately following the multi-session class on Christian discipleship. “I generally vote Republican.”

I had intentionally sought him out after the workshop, and asked if I might offer a better answer to his question.

I suggested that Jesus had quite a bit to say about race relations. He spoke through action when he treated the Samaritan woman at the well with dignity, and even delayed his trip for two days as he, a Jewish teacher, accepted the hospitality of the Samaritan villagers.

Or again in the famous parable in which he dared to make a Samaritan the story’s hero, whom to this day we call the “ Good Samaritan”.

Jesus’ point was clear: Common racial prejudices aside, the compassionate Samaritan was a neighbor to the seriously wounded Jewish traveler of the parable.

Jesus clearly challenged racial prejudices by teaching that “Love your neighbor” transcended racial distinctions and stereotypes.

Some Reflections After Several Years

I knew exactly why my Black brother felt compelled to ask the question to the roomful of white-folk. Our discipleship class had been held the weekend following four days of Black Lives Matter protests in that had occurred in Charlotte, NC  in 2016.

He, as did I, had watched the national news as the effort of the non-violent demonstrators was overshadowed by certain individuals who turned to vandalizing my city’s uptown.

It was beyond frustrating that a legitimate protest of many would later be conflated with the criminal actions of a smaller group gone rogue.

Needless to say, neither my black brother nor I received much comfort from the “white evangelical treatment” of an issue which had troubled us both.

After nearly four years of reflection since the workshop I offer the following observations.

1. White Evangelicals often equate issues of social fairness with “Democratic politics” and choose not to engage.

2. Too often there seems to be a disconnect between the method of making disciples and the actual content of Jesus’ message to his disciples.

3. There is often greater emphasis on “disciple-making” and “church-building” than an intentional soul searching that makes room for the kingdom of God.

4. Many professing white Christians do not have an adequate spiritual vocabulary to respectfully dialogue with those of color, and little inclination to seek out the hearts of those of different backgrounds.

5. It is apparently easier to feel indignation about vandalism or looting, than to lament the 400+ years in which (our noble assertions notwithstanding) all lives clearly have not mattered!

The persistence of BLM protests in the face of continued unnecessary deaths at the hands of law enforcement has apparently broken through into our collective consciousness as city after city is declaring in bold letters that Black Lives Matter after all.

Yet I fear that this is in spite of the many white evangelicals who have preferred to live in some sacred bubble of denial, rather than embracing an obvious present-day application of Jesus’ teaching.

On Tuesday, June 9, 17 local artists painted an entire Uptown block with three words: Black Lives Matter
The street mural was part of a collaboration with the City of Charlotte, Charlotte is Creative, Brand The Moth, BLKMRKTCLT, and the artists.
(See   https://www.axios.com/2023/06/19/black-lives-matter-street-murals )