Racists
 

If u was going to a church that u was finding out that several people there was racist would u continue to go? It is eating me alive Im tryin to hold off till my move, due to there are no perfect churches out there and certainly none in my area I could go to anyways. Although my move isnt going to be for another three yrs. It really makes me not want to go anywhere. Plus im looking to adopt a child thru foster care in the next yr or less. My dream is to adopt outside my race. I love diversity!!! Wonder how well this would be taken at my church...

Re: Racists
 

Are you attending a black church? I find them, generally speaking, to be the most racist churchgoing folks in the world. Several years ago I heard T.D. Jakes speaking on television and he was telling his congregation to do business with black businesses. I thought, what if a white minister on tv would say, do business with white businesses. They'd not be in that network the next week, I guarantee you.

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No sir, its completely white. UNFORTUNALLY!!! I believe we would have sum more exciting services if black was there. Most the ppl are from the south that goes there if that explains a lot. And im wanting to move south... Wow so much to think about!!!

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there are racists in both black and white churches. As far as your church going, it depends on the leadership. Does the leadership welcome and encourage diversity or do they condone and tolerate racism. I could tolerate a few rotten apples in the congregation but not from the leadership.

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you are missing out on so much if you are not attending a multicultural church.

if your choir can't sway and sing at the same time,
you just might be in an all white church

if none of the sisters wear hats or scarves on their heads,
you just might be in an all white church

if there is no Jamaican food at the church picnic,
you just might be in an all white church

you need to come live in the south

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Our church used to be all white. We now have one black brother! When he first started coming, my pastor got word that someone had made some kind of racist remark. He waited till it was a service when our black bro was not there and he laid downt he law. He basically told us that if anyone had a problem with different races attending our church we needed to repent or leave. It was awesome! The area we live in has very little ethnic diversity. My pastor was praying God to send people of different ethnicities, so this really was a miracle. He wasn't going to let some sour puss destroy a soul. I would suggest you talk to your pastor and express your concerns to him. You'll know what to do after that.

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What did these people do to be deemed racists?

And... no ma'am... the fact that most of the people are from the south doesn't "explain a lot". That would be prejudiced if ones place of birth gave me an assumption of their beliefs & values.

Re: Racists
 

I think it's a bad idea to base whether or not you attend a church by the perfection of the other members. e.g., If you like the assembly in general and you like the church leadership, ignore the idiots. There will always be people who attend churches that you dislike. If they're racists, then they NEED to be there.

IMO, when someone says something racist, the best thing to do is speak up. Nothing cows a racist quicker than having someone call them on their views. Don't be ugly, because that puts you on the same level. You can say something like, "Oh...do you dislike black people?" while looking sincerely puzzled. Or, "One of my best friends is Hispanic...they aren't like *that* at all!" Etc. Speak up in defense of your views and presumably your friends.

And understand this: There are different types of racism, although I agree that it's all bad. There are people who have been brought up in certain cultures where ignorance abounds and they really don't know any better. Be kind to them and educate them as much as you can. Then there are people who are truly ungodly and malicious. They say the most vicious and hateful things about people who don't share their skin color. Avoid them, and if they ask you why, tell them. Bluntly.

Re: Racists
 

There is a completely different dynamic in that statement that, when mentioned alone, the complete picture is not presented.


Doing business with minority-owned businesses helps to keep these (usually smaller businesses) alive-- thus helping the entire community, blacks and those who live with them and around them.

If small businesses thrive it is good for the local, state and national economy.


There is an unspoken bias within some circles of the black community that if you do business with a black person, you can't trust them, their products are defective, their prices are higher, blah, blah, and blah. He was speaking against that notion as well.


Given the congreagation population, the economic history (which is INDEED tied to their race) and location of Pastor Jakes' church, the statement you mentioned is hardly racist.

Re: Racists
 

Weird, because I've felt exactly the opposite. Every time I've visited a black church, I've been warmly welcomed and I felt like part of the group. Probably moreso than when I've visited "white" churches for the first time. Generally speaking, diverse or ethnic churches just seem friendlier. (Is that a racist remark? :heeheehee)

Re: Racists
 

Re: Racists
 

That's the victim mentality that's so prevalent among blacks. If we aren't succeeding it's SOMEONE ELSE'S fault. The truth is,iIf a black owned business isn't succeeding, it's the black owned business's fault, not whitey.

Look at the thousands of successful minority businesses within the Asian community for a good example. Minority after minority succeeds with hard work and providing a commodity that's needed at fair prices. That's the American way.

To do business with a person or store simply because they're black owned is wrong and perpetuates the victim mentality that's so common within the black behavior.

Re: Racists
 

I attended a black church for a while. They welcomed us warmly. And I also taught the teenage class in Sunday School. It was awesome.

Re: Racists
 

In some parts of the country, maybe. The truth is a lot of small business's fail.

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I agree, seeker

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We recently sang at a COGIC church (almost 100% black membership) and we just can't keep up with the bookings since then. We were certainly received well and had a great time.

We were already booked for this coming Thursday or we would be singing at a COGIC youth revival in a neighboring town.

Re: Racists
 

One church I attended had a few seriously racist brothers and sisters. BUT... the church itself wasn't racist. The pastor preached against that kind of attitude strongly. If your pastor isn't the one making these remarks, I'd schedule a meeting with him and explain what you heard and how it troubled you. I'd also explain to him that you're looking to foster or adopt a child of another race and you're concerned with the environment they could face in the church. Upon hearing these things from you, I'd imagine that your pastor could address racism from the pulpit and make it clear on no uncertain terms that racist attitudes aren't tolerated in the church.

If that doesn't work... I'd change churches to protect the child I planned on fostering or adopting.

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Hands down, black churches are more welcoming and friendly.

Re: Racists
 

This has been my experience and cannot be generalized. But the only time that I've found "white" churches particularly unwelcome or seemingly uncomfortable is when I was in an area with very little diversity.

When churches are surrounded by diversity and people of all different colors, it's a lot harder to be ignorant about race. Just my two cents.

Re: Racists
 

I remember when we were helping a church that didn't have a pastor, some of us would rotate through. I invited a lady cashier she responded "isn't that a black church" I responded "not when I'm there" :)

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I love Black preachers! Lambert Gates is my favorite, although I like Noel Jones, T.D. Jakes and the late Norman Wagner and G.E. Patterson. I love their spirit when they preach!!!!

Re: Racists
 

I know "hispanics" who act "white" who will not sit under a black pastor because of culture shock, or that is their excuse.

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Yeah the "racism" (that's not really what it is), is in every "race" and in different kinds of churches.

I've mentioned tis before but I know of a Spanish Apostolic church that sees it as their "mission" to take hispanic members from other Apostolic churches based on the idea that the belong with their own kind. No joke.

On the other hand I know of a PAW that thinks my pastor has a problem with them because they are black. Never mind the fact that one of my Pastors good friends is a black baptist pastor of one of the largest churchs in this city.

There was a situation where we shared services with the PAW and each time, afterwards, we would find holes in the drum heads. There were other issues too. My pastor tried to reason with the PAW pastor over this stuff but he just got offended and assumed it was racism...never mind we shared several services with them. Why do that to begin with if my pastor is racist?

That's just stupid stuff. It needs to go out the window when we claim Jesus as Lord

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A very prominent white UPCI pastor in Mississippi once told his church that if they did not like black people coming to church, "The back of your head looks as good as the front. Just leave!" He never was able to turn that church around (he'd taken an established church from another), so he left it and started another from the ground up. He began it by busing in black folks so they would be in the foundation of the church. Anyone who did not approve would never stay long enough to spread their racism around.

He has a powerful, thriving, multicultural church in the heart of the south.

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At the church I went to east of Dallas up until a few years ago, we bused in more of the black community than the rest of the town, which was very much a segregated town -- 1/3 was whites, another 1/3 was hispanics, and the other 1/3 was black. The remaining was a mix of all three.

Unfortunately, most (not all) of the black kids we bused in were very disrespectful and abusive to property to the point we could not longer afford to pick them up. As for the rest, very much full of respect.

For those that know Terrell, TX, you'd know what I'm talking about...

Re: Racists
 

I agree, and there are areas of the country that are practically still segregated. Even in our little town, there is a distinct lack of minorities. Our kids go to a private school now, and it's mostly white with a handful of Hispanics or Native American Indians thrown in. People tend to be more ignorant in those areas and their actions and conversations match their lack of sophistication. Exposure to other cultures is the best remedy, but some people will always live in their own little pod. And some will only notice the negative aspects of other cultures and use it to support their ignorant notions.

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Bingo! My wife was raised in the racial box, but going to military being exposed to all races helped her greatly. Just like some white families instill junk in their kids, minorities do as well.

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I am also curious to know how she knows the people in her current church are racist?
I have been in several different churches in my lifetime, due to relocating with my job.
Three of these churches have been in the South and none of them were any way racist.
They were all great revival and evangelistic churches who had a passion for the lost, no matter the color of their skin.

Re: Racists
 

I think hispanics are taught that by their enviroment.

Re: Racists
 

Yep... I posed the same question.

I also find what appears to be a prejudiced statement toward southerners interesting.

Re: Racists
 

people have various experiences. Plus this is 2011, more prominent back in the day. People do change.

Re: Racists
 

I went to Jakes church a few months ago... felt no racism there at all. However there were a few other things that I did not enjoy.

the decibel level was waaay high. and there was a strange thing about money... alot of offering pomp - going into the sanctuary and coming out, not to mention the regular offering push and also people running up and throwing money at the speaker...
It really did not make me want to give.

Oh well.

Re: Racists
 

I don't think she said the church was racist but that she encountered some racist members

Re: Racists
 

I was born, rasied and still live in the south and your statement is racist. Racist does not just mean whites againts blacks. It sounds to me as if you are racist against people from the south and that puts you in the same category as those from your church who you claim are racist.

There are many intelligent non-racist people in the south. Unfornuately, the ones that get the attention are the ones who are racist. Curious as to how many non-racist people from the south are in your church?

Re: Racists
 

I agree with your statement and have made several posts to this effect.

But... I would interject this. Her statement isn't as much racist as it is prejudiced.

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You do not know Multi-Cultural until you have been to California. Church in more then one language. Red, Yellow, Black and White; they really are precious in His sight.

I lived in the South for a year. There was more racism from both sides that I have ever seen in my life. Not so much in the church that I attended though.

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Did you sing that in Sunday school too?

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I have been told repeatedly that I am racist because I cannot stand black gospel or rap.

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Yeah. That's why I tend to ask questions because the definitions for racist are so subjective and often ridiculous.

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No I sang: Red, yellow, black and green; strangest kids you have ever seen!!