Comments on: Who Makes the Race Cards? http://pcpj.org/blog/uncategorized/who-makes-the-race-cards/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Jesus-Shaped, Spirit-Empowered Peace with Justice Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:58:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RandyT http://pcpj.org/blog/uncategorized/who-makes-the-race-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-267 RandyT Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:47:45 +0000 http://pcpj.org/blog/?p=87#comment-267 Paul, I came across your blog searching for information on "Peace to War: Shifting Allegiances in the Assemblies of God", by Paul Alexander. And the first post I read is this one about race. I have seen Christians play their race cards my complete 63 year life. I live in NorthTexas, not a hot bed of Democratic voters for sure, but one thing I have noticed in just the last couple of months is a pickup just down the street flying a new, very large, Confederate flag! Raicst? I believe so, but I don't know the man's heart. Believe it or not, though my neighborhood is very intergrated. I have yet to ask any of my black neighbors their thoughts on the Confederate flag waving pickup truck. Why my interest in Alexander's book? After leaving the Navy, getting married and having two childrens I re-entered the Navy and finished a career. One issue I had a spiritural battle with was earning my living in an organization designed to fight war. I basically came to the very common conclusion that there is a "time for war." But, I don't believe as we do now to all but worship war and violence as a way to solve personal or national issues. I find that very much anti-Christ like. During this time and a few years later my family worshiped in the AG church. Back to the race thing quickly. One of our last Navy transfers was from Pensacola, FL to a ship in San Diego. For about a month we had our home in Pensacola up for sale. EVERY white person that looked at it asked, "how many "'n-word'" live around here?" That was 1988. I just had a conversation with an older than me retire Master Chief there - and believe me things have not changed for about a third or more of the population in that area - Christians and non-Christians. Peace to you and yours, Randy of Lewisville, TX Paul, I came across your blog searching for information on “Peace to War: Shifting Allegiances in the Assemblies of God”, by Paul Alexander. And the first post I read is this one about race. I have seen Christians play their race cards my complete 63 year life.

I live in NorthTexas, not a hot bed of Democratic voters for sure, but one thing I have noticed in just the last couple of months is a pickup just down the street flying a new, very large, Confederate flag! Raicst? I believe so, but I don’t know the man’s heart. Believe it or not, though my neighborhood is very intergrated. I have yet to ask any of my black neighbors their thoughts on the Confederate flag waving pickup truck.

Why my interest in Alexander’s book? After leaving the Navy, getting married and having two childrens I re-entered the Navy and finished a career. One issue I had a spiritural battle with was earning my living in an organization designed to fight war. I basically came to the very common conclusion that there is a “time for war.” But, I don’t believe as we do now to all but worship war and violence as a way to solve personal or national issues. I find that very much anti-Christ like. During this time and a few years later my family worshiped in the AG church.

Back to the race thing quickly. One of our last Navy transfers was from Pensacola, FL to a ship in San Diego. For about a month we had our home in Pensacola up for sale. EVERY white person that looked at it asked, “how many “‘n-word’” live around here?” That was 1988. I just had a conversation with an older than me retire Master Chief there – and believe me things have not changed for about a third or more of the population in that area – Christians and non-Christians.

Peace to you and yours,
Randy of Lewisville, TX

]]> By: Rich Foss http://pcpj.org/blog/uncategorized/who-makes-the-race-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-265 Rich Foss Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:22:28 +0000 http://pcpj.org/blog/?p=87#comment-265 Paul, an excellent post, especially timely because this week Jimmy Carter said, "“I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he is African-American.'' This morning I was listening to a white radio personality upset about Carter's comments. Your post was a clear explanation of how we whites have used the race card for generations and get upset when others use it. Paul, an excellent post, especially timely because this week Jimmy Carter said, ““I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he is African-American.” This morning I was listening to a white radio personality upset about Carter’s comments. Your post was a clear explanation of how we whites have used the race card for generations and get upset when others use it.

]]> By: Paul Alexander http://pcpj.org/blog/uncategorized/who-makes-the-race-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-264 Paul Alexander Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:24:01 +0000 http://pcpj.org/blog/?p=87#comment-264 That's a perfect question to ask - what does it mean to say we're "Christians?" I think one could make an argument that we're not very good followers of Jesus if we're racist or prejudiced. The lady was a self-proclaimed Christian and all her family and friends knew her as a 3-times-a-week church attending, tongue-talking, tithes-paying, missions-supporting, Sunday School-teaching, Christian. I know Christians who think it's okay to kill people sometimes, but I seriously disagree with them. Am I willing to say they're not Christians? No. I think it's a matter of discipleship or 'sanctification' rather than salvation (that's by grace), but it's tempting to think that if someone says they're following Jesus but advocate killing of enemies rather than loving of enemies, then maybe they don't quite get it yet. :-) Same is true for racism.... That’s a perfect question to ask – what does it mean to say we’re “Christians?” I think one could make an argument that we’re not very good followers of Jesus if we’re racist or prejudiced.

The lady was a self-proclaimed Christian and all her family and friends knew her as a 3-times-a-week church attending, tongue-talking, tithes-paying, missions-supporting, Sunday School-teaching, Christian.

I know Christians who think it’s okay to kill people sometimes, but I seriously disagree with them. Am I willing to say they’re not Christians? No. I think it’s a matter of discipleship or ‘sanctification’ rather than salvation (that’s by grace), but it’s tempting to think that if someone says they’re following Jesus but advocate killing of enemies rather than loving of enemies, then maybe they don’t quite get it yet. :-)

Same is true for racism….

]]> By: Chris http://pcpj.org/blog/uncategorized/who-makes-the-race-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-263 Chris Sat, 12 Sep 2009 22:35:12 +0000 http://pcpj.org/blog/?p=87#comment-263 What makes you think that your "Christian" friend who played the race card is a Christian? What do you call a "Christian"? What makes you think that your “Christian” friend who played the race card is a Christian? What do you call a “Christian”?

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