Listen now (46 mins) | Despite major progress in civil rights, black economic uplift, and even electing a black President, the question of race continues to be an ongoing major issue in the United States.
Evangelicals are in need of reform at least as much as are poor blacks. They are nearly all deeply involved in progressivism and "wokism." If we are capable of progress, this is not it. Throughout the history of mankind there is more to indicate we are devolving than evolving. Again, if we are capable of progress, it lies in getting back to a proper relationship with our creator.
Education is usually pointed to as fundamental to progress, and in some ways it is, but not in the direction that much of the education is conducting wrongly. Its fundamental error is its misunderstanding of human nature. We are not basically good, nor are we capable of getting better on our own. Christianity, as it is usually understood, will not make us better. As Paul taught in Romans, we are slaves to sin. We know what to do and we want to do it, but we instead do what is wrong. And he was not saying that we were that way before we became Christians but we are no longer like that. "So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Rom 7:25)
Paul was educated in the law of God, but that did not make him a good man, and it won't make us good men. Does that mean that we should not seek education? Of course not. Paul wrote most of the New Testament. He spent his life, after he was converted, teaching. But he never forgot what he was like. Neither must we.
We need to realize that it was educated, enlightened Christian people who kidnapped Africans, transported them across the world and made them slaves. Even after they were forced at the point of guns to free them from slavery, educated, enlightened Christians continued to deny them the right to education and treated them as subhuman. And, in many ways still do.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) That's a very big if. Very few Christians and fewer non-Christians will even admit their wicked ways and become humble, let alone pray and seek God's face or turn from their wicked ways. The enlightenment has yet to enlighten us, and it won't until we humble ourselves. That first step is the hardest.
Trying to educate others to become like us is worse than useless, for if the blind try to lead the blind, they will both fall deeper into the ditch.
Nigel Biggars latest book would do you a world of good. History is more complex than you made out and what makes Christian civilization unique is not that it had slavery but that it fought so hard to end it worldwide. By the million many voted with their feet to live under the rule of Christian nations and empires.
Who used those guns on “enlightened Christians” as you put it? It was other Christians. Did the Muslims, or Hindus crusade to end slavery? Buddhists or Shinto?
I will look into Biggars' book. The rest of your response indicates you didn't understand my comment. Christians killing Christians is an example of Christians' misunderstanding Jesus' and the Apostles Christian teachings.
This was a dynamite podcast. Definitely worth watching. It changed my understanding of the nature of poverty in this country.
Thanks, John!
Evangelicals are in need of reform at least as much as are poor blacks. They are nearly all deeply involved in progressivism and "wokism." If we are capable of progress, this is not it. Throughout the history of mankind there is more to indicate we are devolving than evolving. Again, if we are capable of progress, it lies in getting back to a proper relationship with our creator.
Education is usually pointed to as fundamental to progress, and in some ways it is, but not in the direction that much of the education is conducting wrongly. Its fundamental error is its misunderstanding of human nature. We are not basically good, nor are we capable of getting better on our own. Christianity, as it is usually understood, will not make us better. As Paul taught in Romans, we are slaves to sin. We know what to do and we want to do it, but we instead do what is wrong. And he was not saying that we were that way before we became Christians but we are no longer like that. "So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Rom 7:25)
Paul was educated in the law of God, but that did not make him a good man, and it won't make us good men. Does that mean that we should not seek education? Of course not. Paul wrote most of the New Testament. He spent his life, after he was converted, teaching. But he never forgot what he was like. Neither must we.
We need to realize that it was educated, enlightened Christian people who kidnapped Africans, transported them across the world and made them slaves. Even after they were forced at the point of guns to free them from slavery, educated, enlightened Christians continued to deny them the right to education and treated them as subhuman. And, in many ways still do.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) That's a very big if. Very few Christians and fewer non-Christians will even admit their wicked ways and become humble, let alone pray and seek God's face or turn from their wicked ways. The enlightenment has yet to enlighten us, and it won't until we humble ourselves. That first step is the hardest.
Trying to educate others to become like us is worse than useless, for if the blind try to lead the blind, they will both fall deeper into the ditch.
Nigel Biggars latest book would do you a world of good. History is more complex than you made out and what makes Christian civilization unique is not that it had slavery but that it fought so hard to end it worldwide. By the million many voted with their feet to live under the rule of Christian nations and empires.
Who used those guns on “enlightened Christians” as you put it? It was other Christians. Did the Muslims, or Hindus crusade to end slavery? Buddhists or Shinto?
I will look into Biggars' book. The rest of your response indicates you didn't understand my comment. Christians killing Christians is an example of Christians' misunderstanding Jesus' and the Apostles Christian teachings.