Kanye

"George Bush does not care about black people."

This stark statement hung in the air as a stunned Mike Meyers (think "Austin Powers") heard his own chin hit the floor in disbelief. He and rapper / producer Kanye West were paired together to read scripted comments about the levee breaches in New Orleans. They were taking part in the live, musical fundraiser broadcast on NBC last Friday, and were supplying the celebrity segue between performers.

Kanye, however, had no intention of staying on script. Given the opportunity to speak live and direct to the American people, he seized the moment and spoke his mind. The wonderful thing about our nation, of course, is that each of us are allowed to do this. Freedom of speech rules the day. The not-so-wonderful thing is that when it comes to certain issues --- race being chief among them --- we're not really supposed to exercise that right.

For whatever reason, this often seems especially true in church. Folks don't like it when we talk about money, especially at church. Never are we to mention sex, and this is especially true at church, even though so much teaching on Christian perspectives on human sexuality is needed. But most of all, perhaps, we don't talk about race or class, and the role that those things play in our society. Especially at church!

Maybe this is because we want to leave church feeling "good," and when we get into addressing issues like these that are very personal and difficult to resolve, we just leave feeling all "unresolved" instead. Or worse yet, somebody might get mad, which is always the last thing anybody wants to see and we all know "getting mad" is the greatest church trump card of them all.

So, do we never talk in our faith community about the uncomfortable specifics of the stuff that really matters? Whatever you think about Kanye West, I'm glad he said what he did, because at least we're starting to talk to each other. Maybe. My fear, however, is that we're not talking to each other so much as being "talked to" by the media. So, I hope to start a conversation today that transcends hype and makes us reflect on the motives of our hearts.

First, let me say that Kanye's comments have drawn some fair criticism. His statement passes judgment on the inner-workings of the President's heart and questions his personal morality. This is not something that any of us can fairly judge about another person, and I think that we always need to use some caution when it comes to painting anyone with such a broad brush. To place total blame for the massive failings of our disaster response system on the back of one person is an oversimplification of a series of complex failures. Those failures seem to have happened across every level of government.

George W. Bush also professes Christian faith, and moreover, he is a United Methodist. Now, membership in our great denomination certainly does not immunize a person against racism. I would often be the last to defend some of his policy positions, and I have the feeling that he and I might disagree a good bit theologically. But still, he is our President, and a Christian, and so I want to believe with all my heart that he does care about people, regardless of race, and that his faith compels him toward compassion for everyone.

We would make a huge mistake if we interpreted the events of Hurricane Katrina solely on the basis of race. Kanye West is wrong, as we would be, if we believe that the needed rescue was so long in coming solely because the vast majority of those caught in New Orleans were black. I really think that view is too simplistic and is motivated primarily, though understandably, by emotion.

All of us should be more concerned about the gross incompetence that was demonstrated at every level of government and consider the fact that we could all be at risk in a time of disaster. Our government simply did not do its best job in protecting and aiding its citizens, especially those citizens who were poorest and most vulnerable. In New Orleans, those citizens were mostly black.

But, there is another, even more dangerous mistake that we could make. Many white people that I've talked to, seen on tv and heard on the radio want to believe that race played no role in the days after Katrina. Even more than this, they generally demand that there should be no talk about racism, and talking about such issues is nothing less than "race-baiting." For these people, West's remarks border on unpatriotic and subversive.

My feeling is that if Kanye West's statement was an oversimplification of the facts and across the line of judgmentalism, then believing that race played no factor is simply a head-in-the-sand trip through a white person's dreamworld.

When we all began to see the pictures of people crowding outside the Superdome and Civic Center in New Orleans, only the most hard-hearted among us did not feel a sympathy for the people who suffered. But, I simply can't help wondering whether the depth of emotion that each of us felt wasn't directly proportional to how much the people in the pictures looked like us.

What I mean is this. I believe that white Americans (including the President) were sympathetic to what was happening, but what Kanye West expressed was not merely sympathy. It was empathy. Empathy doesn't mean simply feeling sorry for someone -- it means identifying with their suffering, and feeling that suffering as though it were your very own.

There are ugly realities of racism still at work within each of us and within our nation that have to be acknowledged if they're ever to be overcome. When any of us see suffering children who look like they could be our own sons or daughters, our hearts are moved past sympathy to empathy. Often, whether we're white or black, we fail to see people of other races with that same depth of connection.

As much as I wish that I could believe something else, in my heart I agree with a part of the sentiment expressed by Mr. West. If the images coming from New Orleans had been of my white wife carrying our little white boys through floodwater, or if the image had been my white face crying over my dead white child, something would have happened more quickly.

As Americans, we are of divided minds on this issue. As a Christian and a pastor, my role is to call all of us to deeper relationship with God and one another. There's simply no way I can do that task effectively without calling each person prayer and reflection, no matter how painful. Each of us need to ask God to show us ways that we can become more aware of the latent racism in our hearts and lives. Each of us has great room for much growth and improvement.

I am so proud of Shepherd of the Hills for being a place that white and black people love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. My prayer is that we will see our congregation lead the way for our community and for the United Methodist churches of our area with regard to the living of a real, powerful diversity. Some would say that we're "color blind," or that at least we're heading that direction. I'd challenge that assertion, as to whether it's even possible, or whether such as idea would really be good in the first place. You see, we really are all different.

The strength of our country and of our church is in that very fact -- we are all different. We are of different races, different political persuasions, different theologically and economically. We have different talents, gifts and graces. The miracle of the church, and of Shepherd of the Hills is that we don't have to all be the same. God calls us to embrace difference, and to celebrate those differences, while holding fast to our greater unity in Christ.

If being "color blind" means we all come out gray, I choose to see all the colors. What I pray is that God will give me a heart transformed beyond the culture in which I've been formed. I want to see the colors, and feel a real empathy for anyone who suffers. Whether a person looks like me or not, I pray that God will help me each day to feel another's suffering as though it were my own.

As people of Christ, I believe that God can use us to show the world what that kind of community is all about. We will love each other. We will struggle together. We will disagree and remain united. We will even transform our world. May God forgive us, and heal us and always use us for the making of something better than the things we find today.

Grace and Peace,
Adam

LIFE AT SOTH:

Tonight -- Tonight -- Tonight!!! 7 PM, Our first study on the book, God is Closer Than You Think. It looks like we're going to have huge attendance and this is really exciting for me and in the life of our church. If you didn't sign up, come on anyway and we'll get you in. Our study will continue these next 6 Wednesday nights. Childcare is available, but if you haven't reserved that yet, please give us a call in the office to let us know (770) 920-1551.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER: President Bush has asked Americans to observe a national day of prayer for hurricane victims this Friday. SOTH will create a "prayer chapel" at the far end of "the ranch," our ministry house/office located next to the church. Come in the far-end, carport entrance and you'll find seating, an altar, cross, some good quiet and materials to help focus your thoughts and prayers. The space will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.