A THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING & JUSTICE, FALL 2012: SESSION 09 NOTES RACISM: THE WORSHIP MOVEMENT & RACIAL CONFLICT

IN THE BIBLE, PART 2- STUART GREAVES

I. PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, RACISM - WORKING DEFINITIONS A. Prejudice is in the heart of every human, which is the propensity to prejudge and have preconceived ideas, usually negative, about a person and people groups (Xeno-phobia or ethnocentricity). Bigotry is prejudice enhanced by attitudes of superiority or intolerance towards those who are different. Racism is institutionalized bigotry in which there is a systematic marginalizing of others by policies and the execution thereof.

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LACK OF AWARENESS VS. RACISM A. Most ministries dont have racism, however in the church over the years we will deal with individuals who have prejudice and bigotry. Healthy biblical organizational policies and systems will keep these from flourishing. The set-up of a ministry or organization ought to be such that if issues of race manifest, whether real or alleged, they will be addressed. There is a three-fold challenge that we will face as we become more diverse. This is especially true with the black community due to this nations history: 1. Helping people deal with conflict first as an interpersonal dynamic before it is handled as an interracial issue. Helping people distinguish between prejudice, bigotry, and basic insensitivity due to lack of awareness (i.e. Oreo Story). Helping people demystify inter-cultural relations.

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Awareness (grace and truth) vs. Multi-culturalism (sentiment, over-sensitivity, tokenism) Where there is awareness, there is a growing education, appreciation, and celebration of the various groups that already exist in a spiritual family. Awareness allows various groups to bring their distinctives to the table, which leads to the enhancement of a spiritual community. Multi-culturalism seeks to diversify, i.e. playing different musical styles for the sake of drawing others.

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A THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING & JUSTICE, FALL 2012: SESSION 09 NOTES RACISM: THE WORSHIP MOVEMENT & RACIAL CONFLICT IN THE BIBLE, PART 2- STUART GREAVES
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III.

DEMYSTIFYING INTER-CULTURAL RELATIONS (RISK, SERVE, MONEY, FOLLOW UP) A. In the story of the Good Samaritan Jesus gives the 2nd commandment, as well as addressing interracial tensions, profoundly demystifying the process. 1. 2. 3. 4. The man took a risk by pulling over (relationship building takes risks). He took care of the wounds (relationship building takes serving). He took him to an inn and paid (relationship building costs money). He said he'd come back to pay (relationship building takes follow up).

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(AWARENESS) DEVELOPING A CULTURE OF GRACE AND TRUTH

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and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col. 3:10-16 A. The End-Time worship and prayer movement is the optimum context for the developing of awareness where we can relate with one another with grace and truth. In a culture of grace and truth, over-sensitivities (political correctness) are confronted. An environment of grace and truth allows for a community to interact with one another with confidence to know that if there are things done out of insensitivity, lack of awareness, prejudice or bigotry: 1. 2. B. There is the grace to cover one another Col. 3:12 There is the truth to address it Col. 3:13

The ministries like IHOP-KC have the optimum ingredients for a multi-cultural context full of grace and truth. In the prayer movement we pursue the knowledge of God through intimacy (Col. 3:10) in a multi-cultural context (Col. 3:11) while as one family walking out the 2nd commandment (Col. 3:12-15) as we sing the word together (Col. 3:16).

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