{"id":25408,"date":"2020-07-05T07:46:15","date_gmt":"2020-07-05T11:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=25408"},"modified":"2020-07-05T08:05:09","modified_gmt":"2020-07-05T12:05:09","slug":"sunday-blessing-the-church-segregated-black-white-erskin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=25408","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Blessing – The Church Segregated – Black & White – Erskin"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Church Leadership<\/a><\/p>\n

[From the Archives<\/a>, 2017. Today we are going through a raw and painful season, hopefully that will lead to real change in how we extend love to one another and how we work to heal the hurt in our society. I made very few adjustments in the text…because it is as true today as it was then.]<\/p>\n

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.<\/em>
\n<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Galatians 3:28<\/a><\/p>\n

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.<\/em> \u2013 Ephesians 2:14<\/a><\/p>\n

Racial segregation in the church must break the very heart of God. How is it that we, who love Jesus and want to live as He modeled and taught us, continue to live and worship apart from one another racially?<\/p>\n

We live in a racially complex city. Richmond, Virginia, was once the capital of the Confederacy. Even now, the racial divide<\/a> is shamefully wide. The church, both black and white congregations, has Christ\u2019s mandate to come together. To be reconciled. To live at peace with one another. To enjoy community together.<\/p>\n

My family is part of a church<\/a> that has a vision to reach Richmond. Our city is ethnically diverse. To reach Richmond includes figuring out how to not just be another white church in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n

Erskin Anavitarte<\/a> is a Christian songwriter. On his website, he also identifies as a diversity spokesman and adoption advocate. He is a Kingdom builder and a reconciler. This is a man who calls us to enlarge our lives and our churches to include one another.\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Erskin Music<\/a><\/p>\n

He wrote a little song Black & White<\/em><\/a> which really touched my heart this week. Simple and yet profound lyrics.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne song may not make much difference, but my prayer is that we remember that God made us all and perhaps bridging the gap begins by focusing our eyes on Jesus. That\u2019s the message of this song.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Erskin Anavitarte<\/a><\/p>\n

After our country\u2019s last election, I was burdened afresh how racially polarized we are as a nation, and even in the church. This can\u2019t be the case, in daily life, for Christ followers. Not in daily life. Not in corporate worship. How do we come together?<\/p>\n

As we worship the Lord today, we ask Him for wisdom and for opportunity. We ask for compassion and understanding. We determine to \u201clove beyond the limits of our prejudices\u2026to speak love and embody love\u201d (Rev. Michael Walrond, Jr.<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, God loves both the black church and our essentially white church, both in the same neighborhood. Oh God, help us – to join together with each other – with those who love God also\u2026and who love this city in a way that can stretch our own love\u2026Maybe it could go beyond the reach of either of us. Just maybe.<\/p>\n

[Let\u2019s close in worship now. Check out the super helpful links below, later.]<\/p>\n

Worship<\/a> with Erskin and me, would you?<\/p>\n

The most segregated time in our country<\/p>\n

Is Sunday morning 11 o\u2019clock<\/p>\n

Black churches, white churches<\/p>\n

Right next door<\/p>\n

They\u2019re on the same block.<\/p>\n

Both with hands raised high for Jesus<\/p>\n

Still a million miles between us<\/p>\n

Black people; white people<\/p>\n

Remember the God who made you and me equal<\/p>\n

Not some people but all people<\/p>\n

Remember the God who made you and me equal<\/p>\n

We all want to walk with Jesus<\/p>\n

We all want to be about His will<\/p>\n

How do we break down the unseen walls<\/p>\n

Where bridges need to be built<\/p>\n

This song may not change your mind<\/p>\n

Jesus won\u2019t let me keep it inside.<\/p>\n

Black people; white people<\/p>\n

Remember the God who made you and me equal<\/p>\n

Not some people but all people<\/p>\n

Remember the God who made you and me equal<\/p>\n

Maybe it all begins<\/p>\n

By not focusing on ourselves<\/p>\n

Fixing our eyes on Him<\/p>\n

Living our lives as friends.<\/p>\n

Black people; white people<\/p>\n

Remember the God who made you and me equal<\/p>\n

Not some people but all people<\/p>\n

Remember the God who made you and me equal.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: James Estrin, The New York Times<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video \u2013 Erskin \u2013 Black & White<\/em> \u2013 Official Lyric Video<\/a><\/p>\n

A Shift in Demographics at a Church in Harlem<\/em> \u2013 Samuel G. Freedman<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video \u2013 Global Spirituality: Pastor Michael Walrond at TEDxHarlem<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

They\u2019re Playing Our Song \u2013 The Secret Multiracial Churches Know About Music<\/em> \u2013 Michael O. Emerson<\/a><\/p>\n

7 Key Characteristics of Diversity-Oriented Churches<\/em> \u2013 Brian Leander<\/a><\/p>\n

Racial Reconciliation in Richmond, Virginia?<\/em> \u2013 Wendy McCaig<\/a><\/p>\n

[Links below showcase Christian comedians who help us with some of the things that unnecessarily make us uncomfortable with each other\u2019s church cultures\u2026although I couldn\u2019t find one that caricatured white church worship for blacks. Could someone help me?]<\/p>\n

YouTube Video \u2013 Gary Owen \u2013 My First Time at a Black Church<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video \u2013 Unwritten Black Church Rules<\/em> \u2013 KevOnStage<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video \u2013 Black Church Phrases Explained<\/em> \u2013 KevOnStage<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo Credit: Church Leadership [From the Archives, 2017. Today we are going through a raw and painful season, hopefully that will lead to real change in how we extend love to one another and how we work to heal the hurt in our society. I made very few adjustments in the text…because it is as … Continue reading Sunday Blessing – The Church Segregated – Black & White – Erskin<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1869,3396,926,2986,799,1704,1705,1148,1067,183,915,50,910,903,33,18,1732,2611,432,719,887,1002,32,946],"tags":[8361,4847,4852,8363,4860,8364,4855,8362,3564,4853,4845,2021,4857,4858,4848,889,4856,4849,8341,8365,4844,4851],"class_list":["post-25408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adoption","category-america","category-attending-or-focus","category-attitude","category-church-2","category-communication","category-conversations","category-critical-thinking","category-cross-cultural","category-culture-religion","category-faith-based-organizations","category-god","category-gospel","category-grace","category-inspired","category-jesus","category-leadership","category-love-your-neighbor","category-music","category-reconciliationforgiveness","category-remembering","category-transformational","category-walk-with-god","category-worship","tag-blac","tag-black-white","tag-brian-leander","tag-church-erskin","tag-erskin-anavitarte","tag-gary-owens","tag-global-spirituality","tag-k-people","tag-kevonstage","tag-michael-o-emerson","tag-michael-walrond-jr","tag-movement-church","tag-racial-divide","tag-racial-reconciliation","tag-remember-god","tag-remembering","tag-samuel-g-freedman","tag-segregated-time-in-america","tag-sunday-blessing","tag-tedx-harlem","tag-wendy-mccaig","tag-white-people"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pauPAB-6BO","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25408"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25408\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25413,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25408\/revisions\/25413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}