The Holy Observer publishes a piece of classic satirical genius re: the Emerging Church: Frightened Black Family Flees Emergent Church. So, I must ask, is the Emerging Church mostly full of crazy white people?
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4 Comments
Racial insensitivity is common to most churches, and it doesn’t matter if they’re Emerging, mainline, non-denominational, African-American, or pretty much anything else.
It’s not crazy white people. It’s just crazy people.
You are 100% correct, Rob. I’ve seen it too. However, I think this satirical piece is poking a bit of fun at the Emerging Movement as something that is almost exclusively directed to semi-angry white males who are addicted to VHI culture (MTV never shows videos) and living room furniture.
The reason I posted a link to it at all has to do with one of my most beloved seminary classmates and brothers: an African American Baptist who actually told me no one in his church would touch that Emerging stuff with a ten-foot poll … and that was way before this article ever came out. So, it’s a bit of art imitating reality. It’s what makes satire good, I suppose.
Perhaps it’s because I’m mixed race, but I was struck by the racism inherent in the attitudes displayed by both sides in the satire. I may simply be more sensitive to that sort of thing.
As far as blacks not being willing to go near the Emerging Church, think of all the things in the typical “black” church that most “white” churches wouldn’t touch with a 10-ft. pole, either. There’s a cultural divide between blacks and whites that has nothing to do with God, love, or worship.
Personally, I see “Emergent Church” and “traditional” and “blended” and “Holy Roller” and “Charismatic” as being the kinds of flowers that go on the altar. I really don’t care, and if there are no flowers on the altar, there’s a good chance I won’t even notice. I’m too busy worshiping God.
Rob, I’ll respond per your paragraph breaks, chronologically:
1. I’m mixed too, for lack of a better word. I was not struck by racism at all, but by the ridiculous and obviously limiting cultural fads exemplified by the satire (which is the point, I think).
2. Is there a cultural divide between blacks and whites? Don’t tell the Pentecostals, Charismatics or sports teams!
3. … but who built the altar?