Church Tribalism

We were surely all shocked at the news of the brutality that swept
Rwanda, and, more recently, Kenya. No doubt this bolstered the prejudices of people who had been brought up under Darwinism to see the African people as in some way less-evolved and more volatile. Groups ranging from the Mau-mau of the Kenyan revolt to the Black Muslim/Nation of Islam have profited from Mr. Darwin's opinions on this. To look closer, though, we have to notice that the skin color does not make a person more or less human, whether that means reflecting God's image or whether it means marring that image to near obscurity. After all - the first "race riots" in the US were whites in New York City protesting the threat of blacks being freed en masse, and a black slave on temporary contract in Boston wrote his Southern master complaining of being treated like an Irishman! In the West, many of the Native tribes called themselves by names which translated simply as "people," "human beings," or, "family." Simple and noble in one way, but what would that imply about an outsider?

We have seen, in the US, violence and discrimination against people for all kinds of other"-ness, which can all fit under the greater heading of, "tribalism." A recent visit to Ontario, Canada, where they pride themselves for their lack of prejudice, revealed that they do "reserve the right" to hate "idiots." If a cause can be found to classify someone as an idiot, then that is not discrimination, I was told. So there is not a code against black people, but Haitians, Jamaicans, etc., are marginalised as "idiots" because of some excuse gleaned from an editorialising  Press.  Americans, I was told, are all idiots because "they" all voted for George Bush, "and Bush is an idiot" according to their own, unquestioned, Accepted Wisdom. If this is from the people most widely hailed as being free of prejudice, we're all in a heap of trouble.  There is something in the human animal that demands a "lower class" to despise, or we somehow feel incomplete!

Is the Church exempt? What does "all things are new" really mean here, or is there a problem with the "in Christ" part of that promise? Does being baptised, received, confirmed, having prayed the prayer," "received the Spirit," or being "wholly sanctified" make us immune to such nonsense? Is there anyone we exclude from our own "tribes" of Accepted Human Beings?

Of course, there are Spiritual Formation issues- We want to make sure that a pastor has a godly lifestyle like we want our surgeon or air pilot to be reasonably sober, and it would be nice to know who is watching our children, but do we use circumstances which may be beyond a person's control to keep them away from our fellowship, and from sharing in the grace of God? In the last count, do we only love the ones we choose? Has the Church become like the proverbial Dog in the Manger who has no real use for the straw he sleeps on, but chases off the hungry ox to protect his own comfort? If we fail to welcome someone, or somehow keep them away from the eternal life Christ died to give to us all, then are we better, or worse, than the frenzied  Rwandans who denied their neighbors earthly life?

We can leave this where it is, and most readers will close the page thinking of all the ways that other people need to read this. Is that so? Today in America, millions of black churchgoers are in need of a studied theological message in their sermons, and millions of white churchgoers will leave church this Sunday with their hearts no more touched in the service than if they had been watching "Mr. Rogers"  re-runs. Cross that line, and do not expect a call from the pastor the next week. (At least there's not the likelihood of a midnight visit from the deacons!) How about the man who tells the pastor, "I so adored the service?" What about a single dad? How many members are actively working to care for those in need during the week? Do we think that the "Sheep and the Goats" is just a parable Jesus forgot to explain? Wouldn't the little dog rather go rest in his Master's lap than wear himself out snarling at the Master's other creatures?