Before Darwinian thought there was no concept of racism. There were simply human beings. This is because Christianity has always taught that every human being is made in the image of God. There were definite class and cast systems, (which the Christian faith continually stressed to look past and not show particular favor towards) but not the concept that a white or black person were more evolved as a species. It is worth noting that when some segments of the church did embrace these ideas, the Klu Klux Klan was formed. This is the danger when secular ideas mix with Christianity.
LIBERAL RACISM?
To mix Darwinist ideas in the church is one extreme and the other extreme is just as racist – that’s Liberal/Emergent thought mixing with Christianity. A very good example of this liberal racism was on display at the upcoming and questionable ‘Gospel Coalition’ women’s conference. (Again Christianity focuses on mankind – not class, sex, colour or so on, which is why it will always be a controversial belief system. The gospel and the Lord’s table are for all those who confess Christ and repent of their sins.)
However, ‘The Legacy’, (hosting a special gathering at ‘The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference’), recently put up on their website the following (emphasis added):
“TGCW18 will hold a special Women of Color (WOC) gathering because of those shared, distinct experiences. I understand that many white women attending TGCW18 deeply and sincerely desire to participate in an event like this so they can learn. Praise the Lord! May their tribe increase! However, we run the risk of the audience growing so large (and perhaps even resulting in our sisters of color being the minority at an event specifically designed for them to be the majority) that the goal of cultivating a space for more honest discussion and direct encouragement for women of color would be compromised.”
As if segregating women for an event isn’t bad enough, the Legacy are further segregating women by color under the idea that they are hoping “this gathering will create a space for women of color to address particular concerns and issues, process them together in small groups, and pray for one another.” Their excuse? “We are aiming to build up the whole body of Christ by strengthening a part of the body in a focused manner.”
So by creating a specially designed event for ‘women of color’, they are excluding ‘white women’ from attending. What makes this dialogue even worse is that they lumped ‘white women’ to ‘their tribe’.
LIBERAL SEXISM?
The liberalism fueling this event is staggering. Marginalizing women is wrong. However, the author of this article has this to say about the Genesis account of the fall:
“Tragically, a distinct experience that women have shared since the Fall has been marginalization. In America, in particular, marginalization has been a distinct experience shared by people of color. Just as there is a special benefit to gathering female believers at TGCW18 for particular encouragement, so too there is a special benefit to gathering sisters of color for particular encouragement.”
The answer to the Fall and this specific issue they address is found in the gospel. God allowed the first person to witness the resurrection (in the garden) to be a woman. They were the first to eat of the Tree of Life. They were the first to preach the gospel to the apostles. Women were redeemed and treated as right standing in a very male-dominated Greco-Roman culture. In fact, women in the early church (although they cannot teach an have authority over a man within the church service), were very empowered in the early church to help lead and shape people in the community, looking after widows, orphans and the marginalized. But it appears ‘The Legacy’ has completely disregarded the bible, the gospel and the history of the church to push that they are the answer to the marginalization of women and specifically black women.
Adding insult to injury, they further state, “As the Church, we are wrestling through what it means to be a multi-ethnic family.”
If they are ‘wrestling’, then there is something very wrong with ‘The Legacy’. Christianity, no matter what denomination, doesn’t wrestle with sexism or racism. It’s been solved. If you are a penitent sinner, no matter what your background, the church invites you to partake of the Lord’s table:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slaveg nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:28-9
Again, when the doctrines of liberalism infect a church, it only makes victims and spins a narrative of victim versus oppressor, forming ‘tribes’ and segregations. Sticking to the gospel and biblical doctrine dispels such segregating nonsense and removes the victim/hero narrative.
The ultimate victim was Christ who had the sins of the world inflicted on him, experiencing the wrath of the evil sinner and the just wrath of God. The real hero was Christ who dealt with all our sins and have raised up with him as one in this new life we have with him. Sadly, it is conferences and events like this that are causing more harm than good. We are one in Christ – nothing more.
We have published the article from Legacy in full in case it is either removed or tampered with:
Women of Color at TGCW18
The Legacy is hosting a special gathering for women of color at The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference this year (TGCW18). We hope that this gathering will create a space for women of color to address particular concerns and issues, process them together in small groups, and pray for one another. By hosting this event, we are aiming to build up the whole body of Christ by strengthening a part of the body in a focused manner.
The Gospel Coalition runs a conference for women to build up part of the body of Christ. God created male and female distinct from one another. Distinct image-bearing involves distinct joys, pains, struggles, and victories. This does not mean that all men or all women have exactly the same experiences or perspectives or that men and women ought not learn from one another, but that there are many common experiences that warrant, for example, older women in particular teaching younger women what is good (Titus 2:3–5). Distinct experiences create a need for distinct environments where people can discuss shared joys, pains, struggles, and victories. Shared experiences are grounds to strengthen and support one another. Conferences like TGCW facilitate distinct strengthening and support for women.
By building up part, you build up the whole. God’s Word repeatedly displays loving focus on strengthening a part of the body of Christ in order to build up the whole body of Christ.
Jesus chose 12 disciples from the larger group that followed Him. Among the 12, He chose three disciples (Peter, James, and John) for special occasions like the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9), His prayers in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-35), and the healing of Jairus’ daughter (Luke 8:49-51). From the three, Jesus chose one disciple, Peter, for the initial building of His Church (Matthew 16:13-19). He did this so the eventual 11 would go out and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). By building up part, you build up the whole. Focuses can be good and right when rooted in love.
It is possible, of course, to focus on a part of the body in a manner that does not build up the whole body. Exclusion motivated by pride can never be good or right. The disciples’ desire for greatness caused arguments (Luke 9:46-48; 22:24-27). The Corinthian Church multiplied divisions by excluding each other based on which leader they followed (1 Corinthians 1:10-13) and spiritual gifts (Corinthians 12). The early Jewish Christians chose to serve and exalt the rich by neglecting the poor (James 2:1-10). By building up part, you build up the whole — unless part of the whole is, as a result, put down or cut off.
Tragically, a distinct experience that women have shared since the Fall has been marginalization. In America, in particular, marginalization has been a distinct experience shared by people of color. Just as there is a special benefit to gathering female believers at TGCW18 for particular encouragement, so too there is a special benefit to gathering sisters of color for particular encouragement.
TGCW18 will hold a special Women of Color (WOC) gathering because of those shared, distinct experiences. I understand that many white women attending TGCW18 deeply and sincerely desire to participate in an event like this so they can learn. Praise the Lord! May their tribe increase! However, we run the risk of the audience growing so large (and perhaps even resulting in our sisters of color being the minority at an event specifically designed for them to be the majority) that the goal of cultivating a space for more honest discussion and direct encouragement for women of color would be compromised.
As the Church, we are wrestling through what it means to be a multi-ethnic family, and there are many ways outside of this event that provide opportunities for this, such as: invite someone of a different race for coffee and ask how you might partner together in ministry, including in efforts for racial reconciliation; watch informative movies like 13th or Selma, delight in the rich diversity of voices God has given His church from speakers, musicians, authors and so on; invite people of different ethnicities into your home for a meal, meet them in their homes; and continue to build relationships by asking questions about their experiences and perspectives. Most importantly, we must seek God and ask Him to search our hearts as to why the exclusivity of an event for women of color would be offensive, while an event for women would not.
Please join us in prayer that by building up a part of Christ’s body, this WOC event at TGCW18 will build up the whole body, all for His glory and the unity of His Church. May we love one another just as Christ Jesus has loved us. By this all people will know that we are His disciples, if we have love for one another (John 13:34-35).
Register for The Gospel Coalition’s 2018 women’s conference using the code LEGACY99 for a discounted rate of $99 (regular price $229).
Source: Women of Color at TGCW18, http://legacydisciple.org/index.php/2018/06/06/women-of-color-at-tgcw18/, Accessed June 07, 2018.
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Categories: Liberal/Emergent Movement (LIB), Uncategorized