First, I agree that in many nations, the question of racial integration does not come up because there may be little to no racial differences.

Second, you say that ’sane’ white people have no desire to act like African Americans. The implication seems to be that only ‘insane’ white people would have a desire to act like African Americans. Okay. Would you also agree that ’sane’ African Americans have no desire to act like white people, but only the ‘insane’ ones? In other words, is this a two-way street or only a one-way? Furthermore, if ‘insanity’ is the only way racial integration can occur, then heaven must be a pretty insane place!

Also, if a white missionary is sent to Africa, should he not in some respects integrate with the culture? Does this represent ‘insanity’ on his part?

Third, I wonder if it will be difficult in heaven for racial integration to occur? If no, then what causes the difficulty here on earth? If yes, what biblical evidence is there for this?

Your question has spurred me to write a short essay which I hope to post tonight. In the mean time consider the following.

(1) There are linguistic barriers to integration. Almost all ethnic minorities in early America started their own churches. As time when on the language barrier broke down and most eventually began to conduct their services in English. The breaking down of the language brought some degree of integration.

(2) Where there are no linguistic barriers, cultural difference still make integration difficult. That is one reason the CRC and URC are still predominately Dutch. A church is more that the worship service. It is a covenant community. As since each community is culturally distinct, it will not easily integrate with those of other cultures.

As Americans of European descent became more “Americanized” it became easier to integrate. In Presbyterian churches today, those of Scottish and English ancestry still constitute the majority, but those of Italian, German, Swedish (and so on) descent have gradually been grafted in. This has been a natural process. As each group lost much of its old world identity over the generations and have taken on an American one, integration became possible.

I don’t think this organic process of racial integration is something to fight against. But I also don’t think there is something inherently good about this nor something we should strive for. For better or for worse, we live in a country that is racial heterogeneous. In such a circumstance, integration is bound to happen. When it happens, fine. When it does not, fine.

(3) For the most part, Negroes have not integrated into the European churches. Here the issue is that the racial difference are too great in most instances. There are exceptions, but they are rare.

When Negroes join white churches they act like white people. And when whites join black churches they act like Negroes. One race will always prevail. So if you want your white church to attract Negroes, you and the rest of the congregation will have to have to act like blacks. But since sane whites have not desire to act like Negroes, large-scale integration will not happen.

(4) The American situation has been historically unique. For the majority of nations there has been a homogeneous racial make up. The question of racial integration does not even arise in these cases.

This is an interesting post. It has given me much to think about.

In your application section, you said that we should not make racially integrated churches a goal because there is no biblical foundation for it. You do admit that worship in heaven will be racially integrated, but supposedly this does not mean we should be striving for this on earth. You, then, say that even in heavenly worship, the differences are preserved: tribes, tongues, nations.

My question is this: if differences are preserved in heaven, and this does not entail separate worship services or churches for people from different tribes, tongues, and nations (in other words, differences do not discourage racially integration), then why would these differences on earth cause us to avoid seeking out racially integrated services or churches? This seems like an inconsistency on your. Also, I am still not sure why the perfection of heaven is not something that we should be striving for here on earth. In any case, to be consistent, it seems like you must conclude that it is a bibical goal to have racially integrated churches, or you must re-evaluate your view of heaven.

I am very interested to hear you or TJH respond to this. I have never encountered someone with your view who has obviously thought through the issues as much as you two have. This is not to say that there are not many more like you or that you are wrong, for it is probably the case that I had just not come across people like you before.

Thanks again for the thought provoking post.

First, note that almost all (I’ll even say “all” if you grant that DC is a yankee salient into the south) race riots have been in northern cities. (Even if LA is not geographically northern, it is spiritually).

But then, someone might counter, “that’s because southerners are well-armed and no one would dare riot there.”

But this shows how there is a presuppositional aspect even to some historical judgments.

After that, one must rely on anecdotal evidence. I’ll supply two off the top of my head.

1. My neo-orthodox, politically-liberal aunt and uncle from Minneapolis moved south in middle age; and my aunt admitted she had never seen a black and white woman embrace publicly until she got to the South.

2. Boston is undoubtedly the most thoroughly segregated city in America. Yet not a single law was passed (that I know of) to bring it to pass.

Thanks,

LDD

“It has sometimes been said that the Jews’ secretive and cunning nature is a result of their long persecution. That is certainly untrue; on the other hand it is certain that they continue to exist despite this persecution only because they have an inclination towards such secretivenss. As we may say that this or that animal has escaped extinction only because of its capacity or ability to conceal itself. Of course I don’t not mean that as a reason for commending such a capacity, not by any means.”

As of now, I am going to wear that as a badge of honor.

Those who preach against stereotypes are hypocrites—and that’s not a stereotype, its a fact.

By the way, Mr. Butler, will you still be able to respond to my comment on epistemology soon? Thanks.

Keith