February 4, 2002

BLACK HISTORY = FORGIVENESS

February is identified as "Black History Month" in America. We add our voice in the local commemoration by inviting the community to join us on the third Sunday evening for a free down-home meal, a display of African-American memorabilia, and an inspirational worship service. This has become a tradition in which other community pastors and churches look forward to joining us. Details of this year's event are listed below.

Black history in the United States can be viewed as a story of forgiveness. When we review the degradation and dehumanization of the era of slavery, we find ourselves enraged. As we put ourselves in the place of the slaves, we feel anger building up to a boiling point: if we ever get our chance for revenge, we'll . . . .

Yet, this has never been the predominate mood among African-American descendants of the slaves. Though there have been eruptions of rage and expressions of retribution, it's amazing how the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation dominates. Partly, this is the result of wise leadership, epitomized by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Also contributing to this is the desire of a liberated people to get on with the business of carving out a positive future, rather than dwelling on a negative past.

But it cannot be denied that one important factor is that African-Americans have almost universally embraced Christianity. It's a minor miracle that former slaves have been so committed to the religion of their former slavemasters even after their full emancipation. And it is not a casual or formal commitment; it is heartfelt and deep.

The reason for this is that African-Americans, even as slaves, saw something in the Christian faith that their oppressors had missed. They saw that true freedom was spiritual and could not be denied by any laws or shackles. They saw that suffering was redemptive through the example of their dying Savior. And they saw that prosperity or want in this life were nothing compared to the eternal blessings promised in God's Kingdom.

Because they so thoroughly embraced the soul of Jesus' teaching and example, he became part of them, part of their racial distinctiveness. African-Americans, therefore show a sincere and persistent inclination to forgive. Certainly, there is a need to remember the hurts and count the injustices. But there is also an impatience to get by that and reach out to their Anglo fellow-citizens as Brother and Sister.

I personally feel humbled by this. Many times I have sensed a gap between me and an African-American friend. Almost always, it is he or she who makes the first move, who extends the hand, who gives the embrace.

When Dr. King said "I have a dream," it was the American dream he was talking about. He was able to see something in the vision of the Nation's Founders that the cultural majority had missed, and he called us all to live up to that loftier American dream.

Similarly, African-American Christians see something in the Faith that Caucasian-Americans have missed. It's most obvious in the music of the Black Church, but that's just the tip of the ice berg. It affects all of who a person is, of how they think and feel, of their everyday behavior. And in their relationships with others, it is characterized by forgiveness.

In this African-American Christians have a lot to say to a world torn apart by ethnic and religious jealousies and all sorts of memories of past hurts. There is no hope without forgiveness. Jesus taught this, and twenty-first century African-American believers are living echoes of his message of love and renewal.

–Pastor George Van Alstine