As I write these words, the latest video has emerged of police putting a white hood on an obviously mentally ill, handcuffed, naked, and unarmed black man, then shoving his face into the asphalt as he suffocates to the point of unconsciousness.
I apologize if these words provoke additional trauma. Those who have seen the video will recognize that mine is an abbreviated account; I left out several ugly details. These events happened on March 23 in Rochester, New York. Daniel Prude, a human being, died seven days later.
Let me stop for a moment and identify myself. I am a white evangelical Christian. Politically, I am conservative-leaning. Theologically, more so. I am a faithful churchgoer. I believe that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of life and doctrine. My most formative years in the faith have been spent in the Pentecostal-charismatic branch of evangelical Christianity, and I default toward the Holiness side of that tradition.
Now I defy you to stuff me in some category that justifies ignoring my words.
By now, most of our American evangelical churches have slipped out of the sackcloth they wore for a day after the death of George Floyd. Though our Bible makes clear that the straight way to Father God is repentance, and that true repentance produces fruit, we are content to signal our virtue for a social-media moment then return to our regularly scheduled programming.
I’ve been in a few surreal moments in my life when I wondered if I was crazy, or if everyone around me was crazy. But this particular moment has been going on for more than a year as I observe the evangelical churches’ half-hearted response to the racial injustice that has existed for centuries in this country and finally erupted into our streets.
I don’t think I’m the crazy one this time.
Let me express this more personally: My Black brothers and sisters, my fellow Christ-followers and members of the Body of Christ, are crying out in pain. And we white church folks listen for a moment if at all, then send the ushers to shush them so they don’t spoil our victory rally.
God forgive us.
Meanwhile, we are losing entire generations. Millennials and Gen Zers are leaving the evangelical churches in droves. They believe we’re insensitive to their deepest concerns and have left them with a crummy future because of our concerted selfishness.
We are also witnessing the quiet departure of Black Christians from the evangelical churches. Though many of them are evangelical in belief and practice and thoroughly pro-life, they don’t wish to be identified with the white evangelicals who rationalize, excuse, and shimmy around President Donald Trump’s numerous divisive, racist, and misogynist utterances.
Just remember that you and I—especially those of us in the Pentecostal-charismatic churches—taught our kids that “The tongue has the power of life and death,” and “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Now we’re having to walk that back real fast.
Remember, too, that we’re prophetic people. Us Pentecostal-charismatic folks love talking about our latest dreams, visions, and revelations. So I have a question for you: What do you think God is saying to us when one of the biggest figures in the white evangelical world, Jerry Falwell, Jr., falls spectacularly to the ground at the same time our cities are on fire from coast to coast with racial unrest?
Evangelical America, your house is left desolate.
What are you going to do? Cue another praise song?
