During my first attempts to address this issue, I found it very difficult to begin. It was not so much that the topic was difficult as much as it was that the issue itself is a perplexing one. As an African American Christian, the issue of whether or not I have to choose between my blackness, and my faith really expresses to me the depths of the effects of racism. As I pondered over this question, I realized that there is not one single institution in America, the church included, which has not been affected by the institution of slavery, and the underlying practices of racism that accompanied it. Malcolm X spoke about the very definitions of words like black and white having been impacted by racist teachings. (1) Therefore, because the wounds of slavery pierce so deeply; because Jim Crow laws, and other practices of inequality were allowed to exist unchecked for so long; African Americans are placed in the unique position of being forced to question the validity of every piece of information given to us by those who enslaved us. Like Malcolm X pointed out, even the way we define words needs to be investigated. Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting the results to be different. So, if we as African Americans continue to accept information from those who have deceived us in the past, without a complete and thorough investigation of that information, it is safe to say that we are practicing insanity. However, when applying this philosophy to Christianity, two issues are raised. On the one hand, despite the teachings of many of our African American leaders, it is a huge misconception that Christianity came from our enslavers. Contrary to popular opinion, African American Christians were not the first black Christians, and secondly, Christianity is not just a theory, but it is in fact the truth and therefore able to withstand the most thorough forms of investigation.

Because many Christians use the King James version of the Bible as its primary version of the Bible, critics, and opponents of the Christian faith have correlated attacks on King James with attacks on the Christian faith. These critics will usually bombard you with negative facts relating to King James of England, as if he were the actual author of the Bible. These critics fail to inform you that all King James did was authorize the Bible to be translated into the English language. When you pick up a bible that says the King James Version, it does not mean he wrote that bible, it means that that particular bible is based on the translation, and in the language he authorized. They fail to tell you that the translation was actually done by the greatest scholars and theologians of his day. These critics will not tell you that the Latin Vulgate, the King James Version, the New King James Version, the New International Version, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, are almost exact in their interpretations of the original text. The reason these critics will not tell you these things is because they want to persuade your thinking and force you to question the validity of the Christian faith. This method of persuasion is effective. One reason this is so effective is because King James is rumored to have had a questionable past. So, to attack his character is a smart move because it is human nature for one to question the source of where information came from when considering the validity of the information.

Attacks on the Christian faith are popular for a variety of different reasons. One of the most common arguments used by African American militant leaders is that Christianity is a white man’s religion. Another reason for the popularity of the attacks against Christianity is because of the perception that Christians, both black and white alike stood around and did nothing while African Americans were enslaved, and subjected to inhumane treatments the likes of which the world had never seen. Another reason Christianity is attacked is because of the fact that Christians, not only allowed the slave trade, but they participated in it as well, and slavemasters used Christianity as a means of justifying their participation in the slave trade.

"This leads one to ask, how can a group of people who claim to be acting in accordance with the will of God participate in a system as terrible as the slave trade?"

There are several issues that have been raised thus far. However, before I get into the actual defense of some of these issues I must raise an issue of my own. I mentioned earlier the depths of the effects of racism on every institution in this country. One example of the impact of racism on the African American psyche can be seen in the way African Americans view history. We tend to view history through the eyes of the society in which we live, with the assumption that whatever issues are applicable today were applicable during the period we are viewing. This is a dangerous process, because as an African American, this perception of history will lead me to the position of judging the entire history of the world based on my experience with racism in America. The impact of racism on the African American psyche is so profound, that William Mosley, scholar, of both Black and Religious studies, wrote a book which asks the question, “What color was Jesus?” In this book, William Mosley sets out to prove, through the genealogy of Christ offered in the gospel, that Jesus was in fact black. (2) My point in mentioning Mr. Mosley’s work is not to promote or refute his work, but only to point out the issue that made such a work necessary. The fact of the matter is that the very region in which Jesus was born suggests that he was a man of color. However, the problem lies in the application of the term black. How, in fact do we define black today? This one question would produce much debate if it was posed to the scholars of today. Therefore, it is impossible to believe that if we cannot agree on how black is defined today, that we can agree how it was defined 2000 years ago. However, even if we could agree on what we mean by black today, could we realistically apply our modern concept of blackness to describe people who lived thousands of years ago? Nevertheless, thanks to the effects of racism, and a desire to validate ourselves in our own eyes, the eyes of other races, and in the scope of world history, this is what we as African Americans tend to try and do.

One of the arguments against Christianity has been that it is the religion of the white man. (3) Elijah Muhammed, among others, made this argument famous. However research shows, as pointed out by African historian, John S. Mbiti in his book entitled, African Religions and Philosophy, that “Christianity in Africa is so old that it can rightly be described as an indigenous, traditional, and African Religion.” (4) Muhammed drew many of his followers through claims that black people were serving a blond haired, blue eyed Jesus, and that Islam was the true religion of the black man. The Nation of Islam made black men especially, but black people in general feel good about themselves, through such claims. However, Mbiti went on to dispute such a claim, by stating that, “Long before the start of Islam in the seventh century, Christianity was well established all over north Africa, Egypt, parts of the Sudan, and Ethiopia.” (5)

"One of the traps we face as a result of racism, that we need to avoid as African Americans, is our need to offset the negative self image brought about by slavery with an exaggerated history that does not depict an accurate account of our history, but does make us feel good about ourselves."

Another argument we have identified by opponents of Christianity is actually a two-fold argument. One side of the argument suggests that Christians did nothing to address the mistreatment of African Americans during their turbulent history in America, and the second part of the argument says that Christianity actually promotes slavery. I will address the second part of this argument first. Those who say that Christianity promotes slavery usually quote Ephesians 6:5 as the source to support their claim, which says, “servants be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, as unto the Lord”. (7) First of all, it must be stated that Paul, in the letter to the church at Ephesus is not looking 1600 years into the future to tell Africans to be obedient to their white slavemasters. As awful as slavery was for us, it is imperative that we understand that during the days of the Bible, much like in many African nations prior to western colonialism, slavery was a part of the basic social order. So, Paul was not referring to the form of slavery that contained the brutality with which we came to associate slavery in America. And also, in reference to that particular passage, it says a little further down in Ephesians 6:8 that “whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” The next verse, 6:9 says, “Masters do the same things unto them, knowing your master is in heaven”. Verses 8 and 9 are necessary in bringing verse 5 into the proper context. Verse 5 is not acting as a support for slavery, but is actually working together with these other verses to simply address the Christian way of behaving within each of these circumstances.

The other part of the argument says that Christians did nothing to address the mistreatment of African Americans during our turbulent history here in America. However, Christian humanitarianism was one of the keys to the rise of the abolitionist movements. According to Eric Foner, noted Historian, and professor at Columbia, slavery was an issue that was not addressed by politicians from neither the north, nor the south. (8) In fact, Foner quotes Wendell Phillips the great abolitionist orator as saying, “our enemy is not the slaveowner only. It is also the person of good will who simply doesn’t want to talk about slavery and wants to keep it off the public agenda. (9) The abolitionist movement made slavery an issue of moral debate. The Quakers, who were white Christians, in no way benefited from the abolishment of slavery. They were Christians who dedicated themselves to the abolishment of slavery, not because of what they stood to gain from it, but because of the contradiction slavery presented to their Christian faith. Even years after slavery, Christians were active in the civil rights struggle. According to Booker T. Washington, it was his Christian influence that allowed him to see himself as more than a piece of property. (9) It was Frederick Douglass’ association with the Quakers that placed him in the national spotlight, enabling him to address issues like slavery in the south, and segregation in the north. (10) No one could debate the role of the church in the civil rights struggle. It is well documented, the role Martin Luther King Jr., and his Christian origins, played on the organization of the marches that defined the civil rights era. However, equally important, though much less publicized, were the roles of young Christians, who were largely responsible for providing the bodies that participated in the sit-in movements at lunch counters, as well as the boycotts, and protests. And, Harvard University economist Richard Freeman through his research, has found that even in the present era, churchgoing has been a vehicle which has helped African American men escape from the world of poverty, drug use, and crime. (11)

As for those who choose to argue that Christianity is a passive religion which teaches its adherents to practice docility and meekness, and embrace servitude, I suggest that they do a little research. From Nat Turner, to Denmark Vessey, to Gabriel Prosser, mostly all of the revolts that were led against slavery were led by Christians. " (12)

Finally, many of those who have claimed to be Christians may or may not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Chancellor Williams says, “The cloak of Christianity was a most convenient hiding place for those who had other designs.” (15) It is my belief that the ones who stayed involved with the slave trade were not Christians, because I believe meeting Jesus causes a life changing experience in the life of a believer. The ex-slave owner John Newton was so inspired from meeting Jesus that he wrote the song ‘Amazing Grace’ because he could not believe the love that God had given to him in Christ Jesus, after all he had done. (16) Now, while I have never owned another human being, I have done some terrible things. And like Newton points out in his song, ‘God’s grace saved a wretch like me.’ I love my history and embrace my heritage. One of the reasons I decided to minor in Black Studies was because my ancestors have fought hard to give me some of the rights I have today, and I would never take any of those rights for granted. Every time I vote, I think about those who died before me to give me that right. The people who dedicated themselves to ensuring us of some of the other rights we currently have dedicated their lives to fighting to give us those rights, and we must always respect and appreciate them for that. But, ‘God commendeth his love toward me, in that while I was yet a sinner Christ died for me.’ I could steal from black people, lose my mind and kill an elderly black woman, or leave my wife and kids, and marry a white woman, and black people would be through with me. I would be kicked to the curb so fast that all love would be lost, black or not. However, Romans 8 tells me that “nothing can separate me from the love of God. Not powers, nor principalities, nor height, nor depth, nor things present, nor things to come, nor any other created thing, nothing can separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.” I don’t believe I have to make a choice between my blackness and my Christianity. I don’t buy into the supposition that I cannot be pro-black and Christian. However, for the record, if a choice has to be made, if for some strange reason, someone wants me to determine which side I would choose if some decree went out saying black people would be going to war against the Christian church, and all black men had to choose sides, I will quote Joshua, who said thousands of years ago, what still stands true for me today, you can choose who you want, but “as for me and my house we will serve the lord.”

1. Haley, Alex. The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley. Ballantine Publishing Group. New York, New York, 1964. pg. 188
   
2. Mosley, William. What Color Was Jesus. Chicago, Illinois. African American Images Press, 1987 pp 1-6
   
3. Muhammed, Elijah. The History of Jesus Birth, Death, and What it Means. Atlanta, GA. The Messenger Press. pp. 37-39.
   
4. Mbiti, John S. African Religions and Philosophy. Garden City, N.Y. Doubleday Anchor books. 1969. pp. 300-301.
   
5. Muhammed. Ibid. pp37-39.
   
6. Williams, Chancellor. The Destruction of Black Civilization. Third World Press. Chicago, IL. 1987. pg. 23.
   
7. The Holy Bible. KJV. Ephesians 6:5-9.
   
8. Foner, Eric. On the Abolitionist Movement.
   
9. Ibid.
   
10. Washington, Booker T. The Awakening of the Negro.
    
11. Foner, Eric. Abolitionist Movement.
    
12. Johnson, Byron. The Role of African American Churches in Reducing Crime Among Black Youth.
    
13. Wilmore, Gayraud. Black Religion and Black Radicalism: an interpretation of the religious history of Afro-American people. Orbis Books. Maryknoll, N.Y. 1983. pp 75-79.
    
14. Ibid. pp. 106-109
    
15. Ibid. pp.230-231
    
16. Williams, Chancellor. Ibid. pg. 56.
    
17. The Holy Bible. KJV. Romans 8
    
18. Ibid.
    

©Black Apologetics Ministry 2001-2003
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