Justice

You may ask, “What does this have to do with white evangelicalism?” You might even ask, “What does this have to do with police reform?” I would answer you, “Everything!”
I’ve had the privilege of fellowship inside and around the edges of several of America’s largest denominations. All white people, just as all black people in these organizations are not bad – nor good. They are just people, who in most cases came to the realization that they needed a Savior, and subsequently submitted their lives to Christ.
On the other hand, there are those who are less than honorable and some who pretend to be something they are not. As best as I can tell, they ALL suffer from the same ego-centric approach to missions and what they consider “the great commission.” While this sounds terrible that I would level such a negative sounding comment, it is unfortunately true. Many white Christians, when operating overseas, seem to have an inherent need to “change the world,” perhaps, even when operating under the banner of “one person at a time.”
Where the train leaves the tracks is at the point when we (white people) believe that our ways are better than the ways of others, and in most cases, this involves people groups who happen to be different colored skin than our own. While that sounds pretty simplistic, it is actually a fundamental issue, that in my professional and experienced opinion, found its way into our culture. This happened during the days of segregation and separation in our nation.
We do have a very ethnocentric approach to almost everything, especially cultural matters. Look, I am proud of my culture, and I am happy to be a white Anglo-American as some of our black brothers might choose to call me. However, when I look back on my parents’ generation, I am embarrassed and even at times infuriated by the sheer stupidity that seemed to run through the veins of many Americans during their prime years. There was no place more than that of law enforcement where that stupidity seemed to find its way into the light, only to be showcased as a weakness in our culture today.
As it related to the Somali Commander, all he asked of us was for us to help him re-write and re-define the Somali Penal Code. And yes, that is and would have been a tall order. Yet, we had the know-how, the ability, the knowledge, and the money to do this straightforward task.
That “simple man,” as they labeled him, and other such “non-Christians” had far more wisdom than the Christian elite seated on their smug thrones back in America. He knew that the current chaotic governing system would not allow for social or religious change or freedom. He knew if we could develop a RELATIONSHIP, we could indeed, then talk about “other” things.
Of course, what possibly could a less-educated black African military man know that the fat-cat white evangelicals who were trained by American seminaries not know? My answer: A lot!
The organization I was working for to conduct that assessment could not see past the end of its white nose. And, although I dislike admitting it, it was without question a bigoted and culture-driven decision on their part not to move forward with the “opportunity.” Their ethnocentric business ethos, tied to their inherent need to keep numbers, stats, and report “church plants” would not only doom thousands to hell, but would cost the only actual open door to this region having been opened to us in many years – if ever. (See 1 Corinthians 16: 9)
I keep that soiled book in my office as a sad reminder of my promise and commitment to helping to assist my brother, and then being cut-blocked by white ethnocentric bigots who couldn’t understand that this Muslim commander had opened the door to Jesus – through the LAW, and in Biblical fashion very clearly told us that change was possible. But through the filters of their formal education in “ministry” alone, they were unable to see the actual NEED of the people they were trying to reach.
What caused my soul to grieve even deeper was the fact that Jim Crow seemed to be alive and well in American Foreign Missions. Yet, those perpetrating this spiritual bondage on others different than themselves couldn’t even see their own pharisaical depravity.
It’s not a very good picture that one of his men took of us standing together, but it also sits on my desk. Sometimes I sit looking at it and wonder where he is today. Is he still alive? Does he ever think about me? Our discussion? The false hope we left behind as that same rickety old plane left the pothole-filled tarmac in Hargeisa – would it burn a hole of hate or distrust in his heart after he realized we would never return?
I wonder what he thought of me after we did not return. It causes me to grieve over my brothers in the Lord believing they were doing the right thing by “prayer walking” around the towns, when in fact, the door had been opened to them already. Yet, they were too arrogant or ignorant (or perhaps afraid) to see it and walk through it.
Some twenty years later, I think about what it might be like there today if white ethnocentric “missionaries” had laid down their egos and allowed us to work with this Somali Police commander and others to rebuild a broken penal code. I wonder if his obvious emphasis as to what must come “first,” might have opened the door to the Gospel to be preached and spread through that dry and weary land. What life might have come to the many thousands who have since died, very likely in body and soul?
Through an old broken law and code could have come freedom and an open door to the Gospel.
Ch. 6 Pgs 61-63