cheryl-coleman

Always Victorious. Never Defeated

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 15:59:08 GMT

Enlightenment From America's 2024 National Elections

Always Victorious. Never Defeated:

Enlightenment from America’s 2024 National Elections

Considering the most recent national elections in the United States, Christians can claim neither victory, nor defeat. That is because God is never defeated, and He is always victorious, despite what occurs in secular politics, anywhere in the world. That significant numbers of Black people, who have traditionally shown loyalty to the Democratic Party since attaining the right to vote for themselves, (as well as all other non-White people through the Civil Rights Movement a few decades ago in the 1960’s) to the surprise of many, added unusually to the winning Republican candidate. This is surprising because since attaining voting rights in the 1960’s, Black Americans held onto the hope that the Democratic Party would lift them from the ongoing, socially accepted negative effects, public policies and actions that proceeded out of American Slavery, which, in more recent times, appeared to be a basis and in the interest (more so) of the Republican Party to maintain. Latino’s, who along with other People of color (POC) who are perceived and treated as the “other” by mainstream America, also added to the win. These three factors of faith, race, and politics, reveal a need for deep individual reflection and clarity in the days we are living as members of The Body of Christ. Noting that church attendees egregiously and consistently place The Body of Christ on the altar of sacrifice for racial, cultural and personal power, gain and greed; make members of The Body of Christ targets for violence, and oppression; perpetrate and advance division in The Body of Christ along cultural/racial lines, in favor of the world’s systems and man-made politics. In the days we’re living, The Body of Christ is compelled to examine its identity beyond American or any other politics, or systems of the world and culture, which, divides.

POC Helped to Elect Donald Trump

The argument that POC helped elect Donald Trump is notable and understandable in principle, given that it has been widely observed that the Democratic Party has historically taken these communities for granted, considering the many profound challenges they have faced. Black and Indigenous Americans in particular, experience the same or similar pains of the past of American Slavery and genocide, respectively: of economic insecurity and wealth gaps and that can be resolved through reparations, social injustices, housing and healthcare disparities, cruel and unusual punishments, abuses and disparities in the criminal justice system, as well as compounded, deeply held, socially accepted norms of violence and abuse, including those perpetrated by white supremacist groups and ideologies. In short, The Democratic Party has consistently failed Indigenous, Black Americans, and conversely, POC in general. History and the present make this very clear. America was built and persists on racism. Whether a person of color who is of The Faith; a Democrat or Republican or otherwise; when they participate in the so-called American Dream following Indigenous and Black Americans, they should be careful to acknowledge these truths. Yet, that a person of color whether Christian or non-Christian, would risk their well-being and that of their families in the hopes of a better, more equitable future by supporting a political party that appears to be “more committed” to exploiting them, is apparently a risk worth taking. It has been inferred by Latino leaders who hold great influence among Latinos that feelings of “anti-Blackness” by Latinos was a significant factor in supporting the Republican candidate when making their voting decision, rather than the Democratic candidate’s policies and positions. Yet, it seems clear that many have been forced into this position as a last resort for hope and change toward the dignity of their God given humanity.

In sum, the argument suggests that if the Democratic Party had moved beyond symbolic support to meaningfully address the complex, longstanding issues facing POC communities, it might have maintained loyalty, as well as engagement that would have potentially shifted the outcome of the election. Instead, the Democratic Party would consistently overlook centuries of abuse and exploitation experienced by POC (and in particular, Black and Indigenous- God bless the souls of multiplied tens of millions of African and Indigenous peoples who have directly and indirectly suffered) by consistently favoring/mixing/liking their needs, interests and priorities with, for example, the LGBTQ+ community (which, is comprised of all people, including White people) as well as other special interest groups, where POC are not exclusive. Although the Democratic Party ran on a message of unity and enjoyed the support of all races of people as well as Christians, what is clear is that the party is more divided than ever on critical matters that affect its so-called base. Notably, the needs of POC.

Despite What Occurs in American Politics, Jesus is Still Building His Church Across the Earth and His Church is Called to Unity

Jesus is building His church of every nation and tongue of those who value others and bring a unique perspective to their politics, culture, and the world. His church is informed by their faith, distinct from purely secular political views. Yet, notable within the Republican Party is its clear appearance of racial abuses, division, and disunity that is as impactful as its counterpart. This evidence in part, is hidden within a seemingly honorable, yet elusive political subjects that appears to touch the hearts of all in some way. One such subject is abortion. Most do not know, have forgotten, or do not equate the issue of abortion (pro-life) to racism and division. Yet, at the base of the so-called pro-life movement is racism and division.

The issue of abortion has its origins in 20 ^th century politics, and in large part of its aims was to counter and shift attention away from the Civil Rights Movement and the racial issues that spurred the Civil Rights Movement on (Balmer, 2014). Balmer (2014) goes on to inform that while the pro-life movement publicly adopted a message of defending the sanctity of life, its political alliances often aligned with agendas that supported policies that were disproportionately harmful to communities of color, including, by restricting social welfare programs for the needy, (especially POC who were discriminated against in the labor market) “opposing” racial integration, (unity) and enacting punitive criminal justice policies that disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities (these are widely known to persist). At the time, inconsistency (to the notion of being “pro-life”) led many critics to argue that the movement’s “pro-life” stance focused narrowly on abortion while ignoring broader systemic injustices that affect the quality of life for POC. The pro-life movement became closely associated with the Republican Party, which had begun using a “Southern strategy” to appeal to White voters in the South by subtly opposing Civil Rights reforms without openly endorsing segregation (racial division, in direct contrast to the nature and character of God, the Bible and The Body of Christ).

The Republican Party appears to also fight vigorously against teaching our children history that details why the church is divided along racial lines by seeking to eradicate teachings on our country’s historical past of racism and the impacts it has had on POC to the current day. They argue against being “woke.” The term “woke,” is a term that can be traced back to the early 20 ^th century. It was a term that served as a warning to POC, and initially Black Americans to be “be aware of the potential for racist violence in the South” (Alfonseca, 2024). Black Americans have used this term for decades to remind one another to be careful when interacting among White’s (and increasingly others who adopted and modeled these historical trends as a social norm) as racial violence, discrimination, abuse and mistreatment was prevalent and socially acceptable in America, including in and through churches.

So, why is the Republican Party adverse to education in our schools that reveal the prevalence of racism and the harm it has done to countless POC (therefore, and including Christians)? Why is the history of dividing the church along racial lines due to institutional racism sought to be withheld from educational institutions by Republicans? More importantly, why does the church give consent and approval for these types of actions, by also remaining silent? The Republican Party has made the Body of Christ a party to contradicting God and the Bible, while bringing harm to “seemingly itself and its own.” The evidence reveals that the Republican Party willfully, and deliberately seeks to convince Christians that there is error in "the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them" (Alfonseca, 2024). All the while systemic injustices define our culture and persist. And we would know this if we would challenge attempts to learning and understanding these claims when they are made. Why, one must ask, have Republicans sought to weaponize and co-opt the term “woke,” reducing it to a negative and derogatory term; and threatening individuals and institutions with taking away their livelihoods where racism and its negative effects against Christians (who are considered POC) is taught? For example,

Alfonseca (2024):

DeSantis has implemented policies in schools that restrict the topics of race, oppression, gender and sex in the classroom through the Parental Rights in Education Law and the "Stop WOKE" Act. His administration also banned spending on diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) from public college campuses.

Across the country, hundreds of conservative-led legislative efforts have restricted programs, classes and trainings that touch on race, diversity and equity in recent months.

Likewise, the phrase and notion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, (DEI) fundamentally means, multiculturalism, and it also has its roots in the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement towards combating discrimination and racism, and ensuring diversity in American economic and social systems, and “holding government, corporations and civil society accountable” (Edmunds, & Lind, 2021) to this notion. While the term DEI has likewise been weaponized and reduced to a derogatory term, more so and likely as it has also adopted emerging special interests over time, CR Coleman MGMT has accepted the task through God’s calling and purpose of bridging gaps and transcending negative cultural impacts on our Faith and our Identity in Christ toward “Race Related DEI,” in large part, through education.

So, How Should Christians Respond to Divisions Advanced by Politics and Other Secular Systems?

Biblical Christianity is the epitome and embodiment of values like diversity, equity, inclusion, and unity. They are core principles of The Faith that transcend political affiliations. Christians are called to influence societies on matters of justice, compassion, and support for all people, regardless of race, political leanings, background, or status. This Biblically rooted commitment to inclusivity and fairness stands in contrast to the secular systems of power and gain, toward genuine character, and Identity in Christ. The Christian’s call is not to align strictly with one political party, but rather to seek and advocate for God’s justice in all spheres of life. In practice, this can include:

Working within or outside political structures to promote policies and practices that uplift one another (including marginalized communities) and bring reconciliation across racial and socioeconomic divides
Highlight commitments to faith values over party loyalty
Aim for a society where diversity, equity, inclusion, and unity are more than just words—rather, a lived reality that aligns with God’s vision for humanity as indeed, this is the character and nature of the Church that Jesus Christ is building.
Model and teach that all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), which means each person deserves respect, love, and fairness. When either political party falls short in treating people equitably or perpetuates structures that harm or marginalize specific communities, it misrepresents and counters the plans, purposes and will of God
Call out divisions and abuses as contrary to God’s will. The Bible repeatedly condemns favoritism, oppression, and division (James 2:1-9; Micah 6:8). Promoting and advocating for division is self-condemning and subjects one to God’s judgement (Titus 3:10-11)
Highlight that when political systems allow or overlook racial injustice, abuses, divisions, and exploitation, they contradict these foundational principles. By failing to address structural ails effectively, both parties stray from God’s call to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31) and to seek justice and mercy for the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17).
Christians must also stress that racial injustice isn’t just a “political issue” but a deeply spiritual and moral one. Both parties’ failures to fully address racism that creates, and advances racism can be seen as a neglect of the biblical mandate to be peacemakers and agents of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
Christians can express disappointment by reminding Christian leaders who align with either party that God’s kingdom is one of diversity, equity, and unity, transcending human-made divisions. Racial injustice, therefore, is not only a social failure but also a spiritual one that goes against the heart of Christian teachings.

As a Christian, I am calling for repentance, spiritual revival and reform in the ways that reflect and model accuracy on the matter of Biblical Christianity and unity: the notion that the church is The Body of Christ, made of people from every nation and tongue, which, transcends social constructs of identity, towards Identity in Christ. Jesus is returning for and acknowledges HIS church, not people groups, whether they align or identify themselves by “social constructs” of race, politics, profession, community, etc. Jesus declared that His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) and socially constructed categories of people are often designed to oppose “others” toward power, gain and control, therefore, causing the Christian to “fight against, resist, and bring harm to other Christians.”

In the same way that the prophets spoke truth to power and to each other, as A Christian, I call for Christians…real Christians, to call out both parties to humbly acknowledge their shortcomings and make amends, working toward policies and practices that promote justice, equity, and equality. And more importantly, for Christian leaders to affirm and model The Faith as it concerns these critical matters before God and man, as a witness, instruction, and testimony of Biblical Faith. I am challenging both Democrat and Republican Christians, leaders and lay people, to move beyond secular political rhetoric, pretexts, and disregard on the matter at hand, for the relevance and truth of The Faith; and take meaningful action to dismantle systems of racial inequality, toward embodying the kingdom values that Christ modeled, for the good of all and the glory of God. Where this cannot or will not be accomplished, I call for those who understand these truths and truly identify with The Faith of The Bible and The Body of Christ, to detach themselves from cultural deviations from the Bible, for their own eternal good, and for the ultimate glory of God.

Dr. Cheryl

When on the road at midday, O king, I saw a light from heaven surpassing the brightness of the sun, flashing about me and those who were traveling with me.

¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew tongue saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you continue to persecute Me [to harass and trouble and molest Me]? It is dangerous and turns out badly for you to keep kicking against the goads [to keep offering vain and perilous resistance].

¹⁵ And I said, Who are You, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. Acts 26: 13-15.

References

Alfonseca, K. (2024, January). What does ‘woke’ mean and why are some conservatives using it? ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/woke-conservatives/story?id=93051138

Balmer, D. (2014, May). The real origins of the religious right. Politico. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/05/religious-right-real-origins-107133/

Edmunds, M., & Lind, D. (2021). Glossary of definitions and core concepts for diversity, equity, and inclusion (dei). https://academyhealth.org/sites/default/files/publication/%5Bfield_date%3Acusto m%3AY%5D-%5Bfield_date%3Acustom%3Am%5D/deiglossary_nov_2021_1.pdf

*I urge you to research these topics further, as it is well documented in reliable and reputable information and data sources.

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They're Not Like Us

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 11:13:11 GMT

They're Not Like Us

They’re Not Like Us

Introduction

When I began blogging for CR Coleman MGMT LLC a few months back, it was my intention to post a new blog every two weeks. But God is in control. Several times I sat at my computer prepared to write and be consistent as I had promised, but I couldn’t get beyond the first paragraph. It wasn’t until I accidently, for the first time in my life, spilled water on my keyboard and had to send it out for service. Through prayer and a talented computer repair technician, my computer was restored back to its original state. Yet, this experience reminded me that although I’m a scholar and am exhilarated by opportunities to research and weave facts and knowledge together, this is God’s business and I write when and what He inspires me to write. When God has something to say in the context of this work the words begin to flow freely. I tremble and my heart flutters at the direction and scope my writing begins to take.

Rapid and consecutive downloads of wisdom, insight, revelation and meaning come together so beautifully, I wish that I could take the credit. But as I begin the process of writing, it can take hours, days, weeks, and even months before all the pieces come together. I comprehend the full context, direction, and areas to begin exploring; and I begin to pray it through, leaning into the especially delicate and challenging matters with a deep humility. I know this is effective because when the words are not His, they don’t stick, and flow; and I begin the process of deleting words, paragraphs, and even pages.

After doing this work for nearly thirty years, I recognize the words and the work is prophetic, for such a time as this, making it even more important that I lean into God as I am not capable of being so accurate with understanding the days and times we’re living in, days and times which He foreknew and prepared me for. An endeavor so significant, that the fear of God consumes me at the thought of misrepresenting Him and misguiding people. As such, my words and this path are His, and I am not in control of it, despite my knowledge, skills and abilities. My work and calling is not my own, and I yield it fully to Him. Also, as such, God has something to say.

When I coined the term Eurotheism a few years ago, it was a discovery that was unhidden through academic research I was conducting at the time. It was a jaw dropping moment that astonishes me to the current day. One of those things that you’re not looking for, but it finds you, attaches itself to you, and serves as a foundation to unlimited knowledge, meaning and purpose. Hidden knowledge that appears obscure to the natural eye, albeit it is clear to see. For nearly three decades of engaging with people across racial lines who claim The Faith as their own, who have some affiliations or identification with Christ. The current day appears to be a showdown of many gods. More specifically, a showdown between the Maker of the universe and gods of the culture. And there will only be one winner. God will protect and save His own.

History and Basis

My former work and engagement in Public Affairs, matters. And in the current day, the social and political climate in the US reveals much. Let me first say, I’m a former Democrat as well as a former Republican. In fact, it was my affiliation with the Republican Party that began my three decades long path and purpose in Public Affairs. As a self-proclaimed and recognized public servant, I was asked to lead the newly developed Public Affairs Ministry at an international church that I was a part of in the Washington DC area. As a result, I was recruited by a lobbying firm to organize a March on Washington for the protection of religious freedoms in the US. The aim wasn’t just to organize Christians, but any Faith-Based Organization (FBO). Protecting the freedoms of one FBO, supported the interests of all other, FBO’s. In my role as event organizer, I got multiple opportunities to lobby Congress and became a non-registered lobbyist. I did the work of a lobbying, under the guise or the organization I worked for. My participation with that group and the Republican Party was influenced by its advancement of “traditional family values.” As a person of The Faith, this was a no brainer for me, as I had been taught that family values were God’s values within the culture.

As that experience was the start of my path and purpose in Public Affairs, I discovered, however, through soberness of mind, life’s experiences and the path, which, took me from rubbing elbows with “world changers” of the political realm (US Presidents, Congress, Supreme Court Justices) to the grassroots of American culture, to perceive and comprehend a broad scope of how The Body of Christ generally operated. Through this, it became clear to me that American traditional family values did not necessarily represent the God of the Bible, who and what He values. I learned that in many churches, the consistent message was, The Faith couldn’t be realized, except it also reflected American traditional family values; the two were being conflated, as opposed to being identified as two separate and unique bodies. Considering this, I believe that politically, socially, and in all other instances, in the fullness of time, we are in a showdown of gods. I believe this for sure is occurring in America and across the globe where America has had some influence, relative to The Faith.

What rings in my head constantly as I do this work is that The Faith is the business of our Maker. One’s Identity in Christ transcends all other identities, which, are generally socially constructed whether in the US, or abroad. Indeed, this is the basis for which, I coined the term Identity in Christ nearly 30 years ago. The Faith is not any specific political, social or otherwise group. It belongs to God, represented by scores of individuals, past, present and indeed, future. No one entity can claim ownership of God. What He is, whom He favors and accepts.

Decades after beginning the journey of my calling and work to challenge and counter socially constructed categories that compete with one’s Identity in Christ for the glory of God and the good of us all. I have never been able to shake the notion of how there are groups among us, who have significant power and influence, who declare The Faith, but their identity and expression of The Faith is toward the advancement of beliefs around Whiteness, and the power, control and gain produced from it in a cultural context. To be a Christian for these, it appears that one must express and maintain loyalty to traditional American family values; and if one doesn’t identify with the socially constructed category of Whiteness or adhere to and reflect its ideologies and identities as a fundamental belief system and demonstration of The Faith, you’re not a good Christian, or even a Christian at all. As such, this notion is blasphemous, improper, and a disservice to humankind, past, present, and future. The thought of people denying God, or perceiving Him in the context of race deeply, deeply, deeply grieves my soul, day and night. I wonder how many have denied and missed the glorious presence of God in their lives because of this, past, present, and future. In fact, it was the negative and false perceptions of “the other,” so called races of people, as well as their religious beliefs, which, established and justified racism and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, (Reasons for the development of the slave trade, 2022) as well as many related instances of racism and known to us in the current day.

For example, history has revealed this truth for many centuries, and indeed since our inception when it was determined that if anyone was not White Anglo Saxon Protestant, (WASP) they could not be a Christian; (Hine, Hine, & Harrold, 2006); albeit the Bible teaches that The Faith is comprised of “every nation, tribe, people and tongue;” and no one is more acceptable by God, greater than, or more valuable than another. History also reveals that The Faith, in fact, as opposed to any culture (the world) is a culture (philosophy, values, beliefs, principles, etc.) unto itself; and declares that those who serve as leaders, are compelled not to abuse their power and lord over others so as to take His place as the “Lord of His church;” (people) but rather, they are to be the actual servants to His church, with the goal of comforting and guiding people toward the image of Christ, in (of) the character and nature of the example Christ demonstrated; taking lowest positions among others as the actual servants; these do not “sit high and look low” as He does, as we imagine Him on His heavenly throne, with all power and authority to be revered above all Matthew 20:20-28 (New King James Version).

With the examples we have among us since our inception as a nation, any breathing, thinking human being would have to wonder, could there be a different gospel that has been paraded among us, misguiding and deceiving scores, past and present because of the social construct of race toward earthly power, gain and control? Deliberately creating and causing division in the Body of Christ for personal gains? I pondered this, day and night through distress and trepidation, and the thought of even challenging the deeply embedded norms surrounding it. But norms, albeit they are embedded, do not equate being valid or accurate.

In accepting this calling and path, never wavering in my heart and softening to the challenge through clarity, which, God revealed consistently through His Word and the great Communicator, the Holy Spirit. It was obvious that something other than The Faith was occurring as a rule, rather than an exception. I struggled with how to approach this. Waiting, and waiting for someone else to take up the call so that I could align myself with them, it always seemed to be the furthest from people’s mind. What was front and center, however, that could not be denied, was The Faith, built in the context of culture with racial implications, violence, hatred and disparities, did not reflect the Bible. This notion ever evolves, as it consistently advances toward upholding and reinforcing power, control and gain at the expense of non-Whites, in the name of God.

Where these notions of Christianity being the example and identity of a particular race, class or political affiliation of people persist, the rest of us observe with great clarity, up close, as well as from a distance, and we declare as members of The Body of Christ, “They’re not like us.” Now, I respect that many have lived and gained through false notions of The Faith. I respect it. Well done. It appears to have been very successful insofar as it has gained many followers, power, control, and possessions. But to what end? The Kingdom of God? I think not. And I am confident that the Maker of the universe doesn’t think so either. And currently, after centuries of this grave error being practiced and promoted, this showdown of the God and Maker of the universe and the gods of culture is in play.

The evidence of The Faith being consistently transformed throughout history (some timely, valid, and accurate, and some not) to fit cultural narratives and norms isn’t just my observation. It is the observation of many. Boyer (2001) deduced that The Faith in America was ever being modified,

over time periods, regions and social groups. Slaves and their masters in the antebellum South, abolitionists and their opponents in the North, capitalist robber barons in the Gilded Age and Social Gospel critics of capitalism in the Progressive Era, anti- Darwinians in the 1920s, civil rights marchers in the 1950s and 1960s, pacifists in the 1930s and Cold Warriors in the 1950s, and in the 1990s, feminist theologians and fundamentalists who believed that the reign of Antichrist was just around the corner--all found in Christianity a religion that spoke to their condition and (or so they claimed) validated their worldview. No doubt all great religions have this chameleon-like quality, but in Christianity this capacious adaptability seems especially pronounced, and nowhere more so than in the United States. (para. 8).

Race based “religion,” is clearly ongoing to the current day stemming from

The Europeans’ initial encounter with non-whites was through conquering and seizing their land, and then subjecting the inhabitants of the land to enslavement or colonial repression. This was not only justified because to the color of their skin however, but specifically because others held non-Christian beliefs and practices (Benedict, 1959; Fredrickson, 2002).

The gods of culture and the world toward racism (parallelled in the church) are in fact, deeply embedded cultural norms, noting that

As racial tensions heightened, pseudo-scientific beliefs of race began to arise through the field of academia and in particular, from the concept of the origin of the human species, which rendered the social meaning of non-whites as being inferior to Whites. This concept was derived exclusively from studies of animals reported on by Charles Darwin in his 1859 publication, The Origin of the Species (Marger, 2006).

The evidence that

American Christianity since 1800 would certainly also emphasize the patriotic theme, demonstrating how Christianity has adapted itself to American nationalism. Politicians and religious leaders from the Revolutionary era onward have wrapped their policies in the cloak of divine purpose, to broad public approbation. While Dan Quayle of "potatoe" fame is the only national politician I have heard in recent years explicitly describe America as "God's chosen nation," the assumption remains implicit in much of our public rhetoric (Boyer, 2001, para. 10).

The Faith isn’t a social construct that only recognizes Americans, despite their race. Jesus Christ ONLY recognizes and His church, made up of people from around the world, yet,

Nowhere in the narrative of [mainstream American] Christianity is it more common to perceive the Christian church as being representative of nationalist patriotism, rather than religion, which is tied to first generation ideals of Christianity than in the Evangelical church movement, which also observes a general strict adherence to American conservative politics. For example, “the multicultural language of “gift” and “celebration of diversity” is common in mainline Protestant churches, but much less so in evangelical churches. In part, this is because evangelicals avoid multicultural discourse, which they associate with secular liberals” (Garces-Foley, 2007. p. 216).

They’re Not Like Us

Given this, in 2017 I coined another term, which, built upon Identity in Christ. That term is Eurotheism.

Eurotheism, in contrast to Christianity holds to notions of:

· a faith belief and practice that is based on traditional European thought and experience, while Christianity supports the adherence to and practice of Biblical thought and teachings, which are meant to transcend cultural or socially constructed thoughts and teachings;

· b.) relies on racial/ethnic stratification and ethnocentrism, which lends to a perception that Non-Whites hold second class citizenship to Whites in society and in the Christian church, while Christianity reveals that God is no respecter of persons, God has no favorites and everyone is regarded equally;

· c.) holds to forceful stances in market capitalism, individualism, competition, self-preservation and self-indulgence, while Christianity overwhelmingly embodies care for others, self-sacrifice and charity;

· d.) makes alterations to Christianity based on changing social or political factors that support a worldview through a European-American lens that may also include typically conservative political or non- religious [cultural] ideology while Christianity supports consistency in ideas and attitudes based on solely from Biblical thought of Godly character;

· e.) supports nationalism and patriotism that regards European Americanism as Christianity by default, while biblically, one’s nationality or place of citizenship, cannot be found and named as a way to know and experience God;

· f.) emphasizes cultural pride and identity versus Identity in Christ.

And as a Member of The Body of Christ, I wholeheartedly declare that it appears evident that They’re Not Like Us.

As a social scientist, I observe culture through an objective lens, to describe what is at play as a matter of education and knowledge. My path has taken me throughout all aspects of American culture, engaging with the so called, least to the greatest. Currently in the culture there is what is called a “rap battle,” where musical artists of the Rap music genre compete with one another in a battle of words, depicting cultural attitudes and information in poetic form, with participants of the “battle,” each responding in an effort to outdo, or upstage their opponent; to establish greater recognition and superiority as a musical artist; as well as “street cred” (credibility). The current battle has taken the world by storm.

The battle is occurring between two well-known music artists, Mr.’s Kendrick Lamar and Aubrey “Drake” Graham. Mr. Lamar’s latest response to the battle is called, “Not like us.” In it, Mr. Lamar infers that Rap music culture (within the mainstream of culture) has a unique identity and origin that is birthed from and reflects the “essences and life experiences” of American Black culture. Fundamentally, this is what Rap music is.

And while the Rap music genre is a global one, it would be a grave error to seek to usurp the identity of, or appropriate Rap music,” in America,” among Black Americans and other fans of the genre, who have become fans in light of its origins, meaning, impact and purpose. Liken this to biological child, versus a non-biological child, who does not have the DNA of the parent, (culture) the experiences associated with the parent, or the experiences as a child that shapes one’s knowledge or ability to represent the parent, except by association. Likewise, this is what appears, Eurotheism is. A counterfeit, parading as authentic. A different essence, meaning and purpose, that misguides, divides, and deceives many.

While many have been deceived, divided, and misguided by the topic of race and their Identity in Christ despite their race, (as I believe the numbers and categories of the deceived cannot be counted) there is grace in the current day that we can take advantage of, while we still have the opportunity. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. The Faith, its culture and identity, cannot be mimicked or superseded by any other to be accepted as genuine or authentic. It is unique, in and of itself, despite changing times or circumstances. And in the current day, I am compelled by God to help us “all” where we are challenged by these facts, to assist us in processing our Identity in Christ, in the context of culture and cultural norms. In my role and ability as a social scientist and my decades long experience, knowledge and analysis, I started this organization for the good of us all, by teaching, training, coaching and advising on the topic. My work is available to all who recognize the need for insight, accuracy, and change on the topic personally, as well as generally.

In lieu of acquiring my services designed for organizational leaders who are responsible for guiding and modeling The Faith for others to follow, I have a few recommendations that I am compelled to share that anyone can benefit from, whether they are an organizational leader or not. Whether they are paid or a volunteer. Despite their race. Although my work is designed for leaders of FBO’s, each of these recommendations serve as a basis for my work and will help us where we are challenged, toward the good of us all, for the glory of God, against widely adopted norms. I urge you to use these recommendations as a basis for prayer for yourself and those around you.

Recommendations:

a.) Be mindful of your actions and attitudes related to people of other races. The Body of Christ is comprised of people from every nation and tongue, and in the days, we are living, you may someday need the people you have made or perceived yourself an enemy of, as it has been dictated by the world and culture.

b.) When in public, venture out to others and show dignity and respect to those who are not in your racial clique or circle. You never know who of The Faith is there among you that you have a spiritual alignment with, or who has answers to problems you personally may face.

c.) Avoid taking sides with others along racial lines. Rather, seek to discern matters in truth and with facts. If you don’t know about a matter, research it using several sources of credible information available on either side. Compare the results and identify trends and consistency to comprehend truth. Don’t take racial sides through assumption and stereotypes. You do yourself a disservice as no two people are exactly alike.

d.) Practice not attacking and making yourself the enemy of others based on their race, especially in matter of public discourse and policy. Rather, advocate for the well-being, dignity, and equity of all.

e.) Discern the shared Identity in Christ you have with others beyond your own socially constructed, ever changing identity in the culture.

f.) Acknowledge and internalize that The Body of Christ is DIVERSITY; and participating in hurt, harm or danger against a person or group of people based on their race, causes you to be a party to your own, best interests and needs. You will set yourself of for God’s judgment by attacking and seeking harm against His people. His church.

g.) The culture of The Faith transcends alliance, loyalty to, recognition and participation in any other culture, past, present, and future.

h.) Be mindful of and reject traditions of men, unless they align with The Faith. Pray, explore, and compare them with The Faith.

i.) Repent and ask God to forgive you for seeking to and indeed, hurting others of another race, having followed the way of culture and the world. Ask God to bless them and restore and recover whatever you have taken from them, or sought their harm in.

j.) Examine yourself and ensure that your Identity is in Christ and with His Body, not in people, places, or things. Who you know and what you know. Jesus doesn’t define His church by cultural things, people, and places. Hold onto culture loosely, and avoid seeking to gain in the world, at the expense of losing your soul where race and racism is a factor.

k.) Consider that God is judging the traditions of men against His truth related to race and identities in the world that transcend Him. He is returning for His church, not members of a particular country, political or social group.

l.) Don’t entertain or maintain hatred against others, despite their race. Personally reconcile and clear the air with them. Many of our prayers aren’t being answered because we harbor hate and bitterness against others, as we do the bidding even of ungodly others, on matters that have nothing to do with us personally.

m.) Don’t judge and measure others by your own life and experiences. No two people are alike, and our life is before God is as individuals. We are not the same as we were a week or a year ago. Ensure that your life is right before God before determining another’s life, especially when you don’t have insight or the facts of their path.

Jesus Christ is STILL Building HIS Church. Are YOU a part of the Church?

~ Dr. Cheryl R. Coleman

Best,

Dr. Cheryl

References

BBC. (2022, December 22). Reasons for the development of the slave trade - reasons for the development of the slave trade - higher history revision - BBC bitesize. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z22nfg8/revision/1.

Benedict, R. (19591934). Patterns of culture. Boston, Houghton Mifflin.

Boyer, P. (2001). Two Centuries of Christianity in America: An Overview. Church History, 70(3), 544–556. doi:10.2307/3654501.

Fredrickson, G. M. (2002). Racism: A short history. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Garces-Foley, K. (2007). New opportunities and new values: The emergence of the multicultural church. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 612, 209-224. doi:http://ann.sagepub.com.ezproxy.library.unlv.edu/archive/.

Hine, D., Hine, W., & Harrold, S. (2006). African Americans: A concise history (Combined Volume). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Marger, M. N. (2006). Race and ethnic relations: American and global perspectives. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Didn't Earn It?

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:43:40 GMT

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Didn’t Earn It? (DEI)

In my first Blog entitled, “Jesus Christ is Still Building His Church, Are You a part of the Church?” I discussed that it was the tagline for a non-profit I started to help bring people of The Faith in North America across racial lines, to transcend previous racial divisions in Western Culture due to racism. I discussed how racial cohesion is a mechanism that was built into our existence long before North America (and its social construct of race) was established; and how homogenous entities of any sort contrast our Maker’s design for our individual, as well as collective well-being and purposes in the earth where racial diversity is present. To illustrate this, I referenced the eleventh chapter of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible (Genesis Eleven was also the name of my organization) relative to the Tower of Babel and I declared that homogenous entities of a sort, that are built with the goal of making a name for themselves toward individualism, gain, power, control and greatness; can be likened to “towers,” that are destined to be broken down and disabled, ultimately, losing their power, control, gain and influence.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, (DEI) also known as Multiculturalism, also known as Cultural Competency, (and other names over time) is the most recent term used to generally represent the notion of deliberately, and purposefully being interconnected with others beyond commonalities of race, valuing others and treating them with dignity and respect; recognizing that no two people are alike and that we each embody relevant gifts, talents and abilities that contribute to the whole, especially where relevant decisions (including policy decisions) are made, as opposed to alienating others toward group think - gain, power, influence and control; honoring each individual and making fair, unbiased and honest judgments and assessments beyond stereotypes and unreliable and skewed statistics. However, some in our culture, including in some Faith-Based Organizations have placed a mockery on the term, renaming it as “Didn’t Earn It,” using their power and influence to a reinforce and advance the notion of the “tower,” and the strong delusion of White Supremacy.

In this article, I will delve into the topic of race and the homogenous church that was established in North America, and I posit that many of these are social constructs that contrast one’s Identify in Christ, cause many to err in their perceptions, practices, and modeling of their faith(s), to replicate models of mere towers, turning people away from their Maker to error, delusion, and chaos; misguiding and impeding the well-being of those they love and care for: entire families, their children included. They are towers, modeled after social constructs of race, to acquire and maintain unmerited power, control, gain and influence through exploitation, violence, and anti-Christian philosophies of division.

This grieves me deeply and has for more than three decades. I grieve at the notion of many being led astray who promote racial division in the name of God, perceiving they are hearing from and worshipping God. They have caused scores to turn from God to a “different gospel,” so to speak. Some advance ungodly and anti-Christian views and philosophies, which align more with the culture they live in, than the Maker of the universe who is good. I grieve through the heart of God, that scores have, and will continue to be disappointed, when they realize before their Maker that they were deceived into, or deliberately chose to participate in egregious acts of racial violence and the promotion of racial division in His name, toward their own, personal gain.

I urge you to explore my declarations further on your, own for your benefit and for greater clarity. I believe that many of us make ill-informed decisions with the greatest of intentions because we lack knowledge and as a result, we are playing for the wrong team. As they say, knowledge is power, and many have taken positions on the wrong sides of history because they lack knowledge relative to race. Much of what we believe in America omits many fundamental truths to our existence. In the current day, we are witnessing government entities and other actors who resent knowledge and have resorted to the banning of books that reveal our true history. Don’t take my word for what I declare alone, I urge you to do the research yourself and be weary of those who seek to misguide you for their own, unmerited, and unwarranted personal gain, power, and control. Our eternal standing, and that of our families and children before our Maker depends on it.

Coleman (2017):

Around the time period of 1840, the belief in the United States was that anyone who was not a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, was permanently and innately inferior culturally, physically, economically, politically, and intellectually (Hine, Hine, & Harrold, 2006). To be inferior was to be anyone who was not a native-born Protestant. The Europeans’ initial encounter with non-whites was through conquering and seizing their land, and then subjecting the inhabitants of the land to enslavement or colonial repression. This was not only justified because to the color of their skin however, but specifically because others held non-Christian beliefs and practices (Benedict, 1959; Fredrickson, 2002). As racial tensions heightened, pseudo-scientific beliefs of race began to arise through the field of academia and in particular, from the concept of the origin of the human species, which rendered the social meaning of non-whites as being inferior to Whites. This concept was derived exclusively from studies of animals reported on by Charles Darwin in his 1859 publication, The Origin of the Species (Marger, 2006).

In the Christian church, Blacks were still only recognized as slaves. As noted by Carter (1926, p.1), “in order to keep the slaves ignorant and therefore contented with slavery, the slaveholders would allow among the slaves, no teachings, religious or otherwise, which would make them dissatisfied with their [slave] status.” During the late eighteenth, and early nineteenth centuries, however, Blacks began being exposed to the Christian religion, but only within the role of a second - class citizens. Within biracial congregations, Black Christians would be subjected to separate congregations that were characterized by separate seating and communion services, separate Sunday schools and separate cemeteries from Whites. When a Black parishioner attempted to pray in the White section of the church, attempts to prevent him were made by White trustees (Hine et al., 2006). This action led to the official disunion of the church in America that was negatively driven by race, and the formation of the first Black independent church. (Hine et al., 2006). This also began the tradition of the homogenous church in the U.S.

American Christianity since 1800 would certainly also emphasize the patriotic theme, demonstrating how Christianity has adapted itself to American nationalism. Politicians and religious leaders from the Revolutionary era onward have wrapped their policies in the cloak of divine purpose, to broad public approbation. While Dan Quayle of "potato" fame is the only national politician I have heard in recent years explicitly describe America as "God's chosen nation," the assumption remains implicit in much of our public rhetoric (Boyer, 2001, para. 10).

Nowhere in the narrative of Christianity is it more common to perceive the Christian church as being representative of nationalist patriotism, rather than religion, which is tied to first generation ideals of Christianity than in the Evangelical church movement, which also observes a general strict adherence to American conservative politics. For example, “the multicultural language of “gift” and “celebration of diversity” is common in mainline Protestant churches, but much less so in evangelical churches. In part, this is because evangelicals avoid multicultural discourse, which they associate with secular liberals” (Garces-Foley, 2007. p. 216).

The term White Privilege denotes that White people in Western Culture enjoy “invisible packages of unearned assets” (McIntosh,1989). The term unearned (unwarranted, unfair, unjustifiable, unmerited, inappropriate, unjust) appears too often to be overshadowed by the term privilege, (pleasure, joy, opportunity, advantage) and perceived as a positive attribute above anything else. I take issue with that notion. In my view, White Privilege is nothing to be celebrated, rather, it is to be named within a system that is woefully unearned and unjustifiable, and benefits solely from collective mistreatment and deliberate misfortune perpetrated onto others. It gains, solely at the loss of others. It is a fantasy and delusion of competence and authority and implicates those who are named in it, being the basis for many of the greatest past and present atrocities and injustices the world has come to know.

White Privilege isn’t a blessing in my view, rather, it appears to be a personal dilemma, established by violence, exploitation, lies, deceptions, pseudoscience, and propaganda since the inception of notably, mainstream American churches. It is built and it persists on tower mentality, which, relies on division and the destruction and exploitation of non-White individuals. In the United States, White Privilege was built and persists to the current day on Indigenous and Black people, thriving on their land and the gain and inheritances derived from slave labor that were never passed onto the descendants of those who earned, were abused, and died for, respectively. White Privilege is taking credit where it isn’t due in all aspects of our lives and culture; it revises and rewrites history as if it envies the contributions of others, lacks ambition, competence, or originality. No, America wasn’t built on merited gain and earned benefits of a homogenous nature, it is built through the distribution of the wealth and property of others and their descendants, and passed onto to others toward building a tower, to the current day. In other words, if anything didn’t earn it, White Privilege didn’t earn it.

No ethnic group has lifted itself by its own bootstraps. The Negro was freed from the bondage of physical slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, but he wasn't given any land to make that freedom meaningful. It was something like keeping a man in jail for many, many years, and then suddenly discovering that he is not guilty of the crime for which he was convicted. Then you go to the man and say, "Now you're free," but you don't give him any bus fare to get to town. You don't give him any money to get clothes to put on his back or to get on his feet in life again. Every system of justice or code of jurisprudence would rise up against this, and yet this is exactly what America did to the black man. It freed him from slavery and then left him there penniless, illiterate. He didn't have a thing, and there was no land provided.

The important thing that America must realize is this: That at the same time that she refused to give the black man anything, she was giving away millions of acres of land in the West and the Midwest through an act of Congress. Not only did she give the land, she built land grant colleges to teach them to farm. She provided county agents to help them and to get them expert, to give them expertise in farming. But not only that, the nation provided low interest rates in later years so that they could mechanize their farms. Not only that, many of these persons are being paid today not to farm, and these are many of the persons who are telling the Negro that he should lift himself by his own bootstraps. A wonderful thing. (applause) I guess that it is all right to tell a man to lift himself by his own bootstraps, but it is a cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps. Through centuries of denial, centuries of neglect, and centuries of injustice many, many Negroes have been left bootless. This does not mean that we do nothing for ourselves. It does not mean that we should not amass our economic and political resources to reach our legitimate goals. It simply means recognizing, the nation recognizing, that it owes a great debt on the basis of the injustices of the past. (“Transcript of Dr. King’s Speech,” 1968).

Additionally,

It is said on the Statue of Liberty that America is a home of exiles. It doesn't take us long to realize that America has been the home of its white exiles from Europe. But it has not evinced the same kind of maternal care and concern for its black exiles from Africa. It is no wonder that in one of his sorrow songs, the Negro could sing out, "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child." What great estrangement, what great sense of rejection caused a people to emerge with such a metaphor as they looked over their lives.

What I'm trying to get across is that our nation has constantly taken a positive step forward on the question of racial justice and racial equality. But over and over again at the same time, it made certain backward steps. And this has been the persistence of the so called white backlash.

In 1863 the Negro was freed from the bondage of physical slavery. But at the same time, the nation refused to give him land to make that freedom meaningful. And at that same period America was giving millions of acres of land in the West and the Midwest, which meant that America was willing to undergird its white peasants from Europe with an economic floor that would make it possible to grow and develop, and refused to give that economic floor to its black peasants, so to speak.

This is why Frederick Douglas could say that emancipation for the Negro was freedom to hunger, freedom to the winds and rains of heaven, freedom without roofs to cover their heads. He went on to say that it was freedom without bread to eat, freedom without land to cultivate. It was freedom and famine at the same time. But it does not stop there. (“The Other America,” 1967).

DEI is not a liberal, political ideology as some would attempt to have us believe. DEI is fundamentally based on the merit of the individual and their contribution to the whole, for the good of us all. That DEI is being made a mockery to suggest that non-White, and in particular, Black people in America didn’t earn the right to live free and prosper, including as people of The Faith, is a dark and supposition to make, whether deliberately, or through hearsay, or miseducation, in the presence of the Maker of the universe. The notion of Didn’t Earn It (White Privilege, White Supremacy, etc.) appears to be what I call a White Predicament, as it appears to be in direct contrast to what is good and right, denoting very evil motives and intentions among us. White Predicament, directly, as well as indirectly suggests psychological projection and an attempt to amass power, gain, influence, and control, which, is unmerited, unjustified, unearned, and undeserved; it is of forced overconfidence, harsh rules, actions, and attitudes; a mask, which covers one’s true self, accomplishments, and contributions to societies.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion promotes value. It is an ability to critically think matters through a diverse set of ideas, interactions, expanded facts and knowledge. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion introduces the missing pieces to the puzzle, solves problems and provides clarity. It is of gain, power, and influence that one can be proud of. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is innovative, having its finger on the pulse of change and growth; it is a celebration of who we are as individuals in our Maker’s eyes, where no two of us are alike, and where each of us have a singular experience and have walked a singular path that is unique and insightful to the challenges (and victories) among us. It is to unapologetically be and express the best you that you can be, noting that we were not made to be or thrive as another. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is honorable, honest, meritorious; and unlocks doors to our greatest growth as people, and our influence on places and things; it is natural, unforced, and allows for the perfect fit and outcomes, (personal and organizational) that are beyond what we can imagine on our own. It is what we need, without us often realizing it. It is to be equipped for the times and days ahead, as opposed being ill-equipped due to riding the coattails of others and lacking the ability to compete on the merits due to minimal experience, knowledge, sacrifice, or ability. It is to transcend delusions and face the world as it is, not what we desire it to be.

Best,

Dr. Cheryl R. Coleman

Dr. Cheryl assists faith-based organizations with constructing and managing systems involving the workforce toward efficiency, effectiveness, and clarity, and her specialty is managing volunteers.

Faith-Based Organizations are positioned to model the good among us through our faith teachings, which, honor each of us as individuals, who are fearfully and wonderfully made by our Maker. Dr. Cheryl also analyzes current day news and activities, domestically, as well as internationally and their impacts on these critical, and related matters. At the base of her consulting, cultural analyses, organizational analysis, and coaching, is the major components of dignity and respect for others, cultural competency, and racial diversity management.

If you would like to learn more, contact her for a 30-minute consultation today to see how she can help you with overcoming organizational, as well as related personal challenges around these topics.

“You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you.”

― James Baldwin

MLK speech transcript. Ohio Northern University. (n.d.). https://www.onu.edu/mlk/mlk-speech-transcript

The other America - dr. Martin Luther King. (n.d.). https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/evolution/files/2020/06/MLK-The-Other-America.pdf

Volunteer Management in faith-based organizations - digital ... (n.d.-b). https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3963&context=thesesdissertations

White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack by Peggy McIntosh. HCCS Learning Web. (n.d.). https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/ronique.hinchen/engl-3.1301/copy_of_assigned-readings/white-privilege-unpacking-the-invisible-knapsack-by-peggy-mcintosh

Taking Sides

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 14:39:30 GMT

Taking Sides

I recall the summer of 1995. It was during a time of major transition when I felt that my time living in Washington D.C. was coming to an end, and I was compelled to return to my hometown of Buffalo, NY. It was a painful thought as the many years I lived in the DMV (D.C, Maryland, and Virginia area) I had come to learn more about myself than I had learned growing up in Buffalo, NY. I realized that I had a purpose in life. While living in the DMV, I was recognized and encouraged toward the potential in me that helped to define me and informed my life’s path and career to the current day.

That summer in 1995 was life changing and pivotal moment for me as a young Black woman growing up in the United States. It was painful, and it appeared that every aspect of my being was examined through the topic of race, and it included a grueling process of recognizing my own racial biases.

I didn’t feel like I had a problem in need of self-reflection and self-examination. My beliefs were normal for a Black woman growing up in America. I had learned to take the side of Black people, no matter the situation or circumstance, in the process of daily life interacting with others of a different race. It’s what we did because we were exploited and scapegoated since the day we arrived on these lands as the enslaved, and our society had appeared to give license to people groups, past and present to do us harm. We were forced to take sides and protect one another against every people group among us. We did this in our homes among ourselves, through conversations about our daily and life experiences. We did it in public amongst ourselves while engaged in various systems, whether school, work, church, shopping. In public, we gave one another “the nod” to say, “I see you, and I got your back.” Occurrences of racism and unfairness toward us often involved a “shaking of the head,” at the injustices we faced with impunity. No matter where we were in social systems, we were placed on the defense and forced to respond in some way to mistreatments and abuses that often-caused despair. We weren’t the perpetrators, yet we were forced to respond in some way, when these atrocities occurred. We voted as Democrats, and we entertained and interacted with those who looked like us. When any of us had a bad experience or encounter with one of a different race, we took the side of the Black person, whether they were right, or whether they were wrong.

But that summer in 1995 changed for me. It was a painful time and I honestly felt like I wouldn’t survive it. I didn’t feel like I would survive that process as it questioned the very person I was. I felt like I had been living a lie. It was unbearable at most times, but I knew that my perspectives and beliefs were changing for reasons more powerful and significant than me. Bigger than me. Outside of me. Despite me. My identity appeared to be a farce and I no longer knew who I was. I was confused. My beliefs about race were being questioned on the inside of me. It was a battle that I could not explain. That inner voice challenged me and told me I was wrong. I felt as if I were a child learning about life and others again for the first time. Every hidden perception of myself that had been embedded for at least two decades was under the proverbial surgical knife. God was dealing with my heart, and He was digging deep. I became like a blank slate, empty and teachable. I was getting a fresh new download of reality as the person of The Faith as I had come to identify myself.

It appeared as if God reached out His hand from heaven and uprooted every painful experience, I had ever dealt with being Black in America. How I responded or reacted to them. How seeds that had been sown were bearing fruit. That, which was suppressed came to life. I could hear the sounds, smell the scents, and seemingly touch those memories as if I were reliving them again. The realities of how my actions, attitudes and perceptions were informed by those experiences. I had to deal with it, walk through it, recall the pain, and process it. Experience healing and freedom from it, as in the end, it was a blessing as I didn’t realize the impact those experiences had on me, but God was doing a work in me. I was learning the error of taking sides just because. I was learning to be honest and transparent, weighing matters in truth and in fact. My identity, character, and integrity in Him was at stake. I couldn’t walk out this life as a person of The Faith with such dishonesty and bias in my heart anymore, influencing my decisions, actions, and attitudes as they had in the past. I had come to a purpose and a crossroad, and it would reveal, my Identity in Christ.

That summer in 1995 is embedded in the memories of many of us. It was during the O.J. Simson trial. O.J. Simpson was a cultural icon. A popular and once loved public figure. A great athlete and actor. By all accounts, he was a successful man who scores wanted to emulate, until he was placed on trial, accused of killing his wife and her friend. O.J. is Black; his wife and her friend were White.

I watched the entire trial during this time of “spiritual surgery,” day in, and day out. I vacillated between my natural inclination to believe O.J. had been “set up,” yet, forcing myself to stay open, to weigh the matter differently, question my attempts to confirm my own biases, whether they were accurate or not. I fought hard to use the brain that God gave to me and think the matter through critically, weighing all sides of the evidence that was being presented. If it didn’t fit, I would not commit. It was tough. It was grueling. Prepared to just take the easy way out and just take O.J.’s side, I was torn. I didn’t want to continue watching the trail, but I was compelled to. All the while having already attempted to render him not guilty because he was the Black guy. Whether he was guilty or not, I was poised. At the end of the day, I had to be honest before God with what I had assessed. My position was nuanced. Fair and unbiased.

But like anyone observing society’s response at the time, Black America and White America responded in different ways. Black people were elated that O.J was acquitted, and White people were furious, even though he had been judged by a jury of this peers, as these things are judged. Despite what I thought, I was confounded by the fury of White America because O.J. was found to be not guilty by a jury of his peers. I thought, this is how these matters are judged in America. What more could we expect? Why be so furious? Just move on. People are found to be not guilty all day, every day. Move on.

White folks were angry and Black folks were elated, seemingly justified, as the verdict of not guilty came. It was notable to everyone observing at the reading of the verdict (the years following, and to the current day). Having honestly assessed the matter for myself, I marveled at the unwillingness of White folks to accept the verdict. The hatred and vitriol that ensued not just against O.J., but Black people in general.

So here I was, in the middle of spiritual surgery and a thought occurred to me. I thought, what if O.J. Simpson surrendered his life to God and began attending a church where White people were? Would he be accepted by him as their brother? The climate at the time appeared to me that the answer would be a resounding no. It appeared to me that O.J. would be rejected and ostracized, as society had made it very clear that White folks would generally not be accepting a not guilty verdict, albeit he was declared not guilty. And they would not be accepting him, even as God would, if he had repented and turned his life over to Him, for “whatever” sins he had committed in his life. God would accept him, but it seemed they would not.

I tell you this story because as people of The Faith or any faith, we have been too often misguided relative to how we view one another concerning the “social construct” of race. Society has set these controls in place, for power, gain and greed and I am confident that our Maker and Creator is not pleased or validating them.

Taking sides along racial lines can be fundamentally dishonest. Lacking in character and integrity. Bringing hurt, harm and danger to others who may not deserve it. It feeds deep rooted hatred and tendencies toward violence, misuse and abuse that is not warranted. It convicts the innocent, while letting the guilty go free, to be justified in their error, and to impose it onto others, repeatedly.

For example, we all witnessed with our eyes just a few years prior, the brutal beating of Rodney King in the same jurisdiction of the O.J. Simpson trial in Los Angeles California. We witnessed Mr. King being brutalized and beaten by those we are believed are to protect and serve us: the police. Although we witnessed this police brutality the officers were also acquitted, yet, held up as innocent, hero’s, socially acceptable; while Mr. King’s character was assassinated through stereotypical means, thus his beating deemed justifiable by many. Black America and White America expressed opposing views to the matter, and “taking sides,” whether justifiable or not, seemed to dictate this. It is antithetical to our Maker and creator, who made us all. It causes pain and misfortune, and it misrepresents the God we declare that we serve and represent. It is a poor witness to those who observe us. Our God, our neighbors, those we serve and interact with, our children included. We cause them to err, and as such, we lead them astray into our same error. Yet, we are accountable for our own individual actions and as many of us believe, we will all give an account for our actions someday before the God we say we serve.

There is no value, only loss when we take sides and judge people and matters unfairly and unjustly. As people of any faith, our attitudes and subsequent actions make or break situations, as well as people, including people we don’t realize we need, and who are in our presence for our good and our gain. We can never acknowledge this when we take sides.

Relationships with others is God’s way of assisting us along the way. Our unjustified attitudes and subsequent actions and can sabotage the lives of others, and in turn sabotage our lives and well-being. That we are good or bad based on the color of our skin is an unbelievable and ridiculous notion that we have been conditioned with. Not all good people are White, and not all bad people are non-White. But in America, we are conditioned to believe this, and this belief is to our own detriment, the detriment of those we influence, our children included.

As people of faith, we are called to build, not tear down. When we take sides, we ourselves lose, because the things we need in life come from many sources, people, places, and things. It’s time for those of us of faith to impact change that represents the good for us all and to do so, we must take courage and a deep breath and begin the practice of discipline, self-reflection, and self-examination to enact the character and integrity in our thinking and actions that reflect our faith. For many of us, this is our Identity in Christ, which, transcends all other, socially constructed identities. Socially constructed identities, whether political, racial, social, or political change over time, but our Maker, never changes.

Jesus Christ is Still Building His Church. Are You a Part of the Church?

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 18:07:38 GMT

This was the tagline of a non-profit organization I founded in the late 1990 called Genesis Eleven. Genesis Eleven was established in the United States to seek to align Christians through networking their gifts, talents, knowledge, abilities, products, and services, across racial lines, on the basis of the Bible’s teachings of The Body of Christ and God’s love for all people. The basis was fundamentally to align Christians across racial lines based on their Biblical Identity in Christ. The tagline came in a clear and audible voice with strong meaning: “I am Still Building MY Church.”

I coined the term Identity in Christ in a newspaper I published through Genesis Eleven called Christ (Christian Resource and Information Station) Publications in 1998. The vision of Genesis Eleven and Christ Publications was to establish a system, whereby Christians from “every nation, tongue kindred and people,” could:

Comprehend and practice their spiritual unity and alliance
Demonstrate their unity as members of The Body of Christ
Network and support one another using their gifts, talents, and abilities
Assist and be assisted in fulfilling their God ordained purposes in the earth
Demonstrate God’s love for people

The title of the organization was deliberate. The title Genesis Eleven references the Old Testament book of Genesis in chapter eleven and specifically, the Tower of Babel, and how God honors and ordains diversity where people organize.

The story of the Tower of Babel reveals that the people of the world came together using their gifts, talents, abilities, resources, etc., to “make a name for themselves” and become so powerful that they would reach “the heavens,” becoming so powerful as to presumably compete with God or be like God. As a result, God destroyed this lofty work and confused their language so they could no longer communicate as one people. God spread them throughout the earth, where they began creating new and separate cultures and traditions.

Organizations of people, whether public, non-profit, or private all risk collapsing when they come together for the purposes of amassing power and gain for themselves. It happens all the time. Organizations of people go through ongoing changes and restructuring toward a need to stay afloat, make huge profits and amass great wealth, fame, and popularity. And at the base there are tensions, a lack of cohesion, abuses and mistreatments, confusion, and conflict. Individualism, power, greed, and gain, too often transform the best of intentions.

Faith-based institutions and organizations who organize for the glory of God and for the good of all using spiritual principles that characterize them, represent a critical need in the days we are living. I believe the season and time is upon us to acknowledge and quickly turn from traditions and influences from some faith-based institutions and organizations, which, have a long-standing history of using religion to create conflicts, advance racism, lies, deceptions, pseudoscience, and propaganda, toward power, control, gain and greed. These misrepresent God and The Faith by aligning themselves with others, primarily based on racial identity; (a social construct) while they seemingly advocate for and seek benefit from the mistreatment, pain and misfortunes of others who have a different skin color. They align themselves with others of racial similarity, whether others are of the same practicing faith or not. It appears that the color of their skin is their god. They have proven to be damaging and destructive to scores, and antithetical to basic faith-based teachings and thought. In essence, they have become “towers,” whereby many have been misguided, mis-informed, mis-educated and guided “away” from God, to individualism, selfish gain and ambition, greed, hatred, and violence. Modeling “The Faith,” (which is fundamentally the love of God and being in alignment with those of spiritual like mind and purpose across racial lines) appears to be against what these believe, except to manipulate, control, and lord over others.

Identity in Christ has become a global term since I first published it in Christ Publications in 1998. It has been plagiarized and redefined in many ways. Some have even written whole books on the term! But let’s set the record straight:

Identity in Christ was revealed to me as a “play on words” to a term (Christian Identity) that described, at the time, a so-called Christian entity that was characterized by the notion of “white supremacy.” White supremacy? A Christian organization? Is that the same Christianity of the Bible, which, reveals that the Body of Christ is made of people of every nation and tongue? That reveals that God is love and is no respecter of persons? Wow, I thought, as the Holy Spirit told me to use that term and turn it around to what and who HE is.

Identity in Christ fundamentally means to take on the identity of Christ, yes, in His character and nature, but more importantly, in identifying with His Body, the Body of Christ, which, is made of every nation and tongue; and it transcends all other socially constructed identities, such as racial, professional, political, etc. Identity in Christ is to identify with and be known by Him and therefore, His Body (people).

Over the past three decades, I’ve been on a long journey of exploration, experience, research, and revelation for the current day. For more than three decades, I struggled with the conditions of racism in White US churches, as well as how society is constructed to pit Christians against one another under the guise of politics. They say that there are at least two things we shouldn’t talk about publicly: religion and politics. Ironic, because my journey has been characterized by my professional/personal involvement in the two for most of my life! Earning a Ph.D. in Public Affairs, with groundbreaking research that revealed the original empirically based theory on volunteer management, where my research participants were comprised of members of various faith-based-organizations. So called religion and politics is all I know. And this is the gift that I bring to the world, for the good of us all.

Welcome to CR Coleman MGMT, LLC. This organization has two primary foci: to teach and develop cultural competency (or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in faith-based organizations that comprehend that racism and violence against others is not acting in the love of God and Identity in Christ. These grieve and are perhaps convicted by their participation in racist ideologies and practices that hurt others. They recognize they don’t understand others and often identify others based on stereotypes, lies, deceptions, pseudoscience, and propaganda (the nature and practice of “towers”). They understand that God is love, but struggle with socially acceptable notions of hurting and deliberately working against others, their well-being, and best interests. They struggle with controlling fear, hate, anxiety and temptations of violence and disrespect concerning others of a different skin color. They recognize that their identity is not in Christ, but rather in towers.

Secondly, I am obsessed with efficiency, effectiveness, and clarity in organizations, (and in real life!) and I’m known as a problem solver. Although I practice The Faith according to the Bible, I am passionate about working with faith-based organizations because they operate with principles and standards that reflect well-meaning, dignity and respect for all, and the love of God. My work and research in the past have included working with faith groups that are:

Muslim
Bahai’
Judaism
Various elements of Christianity

Therefore, I assist any faith-based organization with constructing and managing systems involving the workforce toward efficiency, effectiveness, and clarity, and my specialty is managing volunteers. I analyze current day news and activities, domestically, as well as internationally and their impacts on these critical, and related matters. At the base of all my consulting, cultural analyses, organizational analysis, and coaching, is the major components of dignity and respect for others, cultural competency, and diversity management.

If you would like to learn more, contact me for a 30-minute consultation today to see how I can help you with overcoming organizational, as well as related personal challenges around these topics.

Best,

Dr. Cheryl R. Coleman