Race, Religion, and Politics

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Dr. Brown tackles some of the most controversial issues of the day, determined to find deeper unity by talking through misunderstandings and revealing blind spots. Listen live here 2-4 pm EST, and call into the show at (866) 348 7884 with your questions and comments.

 

Hour 1:

Dr. Brown’s Bottom Line: Will you search your heart with me and see what pushes your button? Is your highest allegiance to Jesus and the Kingdom of God or is it to a political party or political leader?

Hour 2:

Dr. Brown’s Bottom Line: Let us be the people who transcend racial division, ethnic division, and superficial outward division and let us unite together as one people in the Lord.

 

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27 Comments
  1. Here are my thoughts after listening to the other show on the US election results.

    There wasn’t much choice in our UK elections two years ago, but it would be a very bad day if I felt I had to vote for idolatry and racism – yes, I do mean Mormonism – rather than a third party. I thought that this might be the time for other parties to get a chance in the Presidential elections, but not this time, it seems.

    Dr Brown was right to call it sin to vote for abortion and infanticide. It is also sin, as one caller pointed out, to vote for idolatry. (This is the sin that God condemns more than any other in the OT, and is at the heart of all other sins.) Also, no person can really be happy with Mormonism, which has racism at the heart of its account of Creation and the Fall.

    I found it hard to how a country with such a rich pool of talented and dynamic people, could not find a better candidate for the Republicans than Mitt Romney. And he wasn’t really believable as a pro-life candidate. He was just a bit less pro-death than Barack Obama. The only recent presidential candidate who was definitely pro-life was Sarah Palin. When the chips were down, she kept her baby.

    I look forward to listening to today’s show.

  2. I can’t believe I am getting involved in the politic discussion. But when two African American women called a few shows ago, which I aspire to be a leader in the African American church, but these women almost called Dr Michael Brown a racist for voting for the republican guy, the Mormon guy, their argument went like this, Mormons hate African American historically, therefore to associate with a racist and vote for a racist makes you likewise a racist. That is an ingenious constructed argument. My rebuttle to this is, that logic would mean President Barack Obama is a racist towards African Americans, (absurd thought) because he had Romney help him write his own Obama Plan, at every chance, The President Obama was hugging Romney, and the Obama family was publicly hugging the Romney family. Romney does not appear in the least racist towards Obama, in fact these two families seem to like each other genuinely. So I reject the argument that Dr Brown is a racist for voting for voting for Romney the Mormon. Second, I have been listening to Dr Brown for years now on this radio show, people have called up surprised that he was not African American because he so Not racist sounding, the Holy Spirit has been with Dr Brown since his youth, disclipling him, after that long, racism is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit, it is rare to find any kind of hate in seasoned mature man of God, which Dr Michael Brown is. Excited about the show today because unfortunately, this country is the most racially tense country I have ever lived in, and peace throughout the Americans would subside, especially among the students of Scripture!

  3. Your topic could not have come at a more apporopriate time for me. Our daughter is a young adult Pastor for (18-30yr olds). She loves the Lord, hates politics and voted for Obama. I struggle deeply with this on the same premise that you do ie: abortion. This has brought up many questions by our mutual Christian family and friends. How can she vote Obama as a Christian? As a leader in the church who has influence over many young people I impressed upon her how important it is that she can explain her vote. I have asked her. At first response it was that the bible speaks more about the poor than any other social issue and therefor that’s what she’s most concerned for. She is actually gone the next four days doing outreach on the streets of Portland, Or. and so I’m waiting for her response to some links I sent her that grapple wtih this same question. I will definitely forward your show of today to her to listen to. While the show was interesting, I waited with eagerness to have someone, ANYONE, call in with an answer that sounded reasonable to this question. I think we as Christians, are easily caught up in the world around us and without knowing it, forfeit God’s will for our own. Without the very basic and fundamental right to LIFE, liberty and pursuit of happiness is a non issue.

  4. Hello Eliyahu

    Dr Brown is so sweet and gracious to everyone — he even managed to get on the right side of James White, who can be very sarcastic. His love for Jesus is so infectious, whenever he talks, I get inspired to pray more, read more … you know how it goes, you’re a regular listener to the programme, as am I. Never before have I posted a comment to contradict him, because on the big stuff, he’s Bible-focused, Jesus-centred, and Spirit-filled. The ladies who called in were just pointing out that many Christians have made the same error that Dr Brown was pointing to in others: voting for a man who will give you some of what you want, and ignoring other important concerns.

    Dr Brown said, rightly, that if you vote for the Mr Obama and ignore infanticide, that’s wrong. However, abortion flows from idolatry as water flows from the mountain-top. We worship money,our careers, our own convenience, physical perfection — so the babies who don’t fit have to go. We sacrifice our babies to our gods as surely as the ancients did to Moloch. Idolatry is a killer, because it leads to physical and spiritual death. We cannot be gods. Jesus was not born of a sex act. He wasn’t Satan’s brother.

    Moreover, if I vote for a person who is part of a cult, and the narrative of that cult is racist, then it’s foolish to vote for that person. No one made the argument which you presented, that: “their argument went like this, Mormons hate African American historically, therefore to associate with a racist and vote for a racist makes you likewise a racist.” No, it makes you a person having a daft day. It’s a bit like a bad hair day, except you don’t have to wear a hat!

    If Mormons hated black people historically, that would be a fault in behaviour, one that has been, sadly seen in many parts the Christian church. That is not the charge against Mormonism. The charge is that the actual doctrine and Creation account of the Mormon cult denigrates black and brown people. So the niciest nice Mormon is part of that.

    I have seen the film ‘Maafa 21’ about how black people are targeted by abortionists. So as well as flowing from idolatry, abortion flows from racism. In my own country, we are afflicted by the curse of class prejudice, so abortion is for the women “in council flats” or “on benefits”, the presumption being that money and a university degree makes you a better mother. Our ideas fuel our actions.

    I appreciate that it is jolly hard to vote in an environment where there is a dearth of good candidates. However, my observation is that it is short-sighted to point out the fault in others (namely, that they saw Mr Obama’s support for abortion as a lesser concern), whilst at the same time overlooking Mr Romney’s evident problems. (The desire to unseat the sitting President was so so strong, it seems.)

    Dr Brown said that those who voted for Barack Obama should have abstained or voted for a third party candidate. Those wise words could also be directed at Christians who voted for Mitt Romney. I understand that one major evangelistic organisation even changed its website to remove references to Mormonism being a cult. Selling ourselves out to get a “family guy” into the White House is not really a good idea, I think.

  5. Anthea,
    Romney’s policies are not Mormon in nature, and as far as they appear, they aren’t typically an affront to God.

    Mr. Obama’s policies are evil (not just on abortion, but “gay rights”). The Devil is literally in the details of his administration and the legislation he champions.

  6. I think that blacks voting almost exclusively for Democrats is one of idolatry, lack of confidence, envy, unforgiveness, greed…

    Disclaimer: I’m black, so no need to worry this is coming from some non-black “racist”

    1. Idolatry: Because “defense of blackness” is paramount to black people in this country. It is wrong, but protecting black people, defending black people is what motivates blacks. That’s why regardless of how wrong the actions of another black person might be, it’s downplayed, you’ll hear black people saying things like “yes, that’s wrong, but…”
    2. Lack of confidence: It’s why the socialist message of the Democrat party appeals so much within the black community. It’s one that pushes for gov’t to fix the “discrimination” that is supposedly so overwhelming that blacks simply cannot succeed in this society. That reinforces feelings of inferiority and victim-hood among black people, and makes promises for a “level” playing field. Of course the fact that so many blacks aren’t raised in functional two-parent families and then on top of that indoctrinates their children that everyone in America hates them because they are black, don’t make for confident people able or willing to care for themselves.
    3. Envy: When you believe, as many black people are indoctrinated to believe, that the odds are stacked against you, and whites and others get treated better because they are white or are closest to white, you will be envious. It is believed that they got where they are because they just have it easier. The average black person is filled with hatred and envy, it is taught at home and reinforced within the community, opportunistic “leaders”, academia and the media.
    4. Greed: Willing to live off tax payers money. Get what you can for free. Sure many black people work for a living, but literally, the understanding of blacks is that “gov’t will do it, or is supposed to do it”. This is not an exaggeration. Look at the campaign of any politician running within a largely black area, the message is, “you are not getting the services you deserve to get, I will deliver them to you”, “white and/or republican people are keeping you in the fix you are in, I’ll fight for you”…that ensures elections within black communities.

    My verdict is: A change of mindset within the black community is TRULY, TRULY, God’s work and the best we can do is pray. Seriously. Because the level of moral degradation can’t be fixed any other way. It is a frightening thing to look someone in the eye, tell them truth, they might even agree with what you are saying, but somehow they can’t respond to it, they seem “truthproof”. It’s scary, and that kind of mindset is spreading. It’s zombie like…

  7. My comment on the Mormon’s negativity towards black and brown skinned human beings – read your Bibles Mormons, learn from wise men and women, Mormons can not be Jew friendly, so many Jews around the world have brown and black skin. My family is brown skinned, Sri Lankan Indian, any idiology that dare treat my family less than, by the skin color, is in ridiculous and sad error, may this type of error be not existent for our grandchildren. Shalom!

  8. You asked how can African American Evangelicals vote to re-elect President Obama. Let me try to answer. How is that White Evangelicals base everything on two issues, abortion and same sex marriages? First of all where were Evangelicals when the Supreme Court passed Roe vs Wade in 1973. What President(s) appointed those Supreme Court Judges. How and where did those Judges obtain their legal viewpoint or idealogy? The Civil Rights Acts had just been passed in 1964 and that was signed by President Lydon Johnson. When he signed that passage into law he stated The Democratic party has just lost the southern white vote for several generations. Every southern states except for Flotida voted for Romney. I had a daughter enrolled at Vanderbilt University when Obama first ran for President and I wore a t-shirt that had the slogan on it “Yes We can to one of Vandebilt football game and you should of heard the negative, obscene statements many of the white fans made concerning Obama. The one that stands out the most is the one the young man said ” F***K Obama.

    You see there has always been two Americas, white priveleged America and seprate and unequal Black America. Where were white Evangelcals when Jim Crow existed. ow about here in Memphis, Tn. when the Federal Court oredered that busing be instituted in Memphis City Schools, who was that started the private schools not only in Memphis but all across the nation. White Evangelical christians did not want their children to be intergrated. When Marin Luther King was assisnated when defending the rights of striking sanitation workers who even though they were working to support families, they qualified for welfare assistance because they wages were so low, where were the white evangelicals?

    Let me ask why are white evangelicals concern about the child before it is born but not concerned after it is born. Let me state that I am aginst abortion but however I am about prolonged life, that is the quality of a life once it gets. Mitt Romney is a business who stated his company brought ailing companies and restored them to profitability,by slashing jobs and lowering salaries. Who is the first to be fired and the last to be hired?

    Also the President do not make the laws. The Supreme Court has the last word concerninng laws that are Constitutional. I understand that maybe president Obama might appoint another Supreme Court Justice, however the Court made abortionlegal 48 years ago. Again where the Evangelicals then.

    Why is so quickly forgotten it was President George W. Bush who was in office when the housing market collapse, jobs were lost, wall Street went crazy, and we entered into two wars because he stated he had amandate and that is how he lead us.

    I think we African Americans are often asked to be forgiving when just forty-eight years ago it was legal to discriminate, kill/murder, send our soldiers to die in Vietnam, and rape our women without immunity. Even the Mormons declared we were not allowed or welcome into the Mormon Church until recently. As amatter of fact Mormonism was cosidered a cult theologically and philosophically until this election by Evangelicals.So forgive us for emotional baggage we carry from 400 years of injustice in this country when we vote for President Obama as he is not a preacher, priest, or pastor. Thank you for a chance to express myself and I welcome the opportunity to talk with you face to face as I am a saved born again Christian.

  9. Brother Mike,

    As I appreciate you addressing these issues and desiring to have candid talk as to how you cannot understand people voting for President Obama, I in the same line cannot understand how Christians can vote for Mr. Romney.

    You have addressed your concerns with Mr. Romney and the Republican Party in a general sense, but why have you “not” spoken out against the blatant condensending racial comments by the leading constituents? Why have you not openly spoken out specifically against the intentional actions of voter suppression as promoted by the Republican state houses that has been clearly plut in our faces.

    I ask you these honest questions, because African-Americans look for truth and fairness in your approach on these issues; yet, I do not recall you pointing out any of these wrongful actions as a focus of dialogue.

    You’ve said that Mormonism is not an issue with you, however, it is with black America. Informed Americans know the history of racism within this cult, and that, to date, they have refused to acknowledge the 149 years of systematic discrimination against black people as sin. Mitt Romney refused to acknowledge his religion’s treatment towards blacks as wrong as well. So why are you not asking how Christians could possibly vote for him?

    We are only one generation away from 100 years of legalized racial discrimination in this nation, so racism is on the top of many people’s list. Hence, with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrinch making their open racial comments against black people in this recent run for office, why has the white Christian community remained silent?

    If we are to have unity as a people under the banner of Christ, then black Christians need white Christians to join hands with us and openly speak out against racism and laws of suppression, just as loudly as you do abortion and homosexuality.

    Shalom

  10. Brian,

    Thanks for the candid questions!

    1) I was not aware of blatant racist comments by any Republican leaders. If I heard any of them, I would have renounced them. Can you supply me with some?

    2) I do not believe Republicans wanted to engage in voter suppression. My understanding was that they wanted to avoid voter fraud, a valid concern. What’s wrong with asking for ID?

    3) The interesting thing re: Mormonism is that with rare exception, black Christian callers to my show did NOT mention the racist history of the cult but rather their theological issues. Somehow, they all seemed to know what Mormons believed! That being said, I said over and again that I had no problem with Christians sitting out the president vote or voting for a third party because they could not vote for a Mormon. It was not a major issue to me because it was not part of the platform or of Romney’s agenda and it was not part of his governing in the past. But again, I have no problem with a believer not voting for Romney because of his religion.

    4) Wherever I see racism, I renounce it. Period. That being said, I did not see a trace of racism in anything that Romney said, otherwise I would have been all over it. I do see President Obama taking a militant stand against the unborn and in favor of gay activism, and I do denounce that. Do you?

    So, in every way possible, I join hands with you to stand against injustice and to renounce racism, and I invite you to stand with me in renouncing abortion and gay activism.

    Shalom!

  11. Good post, Tommy.

    I feel I can’t vote for abortion and that’s pretty much where it stops for me. I didn’t vote in this election.

    Everything you posted is very true. I have been saying these things to my christian friends(I’m white btw) for a long time now. The list grows even more with our hostile take over of this country(from native americans) and the fact we used slave labor to build our very own government buildings!

    This is why I feel christians, as a whole, border on the fence of political idolatry. The problems we have as a nation are far beyond any political remedy. True repentance is needed among white evangelicals for our actions and/or lack of action concerning many unjust issues we have perpetrated or ignored.

    Dr. Brown, what are your thoughts on this? Yes, our hands are stained with blood toward the Jewish people but do you think the same truth applies to the topics brought up by Tommy and myself? Is it possible we are in a “holding pattern” until these things are directly addressed and repented of?

  12. Brother Mike,

    Thank you for the dialogue…

    You asked me if I stand with you in denouncing abortion and gay activism, the answer is a wholehearted “yes.” You have made your point quite clear on the subject, and I don’t disagree with you. However, the disconnect that I am having comes from your not sounding a trumpet call with the sentiments that I’ve expressed to you on more than one occasion. It is quite obvious that you do not see the impact of racism and suppression from the Republican Party as many black Americans do.

    I find myself a bit surprised in your saying that you were not aware of any blatant racist comments by any Republican leaders, when I’ve supplied you the evidence on a previous thread. I noted presidential candidate, Rick Santorum’s, racist statements calling President Obama a “Government Nig…,” and at another presidential rally saying (to a crowd of white people), “I don’t want to make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdfZmcuomcE
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1GJt4B4tAo

    Regarding the voter ID laws, you asked, “What’s wrong with asking for ID?” And therein lies the disconnect with black America.

    GOP officials in Pennsylvania have openly revealed their motive in declaring that it would help Mr. Romney to win. It has been demonstrated that voter fraud has amounted to 1 in 15 million. Several states (i.e., Pennsylvania, Wisconsin) do not have even one documented case on record. We all know that it would affect the minorities, and poor. In the two above states cited, it had to potential to effect over 750,000 people in each state, amounting to millions of people in this country throughout.

    What’s wrong with asking for ID? Because there was no “justified” reason to require it, especially on such short notice for this particular election. A Pennsylvania State Supreme Court judge stated, “What’s the rush?” In point of fact, Republicans did not require ID when voting in their own primaries. In Florida, a Republican official shortened the days of voting. People were forced to stand in lines in many hours into the night – and it so happened that all of the cases occurred in heavily minority voting centers.

    You honestly couldn’t see the implications of this law in this past election? Black Americans did.

  13. Brian,

    The dialog is much appreciated!

    Re: the racist comments, I was thinking in terms of Romney-Ryan, but I do appreciate you reminding me of the previous links you supplied, which I clearly responded to when you did, correct?

    Re: voter ID, outside observers from other nations were very surprised to see that we didn’t require it, and my wife and I when voting made the same comment, finding our system somewhat odd. So, for me and others, this had nothing to do with race or suppressing certain voters. I don’t see things through that lens, and I’ve heard arguments from both sides on this issue, and I personally suspect there’s some corruption on all sides. Right now, it’s a black man, Alan West, calling for a recount, not a white man man calling for a recount.

    Either way, I honestly don’t see the request for ID to have anything do with suppressing a legitimate vote. Can you allow me this perspective? It could be black Americans were right in their suspicions, but it could be they were wrong. Isn’t this possible too?

  14. Tommy,

    As promised, I wanted to offer my comments on your post.

    1) Again, I REALLY appreciate what you have shared. I ask questions because I am looking for answers, and you provide some excellent perspective.

    2) I have often stated that white evangelicals were on the wrong side of a number of key issues in past decades. I concur! Yes, there were men like Billy Graham who fought against segregation and even bailed Dr. King out of jail one time, but there were all too many who were no like him, and that is shameful. And white evangelicals were all too silent for too long on key issues like abortion. Again, I agree and have said the same things.

    3) I am saddened to hear about some of the things you experienced in recent years. I have never denied the fact that racism is alive and well in different parts of our nation today.

    4) I grew up in a household where my first organ teacher (when I was 5) was a gay man who would come to my house with his partner to teach my sister and me and then they would stay over for dinner. My next teacher was a black man married to a white woman — this was in the early-to-mid 1960’s — and my father told me how much they suffered for their intermarriage. They too were dinner guests in my house. And since I have been saved, for reasons I can’t fully explain, I have felt a special solidarity with my black brothers and sisters. So, the only sympathy I had re: Barack Obama’s skin color was positive. I thought it would be incredible for us to have our first black president! I was just terribly grieved it was him. Moreover, I was shocked when any criticism I had of him was called racism by some of my black radio audience, causing me to ask the question: How can I win their confidence, since their perceptions are so untrue? In that light, I was truly blessed to learn that a number of my listeners told me recently that they thought I was black! All that to say, because I personally don’t relate to racism, I don’t process things through that lens, and it’s grievous to me to hear extremely ugly racial accusations made against me (in recent days, online more so than on the radio) simply because I dare ask questions. Can you see things through my eyes too?

    5) I feel that, in a few cases, you overstated your point. For example, every believer I know who is involved with the pro-life movement is deeply concerned about what happens to the babies once they are born. (For whatever it’s worth, almost all of these pro-life friends are white, and many of the babies they help save and bring into the world are black.)

    6) I am not a defender of President Bush, but I do not believe he was responsible for the financial collapse. Rather, it was the sub-prime mortgage loans which he opposed that caused the collapse (of course, this is the opinion of many economists). And who were these loans intended to help? Poorer Americans — and yet this has hurt us more than helped us. As for Romney’s economic policies, I honestly can’t comment on them either way. You may know more about them than I do.

    7) I have been reading how President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex “marriage” influenced many black churches to back away from their opposition to this tragic redefining of something sacred. That alone would make it impossible for me to vote for him. And you simply cannot trivialize his radical pro-abortion stance — and yet I feel that you do. Please, please, visit http://blackgenocide.org/ if you haven’t already and give this some prayerful thought.

    8) Here’s my bottom line: I found your post truly helpful in giving me further perspective, and I would love for you to call the program on an appropriate day and expand on some of these thoughts. At the same time, I feel that you weakened your post somewhat by trivializing the seriousness of President Obama’s stances on abortion and gay activism, as well by overstating your case against white evangelicals at some points. But again, I REALLY appreciate your comments and am so glad you took the time to post them.

  15. Brother Mike,

    I do no intend to be extreme in my statements regarding the Voter ID requirements and changes that have occured in several states. The effects of these changes overwhelmingly affected minority voters. I cannot ignore the idea that it had to be done with immediacy for “this” election.

    I call this voter suppression because it is not logical to demand several restrictions and requirements that would hinder millions of Americans to vote. Its’ primise weakend the hand of the poor and minorities, which is a open sin in the site of G-d.

    Case in point, “Souls to the Polls” is a well known tradition that African-Americans participate in-in large numbers-after church service on Sunday’s. Republican officials in both Florida and Ohio pushed efforts to stop voting on Sundays. The shortening of days resulted in minority based cities to have to stand in lines into the night. Again, Republican officials stated that it would hinder people from voting, which was exactly the plan.

    Mike, the overwhelmingly majority of African Americans can see right though this. I am trying to understand why this is difficult for many of our brothers to see.

    Again, every American should be encouraged to vote if they so choose; thus, if we want to ask for ID’s let’s do it in a rate of time that would prove fair and just to all.

    Please give me a logical argument that justifies ths undertaking that has been pushed by the Republican Party, especially in states that have no documented cases of voter fraud at all.

    Again, thank you for the interaction.

    Shalom

  16. Brian,

    I really do appreciate the interaction with you, and I am not being antagonistic in any way. Your posts certainly help to enlighten the issues and I read them carefully when I’m on the site here.

    What surprises me is that you are not aware of valid Republican concerns of voter fraud — as in precincts in Florida where 150% of the registered voters voted (how can this be?) and almost all were for Obama. Or the numerous locations in Philly that received 100% voter turnout without a single vote for Romney. Or the reports of the Somali immigrants in Ohio being instructed to vote for Democrats by their translator guide.

    That’s what I’m hearing, and I’ve heard similar concerns for years. Perhaps there’s truth and error on each side here?

  17. Brother Mike,

    I’m reading carefully your responses, but I must say, we really and honestly have a divide in seeing justified reasons for the push of new voter laws and shortening the days in this past election. Enacting laws that would knowingly hender millions of people to vote and also weakens the hands of the poor did not make sense. This is crystal clear for many African Americans.

    I have absolutely no doubt that if you had a program inviting African Americans to call in, and instead of asking why they are faithful to the Democratic Party, ask why we don’t want to pledge allegience to the Republican Party, you may be stirred with a new perspective of things.

    These are a few reasons from my view.

    1) It’s about respect – The Republican Party has marginalized minorities and the poor with inconsiderate comments – be it Mitt Romney saying that 47% of Americans want handouts, Rick Santorum spewing racist comments, and Newt Gingrich stating that poor people have no desire to work. These were condescending remarks made from the leading Republican candidates for President!

    2) Hypocritical judgments – The Republican Party made a major point of exploiting Barak Obama’s association with Reverend Wright and Liberation Theology, and how this should have disqualified him to be considered as a presidential candidate. To Republicans, his religion mattered.

    Now we have the Republican Party representative for the predicency to be a Mormon. Now religion no long matters. The open compromise has been demonstrated with Billy and Franklin Graham, Liberity University, and scores of white Pastors who once recognized Mormonism as a cult. Black Americans see this as outright hypocrisy.

    3) Mormon (anti-black) Theology – Written in the books of Mormonism (Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price), there were a people who were said to be cursed with dark skin for not standing with Jesus when he fought against his spirit-brother Lucifer in the before life. The Mormon Prophets, who stand as the highest voice to the LDS, said these dark-skinned people who bear the curse, and are descendents of Cain – are the Negro race.

    On the basis of this theology blacks were denied the priesthood for 149 years, the gateway to sacramental and leadership roles within the LDS. All black people were also barred from temple ceremonies that promised access in the afterlife to the highest heaven.

    I agree with Walter Martin, who contended that the LDS is a racist organization. Even though the policies within the cult changed in 1978, the problem still lies in the fact that the church has not publically acknowledged that their treatment towards blacks had been wrong. Mitt Romney has also refused to acknowledge this injustice when asked about this very thing.

    I, personally, interviewed a Mormon missionary and asked her about the historical treatment of blacks in her church. Her response was that “It was the will of G-d during that time.” What an amazing statement to say and to believe!

    Shall the black American join hands with anyone who believes that sanctioned discrimination against the their race was by the hand of a racist G-d? Why would any Christian pledge allegience to a man who believes such, notwithstanding, all of their other beliefs that run against the fundemental teachings of Scripture?

    Just a few reasons as to why the majority of African Americans and minorities cannot pledge allegience to the Republican Party, and why it would be helpful if you joined hands with us to speak out against these great sins and divides.

    Shalom,
    Brian

  18. Brian,

    Great comments, again!

    I do understand why most Black Americans have a problem with the Republican party; I do not understand why Black Christians support the Democratic party. I still haven’t heard good reasons for that, and that’s what concerns me.

    That’s why Rev. Patrick Wooden called for the Black Church not to vote for either candidate this election — certainly not for Obama — to wake up both parties. He says that the Republicans don’t reach out enough to Blacks and the Democrats take them for granted.

    I am NOT asking you or others to pledge allegiance to the Republican party; I AM asking you to not to pledge allegiance to the Democratic party.

  19. Brother Mike,

    I don’t mean to belabor our dialogue and will make this my last post, as I am sensitive of the busy schedules that we both carry. I just wanted to have this honest conversation with you because your ministry has blessed me for close to 20 years, having held you dear to my heart; thus, I endeavor to maintain a healthy ongoing respect and relationship with you and the work of ICN.

    Allow me take a moment to express my heart to you.

    I cannot understand as to why many (not all) white Christians do not stand in solidarity with black Christians, thus erasing the perceived disconnect and insensitivities towards those things that are dear to us.

    You have often stated, if a candidate supported slavery, you would not vote for him. Nothing wrong with that. However, you’ve missed a grand opportunity to connect with black America. Brother Mike, there is nobody alive today that has gone through slavery; however, keep in mind that after it ended there were another 100 years of discriminatory laws established to suppress African Americans, commonly referred to as “Jim Crow.” There are millions of black Americans (and white Americans) who are still alive today that have lived through those times, forever to carry those memories until death. That is a relevant comparison that speaks directly to this generation.

    Would you vote for anyone who would support discrimination? I don’t think that you would; however, black Americans, minorities, and many white Americans, saw the rush to change voter requirements, and shortening of poll days as a direct assault on the poor and minorities – Jim Crow resurrected.

    Again, Janet Parshall, had a program celebrating General E. Lee Day. This was broadcasted on the exact day that the nation was celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. This act was a direct insult to black Christians throughout. Intentional, or insensitive? G-d knows.

    Black America took offense at how Mr. Obama had to justify is associations with Reverend Wright and read editorials from white Christians condemning it. The paradox came simply because these same individuals gave Mr. Romney and Mormonism a free pass. Well known, white run, ministries and platforms have compromised on this altogether. A sad testimony.

    Mike, there is no need to go on, I am simply pointing out that many of these serious perceptions are being presented before our eyes all the time. May I suggest that maybe you should stop asking black Americans why we do – what we do, and start openly asking white Christians these same exact questions, because we want to know as well.

    May the blood of Jesus bridge the gap between black and white Christians throughout the land. Maybe Dave’s comment is worth pondering, ” Is it possible we are in a “holding pattern” until these things are directly addressed and repented of?”

    Thanks for the dialogue, and I’ll look for your response –

    Shalom

  20. Brian,

    Thanks for your kind words and for taking the time to post. I actually go out of my way to show solidarity with the black Church, but obviously there are things I could learn to do so better. That is my heart, 100%, and my frequent quotations from Civil Rights leaders and abolitionists of the past reflect my heart in that regard. I am not trying to be politically correct, as you surely know.

    So, I promise you that I will look into the charges of voter suppression in more depth, time permitting, to better understand your perspective here.

    Again, thanks for your exhortation and your kind words!

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