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It's Time for Blacks and Whites to Talk About Race Issues

Mark Virkler's picture

I trust real life experiences more than just about anything else. My biggest focus is getting my life experiences to line up with what the Bible says my experience is supposed to be. I basically don't trust anything I hear on the news. So I decided I need to actually communicate with some black people about their experience with the police. I always prefer first-hand information as I find it more trustworthy. 

I have asked six black friends to share with me about the discrimination they have experienced. The four I asked by email a couple of weeks ago have not gotten back to me. The two I connected directly with gave me the following answers. 

The first response came from an African American lady who had just given a 20-minute presentation in a church service about the teaching, feeding, and housing ministry she provided to black children in what she described as "the hood." I asked: “Are you or your children afraid of the police?” She was adamant as she stated, “No, and I teach the kids to honor the police and they will have nothing to fear.”

The second person was a successful businessman and pastor. I asked him, "Are you afraid of the police?" He said, “Yes, as I have been stopped numerous times on the highway and asked how I could afford such a nice car. I was doing nothing wrong. I told them if I was speeding, give me a ticket. Otherwise, let me go." 

I have never been stopped by the police and asked how I could afford the car I drive. So I agreed with him: we need additional police training. This is NOT fair or just. This is discrimination.

My wife Patti also asked a couple of her friends for their thoughts. Though neither of the women have had negative experiences with the police, they live in fear for their teenage sons and husbands, especially. One mother is going so far as to encourage her teen sons to live abroad after they graduate for their safety. On the other hand, a black man stated that he has no fear, and that he has only been stopped by police when he was actually speeding. The police were all white but treated him politely and with respect.

Clearly, not every police officer is a threat to the black population. But the level of fear, even among middle-class, law-abiding, Christian people of color also makes it clear that there is much more that needs to be done.

Outstanding 25-Minute Video on Race - You Will Learn a Lot

Phil Vischer (creator of Veggie Tales) has a second video out on race. You can view it here. In these 25 minutes he answers four questions, and I guarantee you will gain some new insights which will help you understand this complex issue.

  1. What about the black families which are fatherless?
  2. What about the welfare state & and the war on poverty?
  3. Why do you say, “We did this”?
  4. Beyond caring, what can we actually do?

Have you seen President Trump’s half-trillion dollar proposal to assist the black community? Click here to view a one page overview. I think it addresses many of the things which need to be changed.

But ultimately, this is a sin problem, a problem of the heart. And the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true solution. We, as the Church, must work together as one Body, regardless of the color of our skin, our culture, our nationality, or our history. In Him there is no Jew or Gentile, no male or female, no slave or free, no black or white. We are all one in Christ Jesus. And we have the Truth that will change men's hearts! God is Love, and His love is shed abroad in our hearts. Will we see our suffering brothers and sisters and look away, passing by on the other side? Or will we feel compassion and turn aside from our own interests and pursuits to see and hear their hearts? Will we, like the Holy Spirit, come alongside them to help? 

What is the Lord calling you to do?


Race in America Series

  1. Understanding and Responding to Racial Tension
  2. Should I Just Hunker Down, Pray, and Try to Avoid All the Turmoil Engulfing the USA?
  3. "All Sheep Matter!"
  4. T. D. Jakes Explains Racial Issues in a Way I've Never Heard Them
  5. A Lieutenant Discusses Racial Discrimination Within the NYPD
  6. Perception, Presumption & the Pain of Not Belonging
  7. What Can I Do To Help Heal Racial Tension?
  8. It's Time for Blacks and Whites to Talk About Race Issues

Related Resources: 

How to Hear God's Voice!   

Related Blogs: 

Healthy Relationships   
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Results 41 - 50 of 485

Pages

Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 223 Pages

This book leads you in meditating on and journaling about two hundred and fifty verses that discuss the Holy Spirit. You will grow in intimacy with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the anointing within you will increase! You will exclaim as the disciples did on the Emmaus Road “Did not our heart burn within us…while He opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)! In addition to being led to journal through these verses, you will read numerous two-way journal entries from Mark Virkler, as well as a five-page prayer at the conclusion of the book.

Price: $10.95

Kids Can

by Karen Barnes | 98 Pages

This book will inspire you and train you to teach children to minister in the power of the Spirit! And the stories it contains will bring tears to your eyes! Kids Can is a message for the children of today about their destiny tomorrow. When kids encounter the pure essence of Jesus, they will become empowered, equipped and energized to serve Him accurately and with amazing clarity. As they hear His voice and are encouraged in their giftings, strong leaders are created and maturity, vision and skills are fine tuned.

Price: $14.95
Lamad Biblical Education Association

Lamad Biblical Education Association

4 Co-authors | 44 Pages

FINALLY - A Spirit-Anointed Epistemology! A system of knowing for the Spirit-filled believer. A fresh moving of the Holy Spirit has been upon the Church of Jesus Christ for the last 100 years, since the Asuza Street Revival in 1902. In all that time the Spirit-filled community of believers (now numbering 27% of all Christendom), had yet to delineate an approach to learning which restored the Holy Spirit to His rightful place as the primary Teacher in our midst.

Price: $10.00
Lamad Faculty Handbook

Lamad Faculty Handbook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 78 Pages

This book presents lamad (revelation-based learning) standards  for teachers and curriculum writers. Lamad is a Hebrew word found in the Old Testament and it is translated "to teach" or "to learn."  It is a kind of learning that involves the Holy Spirit granting divine revelation to the heart of man. Thus it goes beyond western rationalism as a learning methodology.

Price: $9.95
Living with Jesus Book 1 - Welcome to God's Family

Living with Jesus Book 1 - Welcome to God's Family

by Daphne Kirk | 47 pages

The Living with Jesus series is a unique, exciting  and transformational discipleship course for children, taking them through the fundamentals of the Christian faith in a relational, interactive and challenging way, always applying to their lives the commands to love God, love one another and love the lost.

Book 1 - Welcome to God's Family introduces the child to the Body of Christ.

Price: $9.95
Living with Jesus - Book 3

Living with Jesus Book 3 – Talking and Listening

by Daphne Kirk | 47 Pages

This delightful book teaches children ages 4-8 the four keys to hearing God's voice and gets them started journaling (drawing pictures if writing is too hard for them) and seeing vision.  It is ideal for parents and children to use together, or for use in a children’s Sunday school class or children’s home group.

Book 3 - Talking and Listening - Hearing the voice of God.

Price: $9.95
Living with Jesus Book 6 - What Do We Choose?

Living with Jesus Book 6 - What Do We Choose?

by Daphne Kirk | 47 pages

The Living with Jesus series is a unique, exciting  and transformational discipleship course for children, taking them through the fundamentals of the Christian faith in a relational, interactive and challenging way, always applying to their lives the commands to love God, love one another and love the lost.

Book 6 - What Do We Choose? introduces children to making kingdom choices.

Price: $9.95
Living with Jesus Book 7 - Having Faith

Living with Jesus Book 7 - Having Faith

by Daphne Kirk | 47 pages

The Living with Jesus series is a unique, exciting  and transformational discipleship course for children, taking them through the fundamentals of the Christian faith in a relational, interactive and challenging way, always applying to their lives the commands to love God, love one another and love the lost.

Book 7 - Having Faith introduces children to a life of faith.

Price: $9.95
Living with Jesus Book 8 - Staying Protected

Living with Jesus Book 8 - Staying Protected

by Daphne Kirk | 47 pages | Published 1999

The Living with Jesus series is a unique, exciting  and transformational discipleship course for children, taking them through the fundamentals of the Christian faith in a relational, interactive and challenging way, always applying to their lives the commands to love God, love one another and love the lost.

Book 8 - Staying Protected introduces children to spiritual warfare.

Price: $9.95
Operations Manual

Operations Manual

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 134 Pages

We have helped hundreds of churches establish Schools of Ministry or church-centered Bible schools over the last 25 years. This manual draws together insights and approaches for how to do it easier, faster and better. Enjoy as you build on the success of those who have gone before you.

Price: $69.95

Pages