All Comments for: Q&A: What Obama's Election Means for the Segregated Church | Christianity Today

Free Newsletters:

RSS Feeds |

Audio |

Twitter

Home > 2008 > December (Web-only)

Christianity Today, December (Web-only), 2008 |

Q&A: What Obama's Election Means for the Segregated Church

Michael O. Emerson on why black and white evangelicals can't believe the other voted as they did.

Interview by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra | posted 12/19/2008 08:12AM

Michael O. Emerson is founding director of the Center on Race, Religion, and Urban Life at Rice University. He is also the coauthor of People of the Dream: Multiracial Congregations in the United States, ...

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Rate and Comment on this article

Displaying 1 - 25 of 31 comments.

Page: 1 2

Show All

teresa

Posted: December 24, 2008 5:35 PM


I voted McCain because Obama is very liberal, not because of race. I have hopes that Obama is used of God to redeem our country, though, as my Bible tells me that all are equal in God's eyes. No Biblical reason for prejudice

SAWAK SARJU

Posted: December 23, 2008 8:33 PM

Obama is neither White or Black. He is both White and Black.He is a person . He is biracial. He is of mixed race. His DNA . is from more than one race. He is equally White as he is Black. His being the President would not influence RACE RELATIONS in the Christian Church much. However, There are capable and qualified people in any given race. No one race has a monopoly on intelligence. Let us wish him well is his administration. He has a great challenge ahead of him and he cannot meet the challenge alone. All must work together to have success, Success does not come with time, Success comes with hard work. I am of the opinion that he will do well as president

John	Posted: December 23, 2008 3:26 PM


www.ExposingChristianity.com The pen is mightier than the sword. - Everything in Christianity has been stolen from religions predating it by hundreds to thousands of years.

noblige

Posted: December 23, 2008 1:48 PM


How any Christian, evangelical or not, could support an avowed infant murderer, socially irresponsible, person, regardless of race, is beyond a rational thinking person. The self-indulgent, politicos that have agendas differing from Jesus Christ have spoke. Itching ears, demons or democrats appearing as angels of lights have manifested themselves in our reality.

TDS	Posted: December 23, 2008 1:15 PM

As a white evangelical whose wife teaches in a 60% black, 20% hispanic high school, I have very mixed feelings about the election. B.O. stands against just about every moral standard that I hold as sacred. On the other hand, it has been thrilling to see the pride and hope that my black friends showed at the results of the election. Regardless of who got elected, addressing the issues that effect the generational-poverty of my wife's students is still going to happen at a local level. President-elect Obama will show whether he is a real leader or merely a figure-head by whether he can unite the races rather than polarize them.

Yana	Posted: December 23, 2008 9:37 AM


Hmm, I am not even American, but I am a Christian, and I was just wondering, shouldn't there be maybe a bit more spirit of reconciliation and brotherly love in the comments here?

Andrew

Posted: December 23, 2008 7:04 AM

Many of my friends wished for a candidate with the youth, charisma and interracial appeal of Obama combined with the more moderate politics of McCain. I found myself in the odd situation of voting for McCain on principle, but being glad Obama won on purely emotional grounds. I think there may be many people who did not vote for him who nonetheless have a sense of goodwill toward him and a "wait and see" attitude about what he will do in office. After all, it is rather like God to answer prayers in ways we do not expect.

John Hale

Posted: December 22, 2008 6:38 PM

If Obama had been pro-life and pro-traditional family, and had made a stronger statement of faith than the vague comments given in his writings and interviews, such as the ones reported here in _Christianity Today_, he could have run away with the white evangelical vote. Yes, evangelicals need to return to supporting the Bible's mandate for justice, but not at the expense of its other principles regarding life and sexuality.

Thomas

Posted: December 22, 2008 3:37 PM

Kozak's comment is indicative of the rampant ignorance and one dimensional approach to American history. I don't think, by and large, that White Christians are racist overtly, but I do think they have a few things in common with the Aryan Brotherhood; hubris, sense of entitlement, superiority complex and ignorant of other nationalities history. You also hold to a primitive expansionist worldview. I say primitive because whites in about 20 years will hold insignificant numbers population wise. If white Christians don't start to show some cultural relativity you will be considered an artifact in the annals of American Christianity.

OutsideObserver

Posted: December 22, 2008 2:28 PM

Come on people, get back to the real world instead of constantly dwelling in the fake 'Kingdom of Heaven' where there's no racism and where everyone is Christian and everyone gets along constantly singing the praises of Jesus. Everything in America can be reduced to race. This land was stolen from the Indians who were exterminated, and worked on by people imported from Africa. Stop trying to relieve your guilt by justifying all that genocide and slavery with the gospel. It's not working among people of colour, so drop it. The White Church has always been, will always be Segregated, and no amount of gospel reading and Jesus worshipping will ever change that. White Christians are just to beholden to political correctness to admit that. And to those who commented on the 'assassination' comment, the answer is NO, it's not bizarre because White Evangelicals hating blacks in general, and Obama in particular is a normal thing sadly, why else would he have chosen a Jew to be his WH chief ??

Jerry from Jackson

Posted: December 21, 2008 10:42 PM

Being a white Follower of Christ, I was puzzled why people voted for someone that not only was pro-abortion, but wanted to even increase the availability of abortions, plus encourage marriage of same sex couples. At the same time, I was elated that this country finally put a black man in the white house. So to me, it was a bitter/sweet election. Being the liberal that Obama is, I do fear his socialist agenda. I'm concerned about the taking away of conservative radio and TV shows, taking from the wealthy and giving to the poor. These people, for the most part, are wealthy because they have worked hard all their lives and earned every dime they have. I'm afraid that God allowed Obama to win the presidency as opposed to actually putting Obama in the white house. I think this country has turned their back on God one too many times, while the Church has sat on it's butt and done nothing about it. We definitely need to pray for Obama to be protected from assassination. Please pray for him!!

Steve Skeete

Posted: December 21, 2008 2:37 PM

This article had me pretty confused until I figured out what the deal is here. White evangelicals voted white, while black evangelical voted black. Non voted issues, both voted colour. That does not sound like a recipe for reconciliation to me. Actually it sounds like the same old racism, and a Church that is "seperate but equal". The writer taked about "moving forward on reconciliation", but only if the president is not "assassinated"? Does he expect that the blame for that, too, will fall on the evangelical Church? And how can you move forward in a country where If Obama had "lost", it would have been a cause for "worry". I believe the victory of Obama, according to this article, has given the evangelical Church a lot of cause for worry for it has shown that as far as race is concerned the Church in America has still a long way to go.

jimblaine

Posted: December 21, 2008 7:39 AM


Obama's stand on abortion stopped me from even considering Obama. His other big government and tax policies would have been another large road block to getting my vote. Nothing to do with race. BTW I've lived in the South for the last 30 plus years and have never attended a segregated church.

Tom	Posted: December 21, 2008 7:09 AM


Why do we always put race in the forefront in these situations? Is is possible that some white evangelicals did not vote for Obama due to his nature of his politics and not the color of his skin?

Alice

Posted: December 21, 2008 12:08 AM

I think the author is missing a point when he says, "Other groups—like African Americans and Hispanics—also stress justice in terms of equal rights, addressing poverty, and war, because those things are part of their life experience." His use of the word "also" seems to me to be saying that the Black church in America has been talking about abortion and homosexuality just as much as the White church ... AND issues of justice. But is this assumption actually correct? Has the Black church been talking about issues regarding sexual morality or have they focused primarily on social morality? I think most agree that the White church has been negligent in talking ONLY about sexual morality while neglecting issues of social morality. Has the Black church possibly been negligent in the same manner, only in reverse? Does not the divide over the election of President-Elect Obama show that both the White and the Black church in America need to be preaching the entirety of the Gospel?

Ron W

Posted: December 20, 2008 1:48 PM

Race has nothing to do with faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and savior of the world. Only in the mind of misguided Christians black, white, red, or green. We are all the body of Christ. To vote for one person because of the color of his skin as a Christian makes no spiritual sense at all. We must be guided by what the Word of God tells us on all issues, we are to love one another, help the poor, protect the innocent, protect the institution of marriage as God intended, and spread the gospel of Christ to all the world, as one body. This country is in the mess its in today because we have turned our back on God, and all seem to have our own little agendas, Where are true men of God and spiritual leaders today? Certainly its not Jessie Jackson, Jeremiah Wright, or Joel Olsteen.. Where are they who will preach the gospel without the political correct nonsense? John 14:6

Machey

Posted: December 20, 2008 11:04 AM

Even though I voted for Obama, I am cautious about the over sense of optimism many have for his future presidency. He is no messiah but I have great admiration for him. I believe that he holds the conviction that his function if more or less that of a coach rather than the 'I can fix it all myself' man. I also believe that whether it be a Reagan, Bush or Obama history shows that there seems to be weak link between a president's religious beliefs and their policies implemented while in office. As far as the issue of segregation among U. S. churches is concerned this is an issue that white suburban churches and black inner city churches must deal with themselves regardless of who sits in the oval office.

John	Posted: December 20, 2008 7:59 AM


Kozak, in the real world, 75% of white evangelicals voted for McCain and 25% for Obama. Obama did have a fair amount of support from other whites, but white evangelicals voted for McCain in roughly the same percentage as they voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004.

Keith

Posted: December 20, 2008 6:23 AM

This is a good article. Yet its basic premise is flawed because it misses a fundamental historical fact. The Black Church has never been segregated. It's very birth was because of white segregation. Whites will most frequently feel very welcome in a black church. Even today, many whites, especially evangelicals seem quite uncomfortable worshiping in any environment where they are in the minority. Blacks have long sat under white church leadership. Can we say the same for white Christians? This suggests the white support for a dishonest and inept McCain candidacy. What does Obama's election mean to this divided church? Nothing until our majority repents of racism.

CMD	Posted: December 20, 2008 12:40 AM

In Philip Yancey's book, "The Jesus I Never Knew" he asks the question - Why is it that "evangelical Christian" is used interchangeably with "religious right"? I think this article highlights something we all need to remember whether we are black, white, asian, hispanic or anything else - as Christians we are called to love one another and support our leaders. Obama is our president-elect and it is getting pretty disgusting to see Christians screaming out words of hate and scorn.

Alice

Posted: December 19, 2008 9:39 PM


Does anyone else think it's bizarre for Mr. Emerson to say that for reconciliation to occur, it's essential that Obama "not be assasinated"?

David

Posted: December 19, 2008 8:52 PM

Seeing how B.O. is not a Christian I don't see how he has any bearing on the true church. If Obama does not acknowledge Jesus as the ONLY way to God, then HE DOES NOT KNOW JESUS AS LORD. However, the apostate church will love and adore their new messiah like lambs to the slaughter. Look to the skies bretheren, the time is near. Don't be swayed by the world at this crucial time in history. God has it ALL under control.

Denver

Posted: December 19, 2008 8:48 PM


Let's see...in two successive question headings I read where white Christian or evangelical voters missed an opportunity by not voting for Obama, while Black evangelical voters have hurt their credibility by voting for Obama. Folks, it doesn't get much more racist than that kind of juxtaposition. Both the interviewer and Christianity today should be deeply ashamed for printing that kind of thing.

ounbbl

Posted: December 19, 2008 7:59 PM


Hussein O'Hama is D.C. and ain't a Christian. If he is, he has to prove why not he is. D.C. for Dubious Character.

Bob	Posted: December 19, 2008 7:21 PM

I am a white evangelical Christian who supported Obama because he is a Democrat. While history was made, my vote as a Christian was for the person, because he is a liberal Christian. Liberal Christians tend to understand the original language of the scriptures and how to apply them. Remember, Jesus, today would be considered a liberal. He was not a part of the traditional religion of his day. (though he was a practicing Jew)

Page: 1 2

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment