Comments on: An Open Discussion on Racism http://inamirrordimly.com/2009/03/29/an-open-discussion-on-racism/ An imperfect and sometimes sarcastic perspective on following Jesus by Ed Cyzewski. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:35:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dietrich Gruen http://inamirrordimly.com/2009/03/29/an-open-discussion-on-racism/comment-page-1/#comment-2268 Dietrich Gruen Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:15:38 +0000 http://inamirrordimly.com/2009/03/29/an-open-discussion-on-racism/#comment-2268 First a point or two or three of irony, as we extend this talk about race, outside of class. This sermon on racism by Jin S. Kim, entitled "Walk Humbly," is by the one who pastors a church in NE Mpls, MN, where I once preached when I was on staff with IVCF in the Twin Cities in the 1970s/80's, back when the church was small, all-white, struggling, very much in decline, and then known as Shiloh Bethany Presbyterian Church, and located just a few blocks from my home back then. Today it is still a mainline church of the Presbyterian Church (USA) persuasion, but reborn as a relatively new church plant (re-organized in 2004) with evangelical zeal. It is a vibrant case study in how the Gospel has made a multi-cultural impact with 250+ believers and growing. The Church of all Nations is currently (as of 2008) 32% Asian, 37% white, 20% black, and 10% Latino, with over 20 nations represented in its membership, plus even even more denominational diversity than ethnic diversity, as they draw as many Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherans as Pentecostals, Baptists and Evangelical Free). How ironic and interesting to me for 2nd reason: This church is now a national a case study in dealing with "racism," THE hot topic you will recall that Barack Obama addressed during his Campaign in April of 2008. But in the sermon link the Ed reerences, the message given by the Rev Jin S. Kim is even more eloquent and gripping than Obama, when delivered from this Korean pastor's perspective, with univeral appeal and personal application. I had never heard such a sermon on this topic, delivered with such prophetic passion, historical insight, obvious credibility and humility, and from the Korean perspective. How ironic and interesting to me for 3rd reason: my son Eric now attends this multi-racial church. As he said, "holy crap, i just read it and was really floored. i'm excited to go there. nobody talks like that. obama doesn't talk like that.... it was just this kind of thing, the things people don't say out loud, cause we don't want to think about them. kudos for forwarding this around to your crew." I am humbled by this message, and my/our white complicity in racism. This sermon, preached in its orginal context, has unapologetically stirred up controversy in my denomination, the PC(USA), but it should be read and interacted by churches at all levels, in all denominations, by people of all races. And by people who do not go to church. First a point or two or three of irony, as we extend this talk about race, outside of class.
This sermon on racism by Jin S. Kim, entitled “Walk Humbly,” is by the one who pastors a church in NE Mpls, MN, where I once preached when I was on staff with IVCF in the Twin Cities in the 1970s/80′s, back when the church was small, all-white, struggling, very much in decline, and then known as Shiloh Bethany Presbyterian Church, and located just a few blocks from my home back then.
Today it is still a mainline church of the Presbyterian Church (USA) persuasion, but reborn as a relatively new church plant (re-organized in 2004) with evangelical zeal. It is a vibrant case study in how the Gospel has made a multi-cultural impact with 250+ believers and growing. The Church of all Nations is currently (as of 2008) 32% Asian, 37% white, 20% black, and 10% Latino, with over 20 nations represented in its membership, plus even even more denominational diversity than ethnic diversity, as they draw as many Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherans as
Pentecostals, Baptists and Evangelical Free).

How ironic and interesting to me for 2nd reason: This church is now a national a case study in dealing with “racism,” THE hot topic you will recall that Barack Obama addressed during his Campaign in April of 2008. But in the sermon link the Ed reerences, the message given by the Rev Jin S. Kim is even more eloquent and gripping than Obama, when delivered from this Korean pastor’s perspective, with univeral appeal and personal application. I had never heard such a sermon on this topic, delivered with such prophetic passion, historical insight, obvious credibility and humility, and from the Korean perspective.

How ironic and interesting to me for 3rd reason: my son Eric now attends this multi-racial church. As he said, “holy crap, i just read it and was really floored. i’m excited to go there. nobody talks like that. obama doesn’t talk like that…. it was just this kind of thing, the things people don’t say out loud, cause we don’t want to think about them. kudos for forwarding this around to your crew.”

I am humbled by this message, and my/our white complicity in racism. This sermon, preached in its orginal context, has unapologetically stirred up controversy in my
denomination, the PC(USA), but it should be read and interacted by churches at all levels, in all denominations, by people of all races. And by people who do not go to church.

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