John Perkins in his latest book, "One Blood", 2018, builds his idea on biblical reconciliation around Ephesians 2: 14-16 in which Paul, a Jewish Christian, declares Christ died on the cross to break down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile.
Since so-called superior Jews had created the dividing wall of hostility, it was only fitting that Jews, Peter and Paul, took the lead in preaching and practicing reconciliation. God did not call a Gentile for this task. In this case, Jews were the oppressors, they repented, they responded to God's call.
Wilberforce did the same. White members from the oppressor slave holding class repented and then spent a lifetime to end first the British slave trade, then British slavery.
Wilberforce's only mistake, probably an evil but necessary political compromise, was to agree to pay reparations to the slave owners of the loss of their property, but not to the slaves for the loss of their free labor.
The same with the American abolitionist movement. It was largely led by white Christians who had repented but then pursued freedom for slaves, often at great risk to reputation and sometimes even life.
John Perkins mentions and praises King and his many colleagues, most of whom were black. Blacks provided most of the leaders and foot soldiers in the civil rights movement, assisted by a few whites. White Christian leaders and churches did not repent of their oppression and then lead the civil rights movement.
The following definition of biblical reconciliation was originally inspired by John Perkin's definition found in his new book, "One Blood". I have added a few things to John's definition.
"Biblical reconciliation destroys the dividing walls of ethnocentrism and oppression and then unites the divided peoples by building bridges of love and justice."
This definition of biblical reconciliation is drawn from the following Bible passages:
Ephesians 2:11-22; Luke 4:25-30; Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 58:6; Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 6:33, NEB.
Ephesians 2:14-18, the so-called superior/ethnocentric Jews built "the dividing wall of hostility".
Chrisitan Jews such as Peter and Paul took the responsibility, the lead, in tearing the dividing wall of hostility down. They did not leave it up to a Gentile, "Martin Luther King" to destroy the wall of ethnocentrism and oppression.
Paul claimed that the Gospel of social reconciliation flows directly from the cross just as the Gospel of personal reconciliation with God does.
Luke 4:25-30: God's grace reaches out to Gentile widows and lepers, past the wall of Jewish ethnocentrism. Luke 4:18 and Isaiah 58:6: Release of the oppressed is a central component of the Gospel.
Luke 10:25-37: Central truth, love your neighbor; a despised Samaritan loves a beaten Jew back to health.
Matthew 6:33, NEB: The kingdom of God here on earth is all about justice.
Application to the American White Church
From the very beginning of American history down to the present, 2018, ethnocentrism and oppression have been combined with religion, thereby sanctifying these social evils. Ethnocentrism became American exceptionalism: oppression became Manifest Destiny. The seemingly religious Puritans readily combined their biblical message with British ethnocentrism and oppression.
The result: Indian genocide led by white oppressors. African enslavement led by white oppressors.
Mexican land theft led by white oppressors. Exploitation of Chinese labor led by white oppressors.
Incarceration of Japanese Americans led by white oppressors. Theft of Hawaiian islands led by white oppressors. One million Philippine deaths led by white oppressors.
For the most part, American churches either participated in the above oppressions or stood silently by while they happened.
It is now 2018. Apart form a a few remarkable individuals, such as Jim Wallis, Wayne Gordon, Mary Nelson, Ron Sider, Phil Reed, white Christians have done little but enjoy their white privilege with its considerable economic benefits. Whites have self righteously refused to repent, to engage in restitution, or to repair oppressed communities. They are content to preach and practice a spirituality without justice.
White led ethnocentrism and oppression continue on unabated, unchecked by non existent biblical theology of oppression and justice. There are 550 references to oppression in the Old Testament but sadly there is no theology on oppression in the white church. There are 300 dik-stems in the New Testament but sadly no theology of justice. Widespread spirituality without justice results in no white repentance, restitution, or repair.
Are U.S. ethnics in for another four hundred years of white-led ethnocentrism and oppression and an arrogant, self righteous refusal to repent by white oppressors?
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