Black Christian here, ask me anything

[BuGzBuNNy]

yup

[DonDadda59]

Preferably not too too biblical since I'm not the most knowledgable person to ask about things pertained inside the good book and I'd hate to give someone inaccurate information.

So what makes you 'Christian' if you don't know shit about the bible? Isn't knowing/believing the content within the good book the basis of being Christian? I mean it's not hereditary like race, nationality, etc.

Also, what is the name of the dog in your avatar? :D

[SourPatchKids]

I call her Debra
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9g0tsjEGv1rqfhi2o1_400.gif

[Faptastrophe]

Are you aware of how ironic your religious belief is? It's funny how black christians could could reference a bible verse to condone homophobia yet they forget that the white men did the same thing to justify enslaving their people. Does anyone remind you that the faith that you're preaching was the same faith that subjugated your people. Did anyone note the reasons there are so many black Christians out there is not because of divine truth but because slave-masters converted your ancestors?
If you're a black Christian, you have a real short memory - Chris Rock

Ok, nice meeting you. I'll better leave as fast as I can. k, thx, bye.

http://d22zlbw5ff7yk5.cloudfront.net/images/cm-26400-0507b97a7ece10.gif

[DonDadda59]

I know they referenced the book to justify slavery but tell me exactly what they saw in the book that they thought justified it. If you will..I'm uncertain.

In other words, what does the bible say that made them think slavery was okay?

Just some examples, sure there's more, too lazy to look:

Genesis 9:25-27: "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers. He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japeth live in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave'.

Some Christians and Muslims believed the descendants of Canaan were Africans, so naturally they used the above text to justify the institution of slavery.

"slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling" (Ephesians 6:5)

"tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect" (Titus 2:9)

[DonDadda59]

But then again you have...

I'd have to read for context, without it one can make anything of a quote.

The context being, don't steal slaves and try to profit from selling them, but owning them and beating them to death under the right circumstances is completely legit.

[Riddler]

Did anyone note the reasons there are so many black Christians out there is not because of divine truth but because slave-masters converted your ancestors?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Africa


Christianity is now one of the two most widely practiced religions in Africa. There has been tremendous growth of Christians in Africa - coupled by a relative decline in adherence to traditional African religions. Only nine million Christians were in Africa in 1900, but by the year 2000, there were an estimated 380 million Christians.


Can we blame Slavery for this too?

[DonDadda59]

Thanks for the quotes. I'll put on my to do list to read all the quotes regarding slavery for context. I'm reading different takes on it on various sites. I can recall my old pastor speaking on it but I don't remember his stance.

Whatever the context in the bible, there is no question that Southern pastors during the pre Civil War era used those passages and others to justify the institution of slavery, especially when those pesky abolitionists started spreading their dangerous propaganda.

[DonDadda59]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Africa




Can we blame Slavery for this too?

Yes, slavery and colonialism.

[bigdaddyfunk]

I know they referenced the book to justify slavery but tell me exactly what they saw in the book that they thought justified it. If you will..I'm uncertain.

In other words, what does the bible say that made them think slavery was okay?

You kind of missed his point. He's saying that the ONLY reason that you are a Christian is because white people at the time needed an excuse to rationalize their cruel and inhumane actions; they claimed that it was okay to enslave a population of uncivilized 'monkeys' so that they could "save" them. In reality, the only thing they had on their minds was money and power.

[bigdaddyfunk]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Africa




Can we blame Slavery for this too?

Definitely. Christianity was introduced into Africa through European countries on a mission to expand their trade empires.

[bigdaddyfunk]

So basically, without slavery I wouldn't have become a Christian? Is that the point I missed?

Can't say that definitively, but without slavery odds are most black Christians probably wouldn't be Christians today.

[DonDadda59]

You kind of missed his point. He's saying that the ONLY reason that you are a Christian is because white people at the time needed an excuse to rationalize their cruel and inhumane actions; they claimed that it was okay to enslave a population of uncivilized 'monkeys' so that they could "save" them. In reality, the only thing they had on their minds was money and power.

Which is why 'Black Christian' seems like a contradiction to me.


So basically, without slavery I wouldn't have become a Christian? Is that the point I missed?

I think the point is moreso your ancestors more than likely had the Christian faith forced upon them and you're the result of that brainwashing and conditioning propagating through the generations. I don't know your personal family history, so this may be a generalization that doesn't fit you.

[-p.tiddy-]

the slaves were taught about evolution from white slave masters!!!...you're not allowed to believe in science!!!

[97 bulls]

So basically, without slavery I wouldn't have become a Christian? Is that the point I missed?
This line of reasoningcanbe used for every form of your life. Even your name.



Let's face it. Were all brainwashed. Were all trained to believe what we believe.


As far as the notion that the Bible condones slavery? Nonsense. That scripture has been taken out of context.


I also find it ironic that Chris (a name derived from Christ) Rock would have such a stance

[Riddler]

I'm saying here I am, ask away..how I feel about things in the world or even personal stuff.


You like rap music?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHlxQnr9Y0g
Lecrae has got some good stuff.


Also,... I'm a big fan of T.D. Jakes... That Man can preach.

Ever listened to T.D. Jakes?

[DonDadda59]

Which particular denomination of Christianity do you adhere to and what separates it from the 'average church' as you put it?

[DonDadda59]

Non-denominational and I actually just changed "average church" to "a lot of churches". I'm not one of those extremist that puts down all other denominations

OK, so let me rephrase- what are the hallmarks of your non-denominational church? Like what are your core beliefs, rituals, etc?

[DonDadda59]

We believe everything in the bible is true, thats it.
Rituals? You mean things like bread and wine?

I figured you weren't Catholic, so figured you didn't engage in the whole wine and crackers bit. And does that mean you take everything in the bible to be literally true, the unquestionable word of God? If so, what do you base that on exactly?

[DonDadda59]

I believe everything that was written in the bible was written because God wanted it to be. I'm not sure what you mean by "what do you base that on exactly?"

I mean, say JK Rowling said that the Harry Potter series was a factual History and the infallible word of God... I imagine you would not believe her claims. So what about the writings of whoever the authors of the testaments were makes that same claim believable in your mind? What makes you so sure the bible is the word of God and written the way he/she/it intended it to be?

[DonDadda59]

Someone else could better tell you than I, but when I read scripts from the bible it seems too relevant to have been written (how long ago?) without an almighty behind it.

Send me links if you can find any.

[MavsSuperFan]

How devout are you about your Christianity?

Did you stay a virgin until marriage?

Whats your opinion on gay marriage?

Do you tithe 10% of your income to the church?

Do you believe in hell?

Do you believe the world is less than 10,000 years old?

Do you literally believe the bible? Eg. Do you believe God turned Lot's wife into a pillar of salt?

And if so why did God stop doing cool stuff like that?

Do you believe in evolution?

Do you believe in the big bang theory?

[MavsSuperFan]

Haven't been to church going on two years. I was once told that its not about the # of times you eff up(God's not keeping a tally), but about your commitment to bettering yourself and doing right. I'm always trying to do what I believe God wants of me and my goal is to be the perfect Christian. But...I'm a sex fien, and thats honestly my biggest guilt. That and my insecurities


Na. I've been engaging in sexual activity since, 6th grade? I don't think I actually ever penetrated until like the 9th grade, though. I'm a recovering mastur bation addict

Against it


No. I didn't have an income two years ago but I did tithe a little of what was given to me

Yes

Idk

I believe everything in the bible is true, yes. I'll also say that I believe that believing 100% is the equivalent of knowing in which I don't.

Idk

I'll assume you mean evolutionism over creationism in which no I don't

No. Then again theirs the possibility that God created the big bang theory. The bible probably discounts that possibility and I just don't know

Thank you for your honest responses. I am an atheist myself, still publicly identify as a christian cos I don't want to offend family.

One follow up question, I'm sure as a Christian you know how God supposedly frowns upon sexual promiscuity, he smited Sodom and Gomorrah. Since you believe in hell, any concern about eternal damnation?

A literal interpretation of the bible does disallow the big bang theory.

[CelticBaller]

Why don't you believe in evolution? You know evolution is pretty much a known fact right?


BTW I am a christian so I am not being hostile at all :cheers:

[MMM]

:cheers:

I assume you're talking about the evolution that suggest we come from apes? If the bible discounts that, I don't believe in it.

I don't want to be offensive but asking others when it seems like you have not read and interpreted the bible your self seems like a disservice. My advice is seek knowledge no matter where it comes from. You can find that in the bible or many other books but if you are unsure of what the bible discounts then that seems like it could be a problem.

[MavsSuperFan]

:cheers:

I assume you're talking about the evolution that suggest we come from apes? If the bible discounts that, I don't believe in it.

The bible is quite clear on this matter, God created adam in his image, and Eve from adam's rib.

[MMM]

Not offensive. As mentioned in the OP and in this post...

Ok cool, man. You don't have to prove your beliefs to others but you should always challenge your self. I know that sounds douchebaggery as well but seek your own knowledge.

[miller-time]

What do you think of groups like the Nation of Islam?

[AK47DR91]

How does it feel knowing Jesus is a white man?

[AK47DR91]

:oldlol: Why would this bother me?
Because white men are the devil?

i kid, i kid....just trolling

[Riddler]

How does it feel knowing Jesus is a white man?

http://www.crownarts.com/art/ProdImages/production/AG-9550-1620.jpg


That's probably what Jesus looked like.

[PistonsFan#21]

How does it feel knowing Jesus is a white man?

im not expert on the subject but does it say anywhere in the bible that he is?

[CarlosBoozer]

Do you go to mass every sunday?

[Take Your Lumps]

http://www.crownarts.com/art/ProdImages/production/AG-9550-1620.jpg


That's probably what Jesus looked like.

Looks like the same old euro Jesus with a deep tan and a duck face. Long flowing hair and hazel eyes?

[Rojogaqu11]

Disclaimer: Long post incoming. :s (sorry, I tried to be concise)

To whoever asked the issue of slavery, I'd like to make a few points if I may:

[LIST]
It's understandable how the term "Black Christian" might seem contradictory when we place so much emphasis on the American history of slavery, but we have to examine the context of those days to come to a better conclusion.
When we talk about history, we have to understand that people change their values and beliefs depending on the degree of their understanding about them. We can now understand many more things about the world than previous generations, and knowing that previous generations had less knowledge about racial differences, then we can understand how it could have been an even more striking point of conflict.
They may have had an "excuse" to act the way they did. They really did not, but they made conclusions from limited knowledge. This is the same error that is done by someone who attacks the reality of multiracial Christianity, because what we now understand about skin pigmentation, dna, and the human species, leaves us without excuse when we try to make race an issue. We know that humanity is a species with a great range of phenotypes, but in essence we are all one and the same.
Those who used the bible to validate slavery(like the op said) acted out on their own evil intentions. Also on ignorance and fear.
We can contrast that generation to ours and we can see that not much has changed even with more knowledge. This is because the natural inclination of humans to do evil does not change.
So the point I make with this is that the issue of race should be an archaic notion that doesn't have a place when talking about the message of the bible, specially when the message of the Gospel is the defining truth through which all other truths of the bible are understood. This brings me to the other point.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ in the New Testament completes and brings new understanding to the laws, messages, and events in the Old Testament.
To put it crudely, the Israelites were a people commanded by God to be "racist". This was to keep them as a holy nation, separated from the rest of the nations as a sign of the pact of election that God out of his own will began to work through Abraham and his descendants. God forgave their disobedience many times but Israel kept on falling to sin. They had strict laws and rites of sacrifice of animals in order to atone for their sins and to remain holy and clean as a people in the presence of the holy God. But the Israelites continuously betrayed the covenant with God and disobeyed his commandments.
If Israel even with the commandments and God's protection and providence kept on disobeying, then how much more would humanity as a whole sin against God.
The point of all this is to show that:
-Israel as a race couldn't obey God.
-Even less would the other nations do what is good if God didn't reveal his will to them.
The story is more detailed than this but the point brings us to the Gospel and the final sacrifice of Jesus to atone for the sins of not only the Israelites, but of all other nations.

This can be understood in this passage of the book of Galatians Chapter 3 in the New Testament.

[I]23 Before the coming of this faith,[j] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham

[stallionaire]

Fellow black guy here.

Black christians make me cringe. Wake up brother. Quit with the white devil's religion.

[CelticBaller]

Fellow black guy here.

Black christians make me cringe. Wake up brother. Quit with the white devil's religion.
:oldlol:
Jesus was black btw

[DCL]

if the story of jesus said he was black, there would had never been a christianity movement in the first place. europeans from the medeval era or whatever would not had pushed on with the crusades to force people to worship a dude from africa. no missionaries. no nothing. jesus was popular in europe because he was white power, mothafugga. the roman church weren't gonna support a black man in that time. sh!t, even today, they're still afraid to ever entertain the idea of promoting a black pope.

this post is all politcally incorrect and sh!t, but just saying. :lol

[CelticBaller]

if the story of jesus said he was black, there would had never been a christianity movement in the first place. europeans from the medeval era or whatever would not had pushed on with the crusades to force people to worship a dude from africa. no missionaries. no nothing. jesus was popular in europe because he was white power, mothafugga. the roman church weren't gonna support a black man in that time. sh!t, even today, they're still afraid to ever entertain the idea of promoting a black pope.

this post is all politcally incorrect and sh!t, but just saying. :lol
Jesus was popular in europe because of the romans :oldlol:
Though Leonardo Da Vinci did help change Jesus skin color

[DCL]

jesus was larry bird times a billion.

[Dictator]

I know they referenced the book to justify slavery but tell me exactly what they saw in the book that they thought justified it. If you will..I'm uncertain.

In other words, what does the bible say that made them think slavery was okay?

The bible says you must obey and respect your master aka massa when in bondage.

[Dictator]

I believe everything that was written in the bible was written because God wanted it to be. I'm not sure what you mean by "what do you base that on exactly?"

The bible has changed and tampered with a lot. Everything was not written because of God.

Also Jesus is a guy named Caesar borgias.

[CelticBaller]

The bible has changed and tampered with a lot. Everything was not written because of God.

Also Jesus is a guy named Caesar borgias.
Yeah, because there weren't paintings of Jesus before the renaissance :oldlol:

[MavsSuperFan]

http://www.crownarts.com/art/ProdImages/production/AG-9550-1620.jpg


That's probably what Jesus looked like.


Jesus probably looked like an arab.

[Balla_Status]

You're black and grew up in Midland...please show all the Texas haters that Texas isn't as racist as people say.

Are you Smash Williams?

CLEAR EYES. FULL HEARTS. CAN'T LOSE.

[MavsSuperFan]

:oldlol:
Jesus was black btw

Unlikely because of his birth location and time. Probably was an arab, definitely wasnt white though.