Harry Jackson's message 4-4-08

A Reconciliation Referendum
by Harry Jackson (April 4, 2008)

(You can sign this "Reconciliation Referendum" by sending an e-mail to
info@hilc.net. Please remember to let us know if you are a pastor)

In recent weeks, there has been a national debate about the appropriateness of
sermons preached by Dr. Jeremiah Wright from the pulpit of Trinity United Church
of Christ in Chicago. Two weeks ago the controversy led Senator Barak Obama to
deliver an important speech on race in America.

Opinion leaders in the national media praised the speech as courageous, but the
notion that simply more talk is needed will no longer suffice. While politicians
like Barack Obama and the national media wring their hands over a problem that
has persisted in this country for nearly 400 years, they offer no solutions to
the problem.

The tragedy of this most recent revelation of America's racial divide is that
incendiary remarks by Rev. Wright were delivered in a church, at the pulpit, by
a pastor of a Christian church. If there is one that can and is healing the
racial wounds of America, it is the Church. However, this latest incident
underscores the lack of progress and the urgent need for a deliberate and
coordinated effort among Christian pastors and spiritual leaders in America to
lead the nation in racial reconciliation.

The failure of good Christian people to provide a clear and convincing example
of racial unity within the Church has contributed to the divide between the
races in the nation and it only appears to be widening.

We must recognize that racism is not just a social problem in America; it is
also a spiritual problem. It is a matter of the heart. Healing racism in the
nation is, therefore a challenge facing our country that must first be addressed
in and by the Church. We believe that contrary to what Americans have seen in
the last few weeks, the Church can and must help lead the nation toward
reconciliation among the races.

This diagnosis of the nature of racism in the US is in keeping with the clear
teaching of Scripture. Jesus prayed that His followers would be united. He also
said in John 17:21 that the world would believe His mission and message because
of the unity of His followers.

A racially reconciled church can eventually unite the nation. Evangelical
churches are especially prepared to seize this strategic moment in American
history because of their shared theology and value system.

The basis of our action is an empowerment theology that is based upon the
Scriptures. In contrast, liberation theology as preached by people like Rev.
Wright, if taken to the extreme, can fan the flames of class struggles and
racial prejudice.

Many churches have already done a great deal to solve this problem, but there
will be dire consequences if the racial tensions of the nation are not
addressed. Just 16 years ago, on April 29, 1992, a major race riot sent
shockwaves from Los Angeles around the world. Seven hundred million dollars of
property damage, 13,212 arrests, 2,383 human injuries, and 54 deaths lay in the
wake of an initial lower court verdict concerning the beating of Rodney King by
four L.A. policemen.

We believe that a repeat of that riot is possible today. The protagonists may be
black, white, or Hispanic but the danger of unresolved race-based anger deserves
a national "intervention" by the Church.

There is no time to waste.

It is time for America to see the Church as an unbiased representative of
Christ. We want to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by
announcing this Reconciliation Referendum on April 4, 2008-the 40th anniversary
of his assassination. Over 40 leading ministers?20 whites and 20 blacks?have
made a commitment to bring racial reconciliation to our nation within the next
decade. We collectively make a commitment to take the following intentional and
purposeful steps to begin the healing:

1. Pray for racial healing and spiritual awakening in America.

2. Strategically evangelize across racial boundaries.

3. Conduct pulpit exchanges in our communities or regions which congregations of
different racial majorities.

4. Commemorate the contributions of Christian blacks, Hispanics and other racial
minorities to both the Church and the nation through black history month and
other dates of multi-racial and cultural significance.

5. Develop cross-cultural leadership within our local ministries, including
spiritual and administrative positions.

6. Recognize that Biblical justice is a part of our social mandate.

7. Develop trans-denominational approaches to address domestic poverty.

What about practical solutions for non-churched people? In our book Personal
Faith, Public Policy we give a visionary game plan for a racially reconciled
Church to serve the entire nation. As the Church unifies, there are many
specific public policy initiatives we can introduce in order to create a greater
atmosphere of Biblical justice in our land.

We are calling for all Bible believing Christians to accept this Reconciliation
Referendum and become proactive healing agents in this nation.

(You can sign this "Reconciliation Referendum" by sending an e-mail to
info@hilc.net. Please remember to let us know if you are a pastor)

Source: Tony Perkins & Harry Jackson - High Impact Leadership Coalition