Auburn Christian Fellowship - The Vineyard

Celebrating African-American History Month

Friends,
February is a special month. It is a month devoted to honoring African-American history. And being that none of us are of African-American descent, I believe we have a special role to play during this special month, and that role is three fold.

The first is to be quiet. To listen and learn from our African-American brothers and sisters, living or deceased. We must hear their story and let in change who we are. In the spirit of Christ, we must be servants and lift up our brothers and sisters. Use this month to close your month and open your eyes, glorying in a magnificent history, rich with passion, determination, and fervor.

The second is to realize (and help the world to realize) that there may be many races, but there is one humanity. Our histories are tied together into one history of humanity. We must vigorously celebrate the history of African-Americans because without out it we as white men and women are nothing. "We are bound together," sings James Taylor in the song Shed a Little Light.

The third is to learn from our past. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. once said "It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning, the same hour when many are standing to sing: "In Christ There Is No East Nor West." I am sad that Dr. King's statment is still true even today. The church has made great strides toward racial harmony and unity, but we still have a lot to do. And let us not forget that the church at large was nowhere to be found in the Civil Rights movement in 1960's America. What about now? Who are we pushing aside and discriminating against today that we will boldly support 40 years from now? Let's stand for justice today and not repeat the injustice that the church participated in.

Friends, we are white, upper-middle class, Protestant, American, males. Like it or not, we were born into a story of opression, and unfortunetly, we are the opressors. Let us take hold of a different story, not in spite of our labels, but because of them. Let us take hold of a story of hope, love, and justice. After all, we claim to be prophets, visionaries. So let us be a voice in the midst of the wilderness calling out, "Prepare the way..."





For a good place to start, check out the life of Will Campbell. Click his picture to learn more about him.




Peace of Christ,
David