The False Complexities of Being a "Woke" Black-Christian

So, last week I sort of started a quest to find out why anyone would EVER vote for Donald Trump. I recently had an exchange with a gentleman and according to him, he voted for Trump, in part, because Hillary Clinton laughed after a lady introducing her failed to say the “under god” phrase of the pledge. Yes. Despite an individual's racist, sexist, and bigoted remarks, the fact that someone didn’t say “under god” while reciting the pledge solidified his support for a person that is racist, sexist, and incites hate and violence.

Now, if you know me, you know I pretty much have a comeback for everything. I’m quick and, honestly, for the first time in a long time I couldn't say anything. I knew what I wanted to say, though.  I wanted to say that nothing about America is, nor has ever been, “under God." I wanted to say that this country is more like Sodom and Gomorrah than anything like Heaven or some “Righteous Land.” I wanted to say all of that, but I thought I wouldn’t sound very “Christian-y” to go against the guy who was defending the use of the phrase “under god.”

For the first time in forever, I was met with the complexities of being a "woke" black-Christian in a predominantly “Christian” nation where black people experience the most blatant forms of systemic oppression. As an African American, how could I consciously defend a statement that is used and has, historically, been used to oppress people who look or looked like me?

Was I a “bad” Christian for not defending “under god”? 

I guess you can say I had an identity crisis of some sort. I didn’t question my belief in Christ. I didn’t question my salvation. I never even questioned if God was present even in the midst of all those questions. I knew he was there, but…real talk…I had some questions. Why are there so many variances of “Christianity?” Which one is right? Why do some “Christian” beliefs lead people to build slave empires? Why do some “Christian” beliefs lead people to hate other people? Why do some “Christian” beliefs cause people to be so self-seeking?

Why do some “Christian” beliefs lead people to most emphatically pledge their allegiance to a country that claims to be “one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all,” yet continuously disobey God’s commandments, be very divisive, and not give liberty or justice to everybody? 

I kid you not. I heard God say, “They praise me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

I’d heard that scripture before in many different contexts, but not in this particular one.

In Matthew 15:18-19, Jesus (quoting Isaiah) says, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Simply stated, what they do and what they say don’t align with their heart’s intentions.

Then, out of the blue I heard, “Who said that those people were the "Christian" standard, anyway?"

It became clear to me that my perception had been a product of the fallacy I was questioning. I had unconsciously accepted that anybody who defends God or does something remotely “Christian-y” is a Christian. Why? Because that’s what American Christianity taught me. America taught me that Western Europeans came and saved the “black man” from a life of damnation and, if it wasn’t for the “white savor,” I’d be a paganist in Africa somewhere. America taught me that America is the premier Christian land. I mean, c’mon…somebody even put “under god” in the pledge. Subconsciously, I took American legalism as the standard of Christianity not to be pushed against.

Here’s the thing: what a lot of people commonly believe “Christianity” to be is nothing more than doctrinal teachings of “the commandments of men,” not the commandments of God (or at least the true and living God of the Bible). Let’s be honest. A lot of Americans’ self-proclaimed Christianity is rooted in American patriotism, not a relationship with Christ (which is what Jesus stresses). As such, defending an American traditional phrase like “one nation under god” without given second thought to what you’re actually saying (or in all actuality doing) seems patriotic, and therefore, “Godly”….but it's NOT.

Which brings me to my next point....we must be talking about two different "gods"....especially in light of the fact that the same “blackness” that is an ever present limitation in a country that pledges to be "under" (some kind of) "god" will never be a limitation in my relationship with the only TRUE God! You might be reading the Bible and quoting scriptures, but who you really talking' 'bout, tho?

Listen, empty words and repetitions won’t solidify your relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Defending the use of “under god” in a pledge, doesn’t mean you're getting into Heaven. It sounds “real” nice. It looks “real” nice on paper, but the true and living God looks at the heart.

Let racists, sexists, bigoted, hateful, and violent people say what they want to say. Let them be under whatever "god" they feel led to be under. Just understand there's a difference. While God is a God of judgment, God isn't down with racism. God isn't down with sexism. God isn't down with being quiet and not looking out for hurting people. God isn't down with "beating around the bush" and not "calling a spade a spade." God is very much so down with being hot or cold...either/or.

Don't let the country "under god" fool you. We know a tree by the fruit it bears and if they are not fighting for or concerned with the elevation and well-being of those less fortunate, then it's HIGHLY possible that they're talking about a whole other "god."

So, what started out as a journey to try and figure out why people voted for Donald Trump turned into a personal defining moment. 

Will I ever stop speaking up for injustices, especially as it pertains to black people? Nope.
Will I ever stop referring to myself as a “Christian”? I don’t plan on it.

I am realizing that what I thought were complexities of being a "woke" black-Christian are actually built on false perceptions. If you stick to who God truly is and what he ACTUALLY says, being conscious about the "black experience" and fighting injustices (even if that means pushing against the false shield of the Americanized phrase "under god") won't put my relationship with God at odds. In fact, it will actually catapult me to my divine purpose, which is to ultimately bring Him glory. See, following Christ is about keeping His commandments, which have NOTHING to do with American (or European) traditions. Following Christ is about sticking up for the downtrodden, even when America tries to forget them. Following Christ is about being the light of and to the world, of which only a small portion is "American."

Following Christ is about trying to mirror Him, not a country, not traditional phrases, and not the status quo.