You know I really wonder just how is it that White and Black people see God so differently and yet the same in many ways? I don’t know if it’s the theology being taught, or if it’s the history of religion that makes the two races have similar and differing places from which they come from. I thought about this because I was watching a movie yesterday and the characters were all white. The main antagonists were heavily religious zealots who felt that they were doing God’s will by abducting and killing young White women. It’s a concept that I have seen in almost every single movie where religion is the main plot and the focal characters are white.

I sat and wondered to myself why is this the case. Why is it that when I watch a Black movie about faith, there is a rigidity there but it’s also an undertone of love and compassion for following the rules of God. And then a wrath or a damning if you don’t follow what that person sees as God’s will. White people, their movies always say that one or two characters are the conduits for God. They’ve been spoken to and told to do harm to others who are devils or devil worshippers in order to please God and secure their place in heaven. When you think about that, to me that isn’t what God is all about. It shouldn’t be what religion is all about either, but unfortunately it is. Religion is suppose to be about guidance and togetherness. Bringing people the gospel and letting them decide how to incorporate it into their lives.

Both of these paths though, have tenants that I reject, and is why I am a Spiritual Christian not a Religious Christian. I believe that there is a gang like mentality to Religious people. They don’t want to accept people who aren’t like them. That don’t walk and breathe like they do when it comes to the God and scripture. I am very despondent as a Black, Gay male because people are so quick to want to take that Bible and castigate me if I don’t subscribe to some kind of Exorcism to take the gay away from me. This premise is stupid in every way to me. You know people keep saying that Gay is this major sin and so on, but there have been Gay people on this planet since the beginning of time. So what does that mean? Because to these Bible toting Christians God created it all and hates Gay people. But answer me this if God created all and knows all, then God created Gays and we should be accepted.

It is something that has split families and households apart because there is religious rigidity that seems to settle in amongst the religious folks. Like they’re the only ones who are right. Like they have all the answers. It’s as though they forget about the fact that they’re human and the only perfect being is God, who created the son Jesus. How are we to ever assume that in all situations we have the answers just because we are religious believers of Christ. If you read in the text it doesn’t say that at all. It doesn’t say that you are always correct or you always have the high ground because you base your bias or prejudice on the text. It is in times like these that we should be looking to the text for what it really is, a guide and a blueprint. It provides some structures and foundations upon which we should operate and conduct ourselves.

The Bible gives you moral and philosophical basis from which you can take lessons and grow towards. The text also preaches about love for each other and respect for each other. Yes it gives things that also shouldn’t be done and it also tells of things that shouldn’t be done when rebuilding a society and that grown men shouldn’t be sleeping with children. These are the places that we should be building from and understanding that religion is to be a common gathering ground. It’s suppose to be a way for people who believe in God and Christ to come together to bond spiritually, not act like thugs and judges and determine who is deserved of the love of God.

Some point in time we will finally realize that faith is something that should be a uniting thing and not a diving thing. From television shows to movies to real life, religion is always painted in a oxymoronic position. It serves to be the judge for some in terms of people they don’t agree with or feel represent God, but then it serves as their moral compass and compassion for when they want to try to reach out and bridge a divide created unnecessarily. How about we change the way we use religion and think about it. Use it for the purpose of love and support, growth and togetherness. Then we can possibly bring more souls closer to God.