Christians should be at the forefront in demonstrating love and understanding and in trying to solve the racial tensions which can eventuate in the breakdown of law and order and still greater acts of aggravation and violence.
The situation is so electric with emotional reaction that the voices of moderation on both sides of the issue are being drowned out by the louder voices of “rights” without reference to the realities of the situation or the only way whereby they can ever be solved.
In September, 1956, the writer participated in a symposium on race relations sponsored by Life magazine. Near its conclusion we presented the following statement, which won a strong measure of approval and was later incorporated into a report of this meeting (Life, Oct. 1, 1956):
“1. Christians should recognize that there is no biblical or legal justification for segregation. Segregation, as enjoined in the Old Testament, had to do with religious separation while the New Testament lends no comfort to the idea of racial segregation within the Christian Church. For these reasons it can be safely affirmed that segregation of the races enforced by law is both un-Christian and un-American.
“2. It can be demonstrated with equal logic that forced integration of the races is sociologically impracticable and at the same time such forced alignments violate the right of personal choice.
“3. The Christian concept of race may be expressed in the following way:
a. God makes no distinction among men; all are alike the objects of his love, mercy and proffered redemptive work.
b. For this reason, all Christians are brothers in Christ, regardless of race and color.
c. The inescapable corollary of these truths is that Church membership should be open to all without discrimination or restriction.
“4. In the light of the basically Christian affirmations the church should implement them as follows:
a. All churches should be open to attendance and membership without reference to race or color.
b. Recognize that in so doing, in most areas and under normal conditions this will not result in an integrated church, for various races will prefer separate churches for social, economic, educational and other reasons.
c. But, this opening of the doors of the churches will break down the man-made and sinful barrier which stems from prejudice, and recognize the unquestioned Christian principle of man’s uniform need of God’s redemptive work in Christ, a need and a salvation which knows no distinction of race or color.
“5. To aid in an honest and just solution of this problem on every level, the Church should frankly recognize that racial differences, implying neither inferiority nor superiority in God’s sight, are nevertheless actual differences which usually express themselves in social preferences and alignments which are a matter of personal choice, not related to either pride or prejudice. Because of this and because no Christian principle is involved, the Church should neither foster nor force, in the name of Christianity, a social integration which is neither desired nor desirable.
“6. The Church should concentrate greater energy on condemning those sinful attitudes of mind where hate, prejudice and indifference continue to foster injustice and discrimination.
“7. The problem of the public schools constitutes a dilemma in many areas which both the Church and the courts of the land should recognize and admit. Because these schools are tax-supported, they are in name and in fact ‘public’ schools.
“At the same time, because the ratio of the races varies in different localities the problem also varies from the simple in some areas to the apparently insoluble at the present time in others. Those who live where only 10 or 15 per cent of the population is of a minority race have no serious problem. Where the ratio is reversed the issue is one of the greatest magnitude and those who have to deal with it deserve the sympathetic concern and understanding of others.
“It must be recognized by both Church and State that at this time, and under present conditions, the problem involves social, moral, hygienic, educational and other factors which admit no immediate or easy solution, and the phrase, ‘with all due haste,’ must be interpreted on the one hand as requiring an honest effort to solve the problem, and on the other by the leniency and consideration which existing conditions demand.
“8. Finally, the Church has a grave responsibility in this issue; a responsibility to proclaim love, tolerance and justice to all as basic Christian virtues, to be accepted in theory and practiced in fact.
“Basic to this concept is the urgent necessity of removing all barriers to spiritual fellowship in Christ, without at the same time trying to force un-natural social relationships.
“The Church has the responsibility of recognizing that more than spiritual issues are involved. While freely admitting full spiritual and legal rights to all, there are at the same time, social implications and considerations which involve the matter of personal choice, over which the Church has no jurisdiction and into which it should not intrude in the name of Christianity.”
We believe the above principles are still generally valid. That the situation has now gotten out of hand we all know. One reason is that many church leaders have themselves become confused and now defend, even participate in, civil rioting.
We are convinced that public places should be desegregated, thereby removing humiliation of and discrimination against a segment of our population. But we seriously question mob demonstrations as the right method to accomplish this end. Other people also have “civil rights.”
Our chief concern is the effect of these demonstrations on the young people involved, both Negro and white. Many white boys and girls, often encouraged by their parents, have participated in counter-demonstrations involving insults and violence. At the same time many Negro young people are being led into a psychological blind alley—the philosophy that “rights” can and should be secured by mob action. All of this is having a traumatic effect on a generation already showing little respect for law.
Furthermore, we have yet to see mention of those policemen in both the South and the North who have shown amazing restraint in efforts to maintain order.
We seriously question that “Christian” leadership which participates in demonstrations against the law (be that law just or unjust) and in so doing compounds the problem for all concerned.
We must take care lest under the guise of “civil rights” for one race, or religious freedom for atheists, a form of legalized tyranny is imposed on our country by a minority. Where civil rioting is used to get rid of unjust laws, the end can be oppression.
