Race & Faith | Imago Dei Church

Christ’s church is multicultural and rich in diversity! How we engage and celebrate a colorful palette of backgrounds and reconcile hurts.

Only Whites

August 13, 2019/in Milwaukee Church, Race & Faith /by Pete

“Dad, I don’t like it when we’re the only white people there.”

“I feel like we’re “Waldo” and everyone’s looking at us.”

“When we go past that statue, we’ll be in the not-so-nice part of town.”

Have you ever had to navigate conversations like this with a kid? Have you ever had to wrestle with these kinds of feelings in your own heart?

Every Thursday this summer, a crew from our church has gone to a park in the 53206 zip code to do VBS, but Imago Dei Church style. Which is – simple, bare-bones. Just people getting with people to talk with people about Jesus. Oh, and food. We’ve partnered with another ministry that drops off lunch.

The 53206 zip code is right next door to where my family lives and where our church meets. We can and do walk our dog through these parks.

Here’s a few stats from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that describe what life is like in 53206.

A 2013 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee study found it was the most incarcerated ZIP code in the state, with a majority of its men having spent time in jail or prison.
Two-thirds of the children in 53206 live in poverty.
Nearly 95 percent of its residents are black. No other ZIP code has a greater percentage of African Americans.
Residents received the lowest rating for health outcomes from the Center for Urban Population Health in 2009. The rating was based on access to quality healthcare; health behaviors; physical environment; poverty and education.

Running a “Vacation Bible School” here looks, feels, and SMELLS different. From cigarettes, to BO, to diapers that clearly need to be changed, it’s not a comfortable environment for the affluent. Like me…or the people who live there.

And I am so glad that our church serves here, my wife faithfully brings our kids, and pushes me to come with. It has opened up wonderful, God focused conversations that we would not otherwise have. But converse we did while eating dinner in the safe comfort of our home that is less than one mile away from abject poverty.

So join us, if you will, for last night’s dinner conversation.

Kid: “I don’t like being the only white people there…”

Mom: “Do you know what it’s called when people only live by and interact with people who have the same skin color as they do? Segregation. Is that a good thing?”

Kid: “No. But why is it like that? Why do all the black people live in one neighborhood and all the white people in another? How did Milwaukee get this way?”

Me: “Well, there’s a long answer and a short answer. Most people prefer to be around people who are like them. But, we have to go back to slavery in America to really understand it. Shoot, we have to go back to the Garden of Eden…”

Kid: “But slavery is done. Why is it still like this? Why do the black people live in neighborhoods that are poor and play in parks that are dirty?”

Me: “Well, there’s a long answer and a short answer. Do you know how it’s uncomfortable for you to play there for an hour? How would you like to live there? See, when people with resources avoid living and playing in tougher neighborhoods like we were just in, then the tough neighborhoods don’t get the personal attention or structural investment that other, better resourced neighborhoods do get…”

Kid: “It still makes me uncomfortable.”

Mom: “Aren’t you glad that Jesus made Himself uncomfortable for you? He left heaven, to come into this tough world, to be around people who were nothing like Him. And that, not just to give us an hour, but to give us His life. He stepped into the nastiest neighborhood – a God forsaken, sin smeared cross – so that through faith in Him, we could step into eternal paradise.”

Ok, let’s put the kids to bed so that the adults can talk a little bit.

I’d like to make sure I’m clear on a few things. First, in no way, shape or form do I think that we are doing something heroic or even sacrificial. Communicating the gospel can change someone’s heart forever. But handing out a simple lunch one day a week for a few months in the summer is not going to fix Milwaukee’s problems. In some ways, what we’re doing may contribute to the bigger, systemic issues. But that’s a discussion for another day.

Second, please don’t pity the people living in 53206 or neighborhoods like it. Have compassion, sure. And be inspired. Moms working third shift because they can’t afford child care. Homeless kids showing off how they climb trees and can do backflips – with a smile on their face. The strength and resiliency in 53206 is nothing short of amazing. And by the way, there is SO MUCH good happening in these neighborhoods that the news is not reporting.

Third, I’m not so sure that kids like mine need to be “protected” from the realities in these neighborhoods. Poverty is more than financial or material. If you “protect” your kids from neighborhoods like this, you just might “expose” them to things that are far more dangerous.

Fourth, we can choose to ignore – or explain away – the realities of poverty, sin, segregation, and injustice. But when I see kids pouring out of the woodwork and people lining up for a modest sack lunch, it seems to me an awful lot like the places and people Jesus engaged. And the religious criticized.

Obviously, there is more to be said on all of this. To be continued….

…Hopefully by you in your everyday life

And probably in another blog another day…

…Certainly better people than me

And definitely by the God who will never leave us nor forsake us…

Time to Wake Up

October 12, 2018/in Church Partnership, Milwaukee Church, Race & Faith /by Pete

We are going to pursue a dream, that to my knowledge, has never been pursued. At least, not to the extent, depth, or length that we are considering. This may be foolish. It may be dangerous. It will certainly be challenging and exhausting. But there is a sleeping giant out there, and if she woke up, she would trash the gates of hell that occupy our city. Our dream, our prayer, is to see God revive existing churches in Milwaukee.

We believe that the local church is the hope of the world because the church has been entrusted with the message that brings eternal hope to all people – the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the gospel creates a new person, and new people form new communities that are committed to speaking and displaying the gospel in their communities, those communities will be adorned with hope and healing.

Many of the depressed and under resourced neighborhoods in our city are being sustained by the flickering flames of hope provided by small and faithful churches. These churches tend to be made up of people who live in the neighborhood and are led by a pastor who must work at least one outside job in order to serve the church as a pastor. There are many reasons for this situation including the size of the congregation. But more pressing is the reality that a church of people who live in a zip code where the average income is less than $24,000 a year, as faithful and generous as they may be, simply cannot afford to give enough to support a pastor’s salary.

Still, these pastors and churches provide a tremendous value to their communities. They are the shelter scared people turn to when another body hits the ground. They are the rock desperate people turn to when they can’t afford their next meal. They are the light that overwhelmed people turn to when they need to know there’s still hope.

“the church has been entrusted with the message that brings eternal hope to all people – the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

They are the ones we need to learn from. They are the ones we need to partner with. As we pursue this dream, I want to make sure that our hearts are in the right place. Our intention is not to offer support to “those poor people.” We intend to partner with and learn from them. Can you imagine how beautiful this could be? Can you imagine how much we could learn about faith and trust, community and service?

And if many of these under resourced churches have sustained their neighborhoods while their pastors have worked multiple jobs outside of their community, can you imagine what God might do through them if they were even just appropriately resourced?

Church, it’s time to wake up the sleeping giant, kick over the gates of hell, and watch God build His Kingdom and bring hope and healing to this world – and glory to His Name!

The Great Tension of the Black American Christian

January 22, 2017/in Race & Faith /by Joshua Harrison

Let me state 2 facts you may not be consciously aware of:

1.) Almost everything in the United States is catered to White culture, conveniently named simply “American” or “Popular” culture. This is why there is no preface for things targeted towards White audiences. There is no White Entertainment Television (opposed to BET), or Historically White College/Universities (opposed to HBCUs) because in the United States everything can be assumed White unless otherwise specified. The United States is not as inclusive as you might have been led to believe. For the same reasons, every minority has the disclaimer of the hyphenated “American” except for White people. They are simply American. In America, even though I am many generations removed from Africa, I am and may always be referred to “African-”American.

2.) Every minority group must adopt White Culture, but not vice versa. What I mean is most White people do not have to interact with minorities if they do not wish. If they do, it’s almost always on their cultural terms. However, avoiding White culture is virtually impossible for minorities especially if there is desire to advance in a career or any other platform. And like snowcapped mountains, the higher you go, the whiter it gets.

So what does this mean for me as a Christian? Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, those who believe in Him have been adopted by God (John 1:12). Thus, regardless of culture, we are family and there is an expectation of unity (Galatian 3:28). However, because of the nurtured white ethnocentrism of the United States, relationship unfortunately and unintentionally inherit this expectation as well. I often have the unspoken obligation to consciously consider what my white brothers and sisters will relate with to maintain conversation. The inverse is rare. There may be some attempt to try to relate to minority cultures, but if the cost is too high, there is quick disengagement. On a small level, this is why if my small group has a movie night, it will almost never be a movie I identify with. Most of my jokes and allusion fall flat, unless specifically catered to the culture.

There’s also a short tolerance for cultural deviance. Metaphorically speaking, other cultures are great accessories, but never worthy to be the main outfit. This is how Black Lives Matters turns into All Lives Matters. Another people group holding the spotlight exclusively for an extended period of time violates White Supremacy and it is met with extreme aggression. I’m often pressured to abandon my culture because “Christianity” in the United States has become White ethnocentric and any challenge to the culture can be mistaken as challenges to the faith itself.

For similar reasons, Christianity has been handcuffed to political conservatism, U.S. patriotism, and Republicanism. It seems like disrespect to the United States is taken as blasphemy to Christ Himself. People are eager to burn Colin Kaepernick’s Jersey for not standing for the National Anthem, but Bruce Miller jerseys stay intact after being arrested for allegedly beating an elderly person.

Surprising fact: The United States has been catastrophically evil toward Black people since being brought here in chains. America, today, is the best this country has ever been for Black people, so understand why “Make America Great Again” terrifies me and why I have criticisms of those who identify with the phrase or the political stance behind the phrase. For this reason, I have a REALLY hard time trusting White Evangelical Conservatives. Some of the most historical evil things done toward Black people has identified with this group. Some of the most racist, hateful, uncompassionate things I have seen have identified with this group. I’m off Facebook because my heart can’t take the onslaught of hate that is ubiquitous on the internet toward Black people from people who identify with this group. I’m anxious passing churches in small towns and rural areas. I sometimes envision crosses burning on front lawns of black families right after Sunday service. I think, “What would happen if I walked through those door”. Sadly, I’m unsure if I would be greeted as a brother, or another one of “those” that makes this country not so great.

I face the tension of having to tip-toe around racial political issues with evangelical friends with strong conservative affiliations because I risk them becoming defensive of criticisms of the consistent racism and conservation of White Supremacy in the Republican party. Despite countless historical accounts, I am met with an enthusiasm to defend a political system and party that has perpetuated the mistreatment of Black people. Among other Black people, I don’t have to be coy when I say people who vote for Donald Trump have lost their mind! Among most Black people this is “preaching to the choir”, but my honesty is reserved among loyal Republicans, making Trump a viable consideration for them. Unity with me means dealing with Black problems. Black problems mean facing the ugly political historical and present practices of the Unites States, especially in “conservative” systems.

Political tension does not end with the struggle with conservatism. I’m also hated by extreme liberals because I’m unapologetically a Christian. Feel this tension with me for a second: I’m hated by extreme Republicans because I’m Black and hated by extreme Democrats because I’m a Christian with varying degrees of disdain toward me along the spectrum. I argue there is no specific political party for Christians, but this is especially true to the Black American Christian.

My pastor asked me the question “How do you think the Gospel should impact our understanding of race and how can the church engage in racial reconciliation?” If I am honest, my answer really depends on who I am talking to.

If it is to my fellow Black brothers and sisters, the Gospel acknowledges our backgrounds, and in the same sentence minimizes it in light of our new race made in Christ. So there is no need to become like our oppressors and deify arbitrary attributes such as skin color or heritage. Your skin color and heritage is rich, bountiful, and beautiful, but it does not give you your worth. We are all equally valuable being made in the Image of God. That said, without Christ’s atonement for our sin, we are all equally condemn in the eyes of a holy God that shows no partiality. Let the fight for social justice be a catalyst to preach ultimate freedom through the Gospel. We can practice forgiveness because our Savior suffered a similar corrupt system like our own, but He sacrificed so that we can be reconciled with Himself. Go and do likewise.

To my White brothers and sisters, as you attempt to do the same, PLEASE do not be willfully blind. Acknowledge how your skin color has been deified in the world. Many things you believe to be normal has been rooted in White Privilege. Tragically, scripture has been used in horrible ways to keep this status quo. Use your privilege to right these wrongs as they are MONUMENTAL stumbling block for Black people. Do not feel guilty for being White. Your culture, too, is something to be cherished. Use it to fight for political social justice of all people. Be willing to cross cultural bridges to be able to relate to minority brothers/sisters in meaningful ways, even at high costs. Have a loose grip on your political views, and be willing to challenge them.

I’ll be honest. Racial reconciliation may never happen on this side of Heaven, but we’re foolish not to still fight for it. You can’t love God without loving your neighbor (1 John 4:20-21). So as the Church, let us show the world the passion of a just God who loves us all with no reservation.

Grace & Peace family,

j. Harrison

Race & Faith: Kristy Ziolkowski

September 21, 2016/in Race & Faith /by Kristy Ziolkowski

How does race affect your daily experience?

Until recently, I would have said, it doesn’t. But as I learn more about perspectives and experiences that are different than mine, I would say, that being a white woman seems to lend me the benefit of the doubt in most of my daily interactions, and therefore I tend to be pretty free to move throughout my day with little concern or hinderance, and usually even help from those around me, if I ask for it. I don’t have to worry excessively about whether or not I will be without resources, support, or being misunderstood, mistrusted, or mistreated. Of course the there are normal agitations in a typical day as I interact with the world around me, but as I am learning my normal everyday common agitations are minimal, and that minimum, is privilege.

How should the gospel should impact our understanding of race?

I think it should remind us of God’s intentional, beautiful, grace displayed in how he has made all of us, in his image, infinitely valuable, yet weak, broken, poor, vulnerable, and equally in need of a savior. A Savior who left heaven’s perfection to meet us in our broken messy struggles to save us, to care for us, to restore us, and now by his power and love, alive in us, we are called to give our lives to do the same.

How can the church engage in racial reconciliation?

#1 Growing in knowing and loving Jesus, which will then teach, equip, and compel us to lay down all that we think we are entitled to, for the sake of God’s name being made great, and our joy being more full as we hold on to him alone for comfort, peace, joy, hope…

#2 Pursuing friends that are different from us. Taking an interest in others, not just wanting to be known by others but wanting to know them. Hearing about their experiences, taking ownership of our sin and ignorance, repenting to one another and to God, for how we have chosen and loved ourselves over others. Humbling ourselves, admitting our own weakness, not taking on some kind of a God complex because we want to be involved in racial reconciliation and caring for the poor. Talking, laughing, crying, supporting, praying, eating, playing, celebrating, TOGETHER!!

#3 Letting go of and using resources, that God has given us, to provide resources for those around us to be equipped to thrive. Such as tutoring academically and discipling young people in God’s word and love, encouraging and affirming who they are created to be. Volunteering in organizations that train people in gaining employment and life skills, Teaching someone skills on your own. Helping to support young parents to care for their families, by loving their children with them and encouraging those parents to press on (Titus 2, teaching those younger, to love their spouse and children), supporting local businesses that need more capital to maintain their businesses and personal income (even if those stores aren’t as shiny, and don’t have 50 of anything you could possibly want)… I am so aware that I have very few answers, and that so much more than this needs to happen, but these are just some of the convictions God has put on my heart. And in Jesus’ active love and care for all of us, through his church, we will all grow in loving, trusting, and following him all for His glory, and our good!

Race & Faith: Tony Kusy

September 21, 2016/in Race & Faith /by Tony Kuzy

I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s on the near South Side of Milwaukee. Our city has since become known as possibly the most segregated city in America. Though my neighborhood is now home to Hispanic, Black, and Hmong families, when I lived there it was primarily Polish and German. I can’t say that I was raised with my “head in the sand” with regard to race, it’s just that it didn’t impact any aspect of my childhood years. I didn’t know or have experience of anyone who looked different from my family or neighbors until I entered high school. In my home, race wasn’t discussed. I didn’t hear any disparaging comments regarding people of color or any other ethnicities. It was almost as if we were on an island separate from the rest of society because we lived a very homogenous existence. I don’t even recall my family ever going north of the Menomonee Valley except maybe once to visit Wisconsin Avenue and downtown.

High school was the first time I had seen or talked to an African American in person. During those years I had yet to appreciate how one’s race affected any of us differently, because we all seemed to be on equal footing, new to high school and influenced by the dynamics that every new student encounters. (I expect some black students hadn’t yet known anyone white either). So while we were all placed in this melting pot of an environment, it was still removed from where we actually lived day to day. I didn’t see and therefore didn’t understand that there was actually any cultural difference in our homes or how people were treated differently in the larger society simply because of their ethnicity. Call me naïve, but that was the environment in which I was raised! After school it was always back home to 14th and Beecher not seeing anyone who wasn’t white until the next school day.

Not long after graduating high school, I got a job at Miller Brewing Company. This was at a time of workforce expansion in the plant and nearly half of the people who were hired were people of color. Even then, while I encountered other races daily, when I moved from my parents home it was to predominantly white communities. These included staying on the South Side, Greenfield, Pewaukee, the lower East Side and eventually Wauwatosa. I had friends from work who were black, but we all had parallel experiences through work and were economically equals. These relationships usually didn’t take place in our homes or in black or white communities, but on “neutral ground”, usually public settings such as restaurants, bars, or certain events. I didn’t really see how the “other half” lived.

Since retiring from Miller, I’ve taken a part time job at Miller Park where again, it’s a very integrated workplace. Individually I desire to get along with everyone I meet and not show partiality to anyone regardless of ethnicity, economic status or education. Still, like most people, I realize that my perception of race has been flavored by the dual influence of media and my upbringing. The result has been to be more comfortable and trusting of people of my own ethnicity and more suspicious, and guarded with people of color, (except my brothers and sisters in Christ of course).

As a Christian, I know that we are called to love one another as Christ has loved us, but only until relatively recently have I been made more personally aware of the cultural differences and disadvantages that people of color have, not only locally but internationally. I’m more aware of my white privilege within the majority culture, but also as an American, the resources we have which are unavailable to most of the rest of the world. I’ve had my eyes opened by a couple of significant events in my life which have revealed to me how privileged I am.

First, was a short-term mission trip I was honored to take to several countries in Africa. In South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi, I saw poverty such as I’d never experienced before. I saw the effects of disease like AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, but also how unemployment, corruption, and the ravages of the civil war in Rwanda had affected people. At this time I also became more aware of how our society has been blessed and cursed by affluence. I saw parallels in systemic injustice both in South Africa and the U.S. I came to recognize that it wasn’t only a feature of some far away place. Arriving back home three weeks before Christmas really opened my eyes to how materialistic our society is. A visit to the mall to buy presents nearly sickened me physically. In Africa I met Christians who had nothing materially, but because they had Christ they displayed more joy than anyone I knew in the States.

Second, another event that has helped me to recognize societal injustice was learning about the Imago Dei church plant and its vision to become a multicultural church that would seek to “serve the city” in the name of Christ.

In Christ, we need to nurture the same attitude as God toward one another (Gen. 1:26, 27; John 3:16; Deut. 10:17; Acts 10:34; Ro. 2:11; Eph. 6:9 and James 2:1-5). We need to reflect God’s love, compassion, and desire to bless others through His church, and need to put aside all forms of prejudice and partiality. God has gradually made me aware of the fact that I needed to repent of my “sin of omission”, which is knowing what I ought to do, and not doing it.

The events of the last few weeks and months in our nation and city have slowly awakened the possibility for change by putting a light on the underlying causes of unrest and distrust by our minority brothers and sisters toward the police and civic authorities. As we seek to understand the issues involved, I see a need for the white church to repent of turning a blind eye to the problems of minorities in our cities. The Church, both white and black, needs to join hands in addressing the injustice in our community “together”. It’s been said that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week. How sad! Hearing about the events around the Sherman Park area of late, it’s exciting to see how the need to change is beginning to be at least discussed by all sides. I just pray that the momentum isn’t lost with the next news cycle!

I don’t know how I personally can make a difference in the culture at large, but I know that as part of this community of faith that God has placed in this part of Milwaukee, we can start to listen and dialog with each other, start to build trust toward one another, work with one another and possibly, in time, learn to love one another. In the process, we will Glorify God who created each one of us in His image.

Tony Kusy