At one time in this country such views regarding Christianity were the majority. In 1823 Rev. Dr. Richard Furman wrote the following exposition on behalf of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. It was sent to the governor of South Carolina outlining the Convention’s belief that Scripture supported slavery as practiced in the United States.
facweb.furman.edu/~benson/docs/rcd-fmn1.htm
Over a hundred years later Virginia Judge Leon Bazile wrote the following in a decision supporting that state’s ban on interracial marriage:
“Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, Malay and red, and He placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with His arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that He separated the races shows that He did not intend for the races to mix.”
These were once accepted as the Scriptural teachings regarding race. Thankfully over the years our understanding of Scripture has improved to the point that we now see the Bible as being completely opposed to such notions. We also see how the misinterpretation and misapplication of passages taken out of context was used in the past less to advance the cause of Christ than to advance the benefit of man. Dr. Furman was an ardent abolitionist until he inherited some slaves, at which time his views on slavery changed (surprise, surprise.)
This is why people who support GLBT rights often turn to these times in our history to illustrate how, as our understanding of the Bible increases our society moves towards greater personal freedom and liberty. First with blacks, then with women, and now with homosexuals we are seeing that what was once accepted as Scriptural support for discrimination was actually incorrectly applied, either by taking it out of context or misunderstanding the culture to which various passages were addressed.
Through it all, what changed? Certainly not the Bible. It was we who changed. Our understanding, our interpretation, our application of Scripture changed. Today we can look at the passages that Furman used to support slavery and see that, when taken in the cultural context in which they were written, they did not condone the brutal nature of slavery as practiced in the South. Nor do the passages that Bazile, Bob Jones, and many others used to justify racial separation, when understood in context, support such a notion.
Today, increasing numbers of Christians are looking at the “clobber passages” in the Bible and studying them in the context of their day. We are looking at the culture in which these statements were uttered. And we are understanding that they do not, in fact, support the once commonly held views condemning all homosexuality. Rev. Mel White has written much about this over the years.
http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible
I agree with you, Michele, and share your disgust that someone would associate the cross of our Savior with such a terrible concept as racism. I am appalled that they would deface that cross in an effort to bring fear into the hearts of anyone. And I am angered that they would seek to use that cross as a tool to advance their own power instead of the power of the One who died upon it. Yet it is undeniable that, in the past, Christians most certainly did understand and believe that the Bible supported such ideas.
Thankfully we now understand otherwise. I pray that our understanding will continue to grow, and that we will continue to renounce those who use Scripture and the emblems of our faith as tools to oppress others.

I am thoroughly disgusted at any acts of pure racism. It’s one thing to argue over the stupidity of politically correct or incorrect terminology. Sometimes things we say are misinterpreted by the ignorant as racism. It’s hard sometimes to hold an intelligent conversation for fear of being labeled a bigot or a racist. I am a southern white Christian who attends an almost all black church of 5,000, and taught as a teacher in the church’s academy. I have learned so much since being a part of these people. They feel often more like my family than my own. I had the burden of trying to not so much fit in, but be accepted. And I found I could be accepted just as I am…in all my whiteness. ) Didn’t have to change a thing. In my time there I have discovered that racism is real and is still a strong undercurrent in even the best of societies here. And it’s even true in other parts of the world against other nationalities, races, and even social status. I wish I could change it, but it seems it’s everywhere. But what I cannot get with and accept is people who want to act out the ignorant thoughts that we cannot change. Think how you want to think, but don’t act out in hatred. Especially those professing Christ as Savior. He is mine and I know His love and His blood do not discriminate. So who are we to??? I have had experiences where people have hated me because I am white. And I have had people hate me because I choose to love black people. And even more ridiculous, I have had the experience of a white boss hating me and treating me differently because I have red hair. That job experience was rather uncomfortable. And I’ve been discriminated in a job for being too nice. Figure that one out. No one in that Peyton Place of a job could accept that I had no ulterior motivation. Worse, I worked as a newspaper reporter in a small town and discovered that the town had been built to keep “the negros” in one area, like fenced in farm animals, while the rest of the town enjoyed intersecting streets and nice parks. I was disgusted and spoke out about it, only to discover the woods were full of KKK. A beautiful black family moved into an area primarily owned by a large family and one of the family’s patriarchs went nuts and through trash all over their own yard to make some kind of point about garbage in the neighborhood. I was sickened as I knew the people and had thought so highly of them for so long.
All those things are difficult enough. But the rebel flag waving, cross burning arrogance of some white people ought to be punishable by serious jail time. And while they are there, they can learn to love the black people they’ll be bunking with, since too many times racism has kept people from believing they can do any better than stealing and drugs and too many of our young black men end up in jail before they’re 25 years old. Maybe there when they are all on level ground, love can develop. Too often when we are free, we mishandle our liberties and allow an arrogance we cannot truly afford. Being broken down can help to change all of that. Maybe some of these cross burners should be locked in a room somewhere with our brothers and sisters of color until some barriers are breached and unity can begin. Just like when my younger two teenagers want to fight, I make them sit in a chair together until they’re talking and laughing and realizing they aren’t really so awful after all.
Sigh…anyway. Just the ramblings of a girl who did NOT vote for Obama because he unfortunately does not support the things I believe in. But I am thankful that we’ve reached this milestone of freedom and opportunity. I wish that would end the foolishness of some white people with hardened hearts, and the foolishness of some black people who still think all white people are not to be trusted and want to hold them down. And yes, why a cross? It is not the authority to threaten and oppress anyone. It is the authority of grace; just as the grave is the authority of the resurrection.

I am thoroughly disgusted at any acts of pure racism. It’s one thing to argue over the stupidity of politically correct or incorrect terminology. Sometimes things we say are misinterpreted by the ignorant as racism. It’s hard sometimes to hold an intelligent conversation for fear of being labeled a bigot or a racist. I am a southern white Christian who attends an almost all black church of 5,000, and taught as a teacher in the church’s academy. I have learned so much since being a part of these people. They feel often more like my family than my own. I had the burden of trying to not so much fit in, but be accepted. And I found I could be accepted just as I am…in all my whiteness. ) Didn’t have to change a thing. In my time there I have discovered that racism is real and is still a strong undercurrent in even the best of societies here. And it’s even true in other parts of the world against other nationalities, races, and even social status. I wish I could change it, but it seems it’s everywhere. But what I cannot get with and accept is people who want to act out the ignorant thoughts that we cannot change. Think how you want to think, but don’t act out in hatred. Especially those professing Christ as Savior. He is mine and I know His love and His blood do not discriminate. So who are we to??? I have had experiences where people have hated me because I am white. And I have had people hate me because I choose to love black people. And even more ridiculous, I have had the experience of a white boss hating me and treating me differently because I have red hair. That job experience was rather uncomfortable. And I’ve been discriminated in a job for being too nice. Figure that one out. No one in that Peyton Place of a job could accept that I had no ulterior motivation. Worse, I worked as a newspaper reporter in a small town and discovered that the town had been built to keep “the negros” in one area, like fenced in farm animals, while the rest of the town enjoyed intersecting streets and nice parks. I was disgusted and spoke out about it, only to discover the woods were full of KKK. A beautiful black family moved into an area primarily owned by a large family and one of the family’s patriarchs went nuts and through trash all over their own yard to make some kind of point about garbage in the neighborhood. I was sickened as I knew the people and had thought so highly of them for so long.
All those things are difficult enough. But the rebel flag waving, cross burning arrogance of some white people ought to be punishable by serious jail time. And while they are there, they can learn to love the black people they’ll be bunking with, since too many times racism has kept people from believing they can do any better than stealing and drugs and too many of our young black men end up in jail before they’re 25 years old. Maybe there when they are all on level ground, love can develop. Too often when we are free, we mishandle our liberties and allow an arrogance we cannot truly afford. Being broken down can help to change all of that. Maybe some of these cross burners should be locked in a room somewhere with our brothers and sisters of color until some barriers are breached and unity can begin. Just like when my younger two teenagers want to fight, I make them sit in a chair together until they’re talking and laughing and realizing they aren’t really so awful after all.
Sigh…anyway. Just the ramblings of a girl who did NOT vote for Obama because he unfortunately does not support the things I believe in. But I am thankful that we’ve reached this milestone of freedom and opportunity. I wish that would end the foolishness of some white people with hardened hearts, and the foolishness of some black people who still think all white people are not to be trusted and want to hold them down. And yes, why a cross? It is not the authority to threaten and oppress anyone. It is the authority of grace; just as the grave is the authority of the resurrection.

The incident on Staten Island is more severe and more likely motivated by race than this Jersey happening.
Sleepy Hardwick … sounds to me like bored school kids trying to fill their upcoming four-day weekend with adventure.
But I’m glad the burning cross didn’t catch the house on fire.

The URL above is a link to a news item about an arson at a predominately black church in Springfield Massachusetts. It took place on Wednesday after the Obama win.
Until they catch how did it they can’t say for sure why it was done. But on the surface it appears to be a racially motivated crime. Quite sad actually.

My boyfriend lives in a condo complex that was targetted by what appears to be eco-terrorists on election night. People driving large vehicles were screamed at and 7 SUV’s were trashed.
There are bad guys on both sides.

“There are bad guys on both sides.”
And if we simply leave it at that, we do nothing to better the situation. Yes, there are bad actors on both sides of the political spectrum. What can we do about it? Do our words or actions help or worsen the problem?

RJohnson is right on this one. Two wrongs don’t make a right. And while I believe a case could be made that people who drive SUVs support terrorism (by buying the gas that’s made from the oil that’s bought from the global market that funds Iran, Venezuela, Libya, and Sudan), the fact is, ecologically speaking, it takes a lot of energy and releases a lot of carbon dioxide to replace an SUV, too. Violence is seldom the answer, never against SUV owners or supporters of any political party.

Robert: “And while I believe a case could be made that people who drive SUVs support terrorism (by buying the gas that’s made from the oil that’s bought from the global market that funds Iran, Venezuela, Libya, and Sudan), the fact is, ecologically speaking, it takes a lot of energy and releases a lot of carbon dioxide to replace an SUV, too.”
That may be the case, but as you correctly pointed out this still does not merit the violence that MzEllen mentioned in her post. What we need to focus on, both lefties and righties, is how to advance the issues we believe in without giving quarter to violence. If we can apply the “love the sinner, hate the sin” concept from Scriptures to something more than abortion and homosexuality we might go a long way to decreasing the number of SUVs and crosses that are burned.

“Sigh…anyway. Just the ramblings of a girl who did NOT vote for Obama because he unfortunately does not support the things I believe in. But I am thankful that we’ve reached this milestone of freedom and opportunity. I wish that would end the foolishness of some white people with hardened hearts, and the foolishness of some black people who still think all white people are not to be trusted and want to hold them down.”
Lisa, I was hopeful that would be the case after he won the election but I’m beginning to wonder if people will be hardened in their racism, not freed from it. I’m starting to notice a trend in the news I’m coming across on the web and how people are vocalizing their support or opposition to Obama on blogs and websites. It’s pretty disturbing.

I live in a rural town in Oklahoma, I was denied the chance to fill out an apartment, application because I was wearing an Obama pen, in Oklahoma City. I live in a smaller area close to Arkansas, and all the white folks, I have come into contact with are sullen, looking mad, and making realize how the students of the “Little Rock, Arkansas” Ten, felt the first day of School at Central High. I am almost afraid to wear my Obama T-sshirts here in public, I feel so much anomosity, utter hatred here. If they could get away with, someone would probably shoot me in my a^^, for wearing Obama symbols.

if people will be hardened in their racism …I’m starting to notice a trend in the news I’m coming across on the web
That’s just the death rattle … it’s going down, don’t fret.