why do people who say there are christian ,treat people of color so different??

Question

i am a person of color and going to church i have experince people not wanting toshake my hand when it is time to greet and during fellowship people dont say 2 words to me and it makes me sad , how people are taught to say oh i go to a black church a spanish church a white church etc. you go to fellowship and be up lifted to go out and witteness to the lost everyone that i see are hurting inside going to church with a mask on and we are there to help 1other but my people are not.God want to face things 2gether but we can not count on each other we all need to ask God to search our hearts for wickedness and things that christian are doing may or maynot know they are doing it remember the church is just a building and we are the church the body of my LORD JESUS

Answer 1

Greetings dear one...
First (((HUG))) - I'm sorry you were made uncomfortable.

As someone who goes to a multiracial church - I'd have to give you hope in the fact that it isn't that way everywhere.

I have dear Christian friends who are sweet and loving to all -
and non Christian friends who are sweet to all.

I have Christian acquaintances who are racist -
and non Christian acquaintances who are racist. ...Personally, arguing with them hasn't worked... and there are days that (out of my own frustration) I just think they should be BOPPED a good one... but these are the ones who need prayer for God to change them.

We have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God - and when we come to Him, we still come with a lot of baggage.

Prayer DOES change things. Remember them in your prayers, and remain loving to them until y'all get comfortable with each other. Be patient. Ask God to help you reach them - and for them to lay aside their baggage. He will guide you both into a better interaction - and when you let Him use you in their lives - it will doubly bless you both.

Peace to you darlin.

Answer 2

I'm sorry that you've had bad experiences with fellow Christians. Remember, though, that this a failure of man...not a failure of God. All people (Christians, Muslims, Atheists, etc) are fallible. People will disappoint you...people will offend you...people will turn on you. That is our nature.

In my own church, there are certain groups of people who congregate together and don't generally associate with others. I agree that it's very disappointing and disheartening to see, but remember that they do not represent all of God's people. I would encourage you to take time to reflect on why you are there. If it's to worship the Lord and to dig deeper into His word, then your heart is in the right place and it is the others in your congregation who need to make a change.

Pray about your situation....ask God's guidance. The only reason, as I see it, to leave a church is if it ceases to preach and teach the word of God faithfully. If the doctrine is strong, leaving the church because of personal conflicts demonstrates a lack of faith. It's similar to leaving a marriage because an argument. I believe that God wants us to work through difficulties in our relationships with people...not to walk away from them.

Keep the faith....if you're walking with the Lord and seeking His guidance, your situation will turn around. Keep in mind also, that those who offend you may not mean to do so....it could be a simple misunderstanding. When you feel offended by someone, don't shy away from discussing it with them. It could open the door to a lasting friendship.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, prejudice is something that people learn...usually when they are children and it is difficult for them to shake it off when they become adults. However, if a person is a true Christian, they know in their heart that Christ would command that they love you....period.

Also, as a person who lives in a small town where people of color were and still are to some extent a rarity, simply not knowing anything about you could be an issue. I was raised by a parent that was most definately prejudiced and I still find myself looking at a persons color sometimes instead of their face... I work in a prison where about half or better of the inmates are non whites which would include asians, african americans, native americans etc. and since getting to know many of these people have found my taught prejudices slowly slinking away.

Answer 4

You are right. We ARE the church... the many membered body. I do feel bad about your experience with church houses though. If I were you I'd find fellowship somewhere else. Christians are not walking mats. Back in the day, more people held services in their own homes, small get togethers where they shared The Word. Jesus said where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is in the midst. Any time or place you fellowship is church because you are part of it. God bless. :)

Answer 5

I am white, I used to be a Christian, and I have noticed the hypocracy as well..
I have been to churches that were predominantly populated by people of color (chocolate or stunning mocha, may it please you) and I was welcomed with open arms and treated like I belonged there! The people in these churches sing with their souls and hearts and I enjoyed every moment of it!
On the other hand I spent almost 20 years in churches (out of fear of my mom) that were run by and were populated by either all white or predominantly white and when no one else greeted a visitor that was a little different..I did, and was severely verbally raked over the coals for my actions. I don't understand it either! I mean really! Y'all are supposed to be Christians! Practice what you preach! You all worship only the Christian trinity or Jehova & Jesus, whether you're vanilla, mocha or somewhere in between, you're all equal in his eyes and its about high time people realized this little fact. God doesn't care what color your skin is, he goes by your heart, your deeds, how you treat others and how you do the best to your ability to live how Jesus taught: Love, Peace, Compassion, Tolerance, Patience, Forgiveness, Acceptance.
But yes, I have seen what you're talking about! When my gifts returned to me, I was cast out of the Christian churches when I went looking for answers, my gifts are telepathy, empathy, draw healing and 'vision' (sometimes I can see where the core of an illness is in a person) and have helped Christian and Pagan people alike but I was told by the leaders of these churches that my gifts were from Satan and that if I didn't publicly denounce my gifts I was banished from that church until I came to my senses! Needless to say, I do not go to church, I'm still cool with Jesus, he's downright cool! But he has had alot of really crappy PR work done in his name over the centuries! I am a Deitist! I am listing myself here as Wiccan, and yes, I am a licensed Minister and a High Priestess, but I also have many cool Christian friends that know the truth and therefore know that my gifts are only used to help and heal. Check it out! 1 Peter 4: 15-17, 4:14!!!
The building people call a church is just a building where people are supposed to be in fellowship in worshipping Jehova/Jesus, yes, I agree with you there. But the actual temple, is you, yourself!
I just want to give you a little tip. You sound so sincere and I can understand where you're coming from, I've seen that behavior more than I care to think on. But when you go out to spread the Good News of the Lord, look carefully for if the person is wearing heavy jewelry (pewter, silver) and if that person is wearing a Pentacle (a star with the POINT UP!) I would suggest you keep walking unless they approach you first. Sometimes Non Christians get a little rude because they've had it shoved down their throats and (like in my case) had been physically abused in the name of "God", most or all their lives and don't get me started with guilt trips, and many other unfortunate acts of the few zealous that make it hard for the cool Christians to even get close enough to speak to others . Just a little tip.

Answer 6

Well, in my experience it isn't that way all over. I have a home congregation, and I regularly visit two others.
My home congregation is composed of about 95% black folks. (I am part of the 5%.) I am welcome there, and I love all of my brothers and sisters with all of my heart.

One of the congregations I visit is a largely white one, and the other is largely Chinese. All of these congregations get together for fellowship from time to time, but they sort of stay separate for regular worship because they have different traditions. Everyone is just more comfortable with their "regular" crowd, doing their "regular" things, I guess.

There are odd people in all of our congregations. There are those who are immature, and do stupid things. There are those who go to church just to be seen there, and others who really believe and really live the Christian life.

As Christians, we must have a forgiving heart when someone does something stupid or unkind. We must pray for them that they see the error of their ways, and grow beyond it.

If you truly are feeling left out, perhaps this is a signal to you that you are in the wrong place. Find yourself as congregation that adheres to the Bible, and welcomes you with open arms. Go visiting other congregations, and do not limit yourself to a particular "brand" or denomination. There is only one Church described in the Bible, and it is unnamed and non-denominational. I prefer those kind of congregations, myself. Some folks prefer a particular denomination. Maybe you are just in the wrong place right now.

I will personally add you to my prayer list, and hope that God leads you to your church "home" soon.

Answer 7

You are absolutely right.

I am a Christian. I make mistakes every day, just as every human being and every other Christian makes mistakes every day. Some people have been raised by their HUMAN parents or other guardians to think that skin color is important, and they judge people based on this. Ask yourself this... what color were the first Christians? Who knows!?!? I sure don't know. I know that God created me and that God created every other human on this planet. He didn't create one better than the other, therefore we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord. And we SHOULD be equal in the eyes of eachother, but other PEOPLE have taught us otherwise. God bless you! Maybe you could help your church open their eyes to what God sees... OUR HEARTS AND SOULS!!! Pray about this too. God will help you with this! :)

Answer 8

Your expression "person of color" are we all not to some degree persons of color? I am Caucasian but I too have a color or pigmentation to my skin.

Now to your question.

I don't have an answer but I WILL tell you this if you come and worship in the church I attend you will at least have your hand shaken and if you come a second time, if you are a male, your neck hugged at least once.

You see I feel that handshakes are not for family and if you are Christian you are my brother or my sister. If you are female my wife will administer the hugs until you have known us long enough to feel comfortable with my embrace.

Those churches you seem to be talking about probably wouldn't want to shake my "white" hand either. Some folks are just plumb unfriendly.

Answer 9

There are many different reasons why some Christians treat other Christians of color differently. Sometimes, people when they are converted are not used to being around other races and it takes time for them to get used to other races. Just because you get saved does not mean everything you learned growing up all falls off at once. For example, some white people who were racist and became saved, it took them time to adjust to being around black being. Because they are being renewed in Christ as they continue to stay in Christ. Don't take it personal when people will not talk to you. You have some people who are there for reasons other than serving God. And you have some people who are on different levels spiritually and are ignorant. The key is learning to love people when they don't love you back. When you do this it will change your perspective of how God views everybody in the church (including the mean people). If you develop and eye to love people unconditionally, it will free you from church hurt.

Answer 10

As you said, they are wearing masks; the love of Christ is not in them. I don't go to churches anymore partially because of that reason. I was going basically just to "fulfill my Christian duty" when I realized and said to myself "this isn't FELLOWSHIP". These people don't know me, I don't know them, and they could care less about me. That's not true fellowship, it's just people meeting in a building once a week.

Sorry for the digression, to answer your question, the same racist people on yahoo are in church every Saturday/Sunday. The Spirit is not there, that's why the FRUITS of the Spirit are not there.

Answer 11

I'm sorry about your bad experience..... Just remember, this life is temporary, God has plans for you.... big plans I'm sure! For this reason (among others) I joined the welcoming committee at my church. I know what it is like to walk through those doors feeling totally out of place... Take your time, see if there are any small worship/fellowship groups that you can join.

God bless...