On April 13-15, 1992, amidst conflicts between police and Mayor David Dinkins, riots, deteriorating schools, and a vast scourage of crimes, evangelical Christians held their first major multi-racial, multi-ethnic conference in Twentieth-Century New York City to critically examine the relation of racial and ethnic idolatries to the current crisis.
It was also the first evangelical discussion of multiculturalism and the arts, affirmative action, school racial conflicts and curriculums, and Russian New Yorkers’ identities and religious faiths. It was the first social issues conference of Manhattan’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church, which was founded in 1989.
33 speakers, 17 sessions, 1 art show, 2 locations, several thousand attenders. It was organized by Journey‘s publisher and editor Tony Carnes.
Bishop Ezra Williams, Senior Pastor of Harlem’s Bethel Gospel Assembly, was one of the keynote speakers. His words are as relevant today as they were then:
As I read about the conference, I thought, God is saying to me, Ezra! What color is your idol?
I first thought that this question seemed to assume that I have idols and just sought to know what are their colors.
The question becomes more difficult when it is presented to Christians because we aren’t supposed to be associating with idols. But when I think of the object of my love life, Jesus Christ, He supersedes all of the idols.
Then, I am confronted with the question, What color is He? And am I part of the problem or the solution, from His perspective?
Pastoring in Harlem, I have been accused of presenting a White man’s god and gospel simply because I refuse to make him Black, although he may be Black, Purple, or Green. When color becomes our focus, it takes us away from the universality of the gospel. We narrow it down to our puny racial and ethnic molds.
Seventy-four years ago, two black young ladies went to an all-white church in mid-town Manhattan, heard the gospel, and sincerely and truly accepted the Lord. They asked to join the church so that the fruit would continue. They were told that they could receive Christ there but couldn’t join. The young ladies were devastated, discouraged, and broken. Maybe, the person who spoke to them thought that God’s color is White.
However, a young woman of German descent, Lillian Kreiger, in her early twenties, listened to the dialogue. To her, God was black, white, pink, purple, red, and green. She told the two ladies, if I come to Harlem, would you come to a Bible study. They said, we’d love that. Against all odds, Lillian Kreiger came to Harlem.
Lillian Kreiger was engaged to be married. Her fiance said, if you become involved with those people in Harlem, the engagement is broken. Her family advised her not to go. Lillian Kreiger said that she would pray about the matter to God.
He gave her Isaiah 54:1, “More shall be the children of the desolate than the married wife.” Her fiance broke the engagement. Her family left her alone at first, but Lillian came to Harlem.
The Bible study began to grow. Today, the Bethel Gospel Assembly is established because this young lady, against all odds, broke through all barriers. She saw a God bigger than the circumstances.
Bethel today is a lighthouse in our area. Sunday morning attendance is over 1000. We meet people at their need, irrespective of race, simply because Lillian Kreiger realized she served a God who is color blind.
We are in the kingdom at a strategic moment. The idols of racism and ethnocentrism are definitely making a comeback. We have to stand on the word of God and treat all humans as potential brothers in Christ.
I used to think differently. I was drafted in 1951 and served in Korea. All I knew until then was Harlem. I thought I was Harlem born, Harlem bred and when I die, I’ll be Harlem dead.
I was sent 3000 mIles to Texas to one giant pot of human stew. The whites had never before lived with blacks. Here we were 50 men in a barrack with 6 sinks, 6 showers, and 6 commodes. Immediately, we went into our groupie acts.
Over in one corner, the blacks sang the Rhythm and Blues. Over in another corner, the guys we called hillbillies with their harmonicas were singing sad songs like, “Someone stole my gal.” I just had been engaged and I certainly didn’t want that song! The Mexicans were doing the mambo-jumbo. I wondered, how are we going to be united together to fight our common enemy. But Uncle Sam said you will work together!
On the rifle range, I noticed that those country boys who came from the hills could shoot. They didn’t understand a whole lot about windage and elevation but they made rags out of the bullseye. I thought, if I am going into conflict, I want this fellow who can shoot.
I realized that our survival didn’t have to do with the color of the skin but with the abilities of the men. My understanding became enlightened. I’m part of a squad, the guy from the hills is part of my survival kit. As we got deeper into training, I realized how little the color of skin meant.
This society we live in badly needs men and women who will exemplify the love of Christ. And He is color blind; we should be color blind. Uncle Sam can do it in four months; with the love of God in our hearts, we can surely make a difference.
Yes!