Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick says America must 'turn to God' to heal wounds of racism

[Evan Jellicoe]

From the article:

"We have racism in this country, Shannon," Patrick said. "But it's really an issue of love. It's loving God. If if you cannot love your fellow man, if you don't love God -- and we have a country where we've been working really hard, particularly on the left, to kick God out.

"We need a culture change to address this racism. You cannot change the culture of a country until you change the character of mankind."

"The crime against George Floyd, in my view, was a crime against all black America and against humanity and we're coming together," Patrick said. "We've got a lot of healing to do and we can't do it unless we turn to God and we need to do that now more than ever."

Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick says America must 'turn to God' to heal wounds of racism: 'We need a culture change'

I have no idea what kind of a person Dan Patrick is, and I won’t speak against him personally. But the message that our racial problems are the result of the Left pulling America away from God is a truly breath-taking falsehood. Racism is certainly not the fault of Christians, but it was certainly Christian thinkers in the early 19th Century who (mis)used the Bible to provide a moral support for the “peculiar institution.” And while it was also Democrats who provided the political backbone for the subsequent Jim Crow laws in the South, it was also Democrats who began the political process of dismantling legal segregation, when President Truman in 1948 issued an executive order desegregating the Armed Forces. It was Republican President Eisenhower who enforced the Brown v. Board of Education decision, sending in the 101st Airborne Division to escort nine black children into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, but then it was liberal Democrats—mostly from the Northeast, but also including President Lyndon Johnson of Texas—who pushed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This led directly to the explosive growth of Christian schools in the South, where many white parents chose to pay for segregated private education rather than send their children to free public integrated schools.

The whole set of attitudes that brought us to this political crisis over George Floyd is not a symptom of any godlessness on the Left; it is the legacy of conservative Southern Christianity (which should have taught against racism, but did not). For the Lieutenant Governor of Texas to suggest otherwise shows either an ignorance of real history, or an actual intent to pander and deceive.

 

[Bobber]

Racism is not a symptom of any godlessness on the Left; it is the legacy of conservative Southern Christianity (which should have taught against racism, but did not). For the Lieutenant Governor of Texas to suggest otherwise shows either an ignorance of real history, or an actual intent to pander and deceive.

First of all I see you have down as your signature this Bible verse,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.
--Galatians 5:22-23

You should know you can't just teach against racism with knowledge to the mind. If a culture wants what you have put down it needs a spiritual regeneration by the life of God into the heart or spirit making one a New Creation in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of spirit is Spirit. John 3:6 God's real cure for America, if they want things REALLY to be better? Not a morality revolution but rather a spiritual transformation in each individual heart. For it not to be this culture is really just trying to deal with the branches of the problem instead of the more important root! So God is waiting on the culture....Do they want the real cure or not?

 

[iluvatar5150]

From the article:

Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick says America must 'turn to God' to heal wounds of racism: 'We need a culture change'

I have no idea what kind of a person Dan Patrick is, and I won’t speak against him personally.

This is the same guy who argued for reopening the country early because grandma and grandpa were willing to take one for the team.

But the message that our racial problems are the result of the Left pulling America away from God is a truly breath-taking falsehood. Racism is certainly not the fault of Christians, but it was certainly Christian thinkers in the early 19th Century who (mis)used the Bible to provide a moral support for the “peculiar institution.” And while it was also Democrats who provided the political backbone for the subsequent Jim Crow laws in the South, it was also Democrats who began the political process of dismantling legal segregation, when President Truman in 1948 issued an executive order desegregating the Armed Forces. It was Republican President Eisenhower who enforced the Brown v. Board of Education decision, sending in the 101st Airborne Division to escort nine black children into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, but then it was liberal Democrats—mostly from the Northeast, but also including President Lyndon Johnson of Texas—who pushed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This led directly to the explosive growth of Christian schools in the South, where many white parents chose to pay for segregated private education rather than send their children to free public integrated schools.

Racism is not a symptom of any godlessness on the Left; it is the legacy of conservative Southern Christianity (which should have taught against racism, but did not). For the Lieutenant Governor of Texas to suggest otherwise shows either an ignorance of real history, or an actual intent to pander and deceive.

To be fair, I didn't see him blaming the left per se (unless I missed it or that subtext), but the notion that getting back to God is going to fix all of our problems strikes me as a bit silly and more than a little pollyannish given how, as you point out, it's been good Christian society in the US that's fueled a lot of these problems. "Good Christians" pushed segregation movements even into the 70's and 80's. "Good Christians" have been some of the most ardent supporters of harsh police tactics. IME, conservative evangelicalism in the US has mostly ignored issues of healing and has been openly dismissive of a lot of concerns of race and social justice. Joining up with his brand of Christianity will just lead to these things going ignored for even longer.

 

[timothyu]

" If if you cannot love your fellow man, if you don't love God"

Loving fellow man IS loving God.

 

[Evan Jellicoe]

First of all I see you have down as your signature this Bible verse,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.
--Galatians 5:22-23

You should know you can't just teach against racism with knowledge to the mind. If a culture wants what you have put down it needs a spiritual regeneration by the life of God into the heart or spirit making one a New Creation in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of spirit is Spirit. John 3:6 God's real cure for America, if they want things REALLY to be better? Not a morality revolution but rather a spiritual transformation in each individual heart. For it not to be this culture is really just trying to deal with the branches of the problem instead of the more important root! So God is waiting on the culture....Do they want the real cure or not?

Ah, you caught that, did you? That is at least partly a reminder to myself; if I write something and it doesn't feel right above that signature line, I need to revise what I wrote before I actually post it.

Yes indeed, I totally agree with what you siad, and I believe that the best solution to the racism problem should come from the hearts of people who have turned toward God through Christ. It will probably not come through secular law, although law can provide an assist in helping people form some of the right habits. However, my main point is that laying the blame for racism at the feet of the "godless Left" is mere political pandering, and is dishonest. I lay the blame at the feet of Christians who claim to follow the Bible, but in practice do not. What needs to happen is for II Chronicles 7:14 ("If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face. . .") to become a reality for Christians who are currently only paying lip service to the idea of being "Bible-believing."

 

[timothyu]

I lay the blame at the feet of Christians who claim to follow the Bible, but in practice do not.

Does that include black Christians?

 

[Evan Jellicoe]

Does that include black Christians?

I mean any person who claims to be a "born-again, Bible-believing" Christian whose behavior does not match his or her profession. But my immediate focus is of course more on the people who caused the current problem than on the people who are the victims of it.

 

[timothyu]

But my immediate focus is of course more on the people who caused the current problem than on the people who are the victims of it.

An underlying insurgency that has been trying for decades to undermine a nation by using events such as this as a provocation to take it far beyond the scope of original intention in order to destroy from within? What we are seeing is an effort to use 'justice' as a means to bring down the system and rebuild it in their own image. Unfortunately unlike the rebellion that created that nation and constitution, these new factions are not united and will further disintegrate the country once having dismantled the present system as they squabble amongst themselves, and create the type of destabilization that was/is representative of the countries they call their roots. Welcome to third world rebellion. Welcome to a time when globalist saviours will step in to calm the rebellion claiming governance over all races, and even the insurgents of today will realize they have been played.

 

[mala]

From the article:

Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick says America must 'turn to God' to heal wounds of racism: 'We need a culture change'

I have no idea what kind of a person Dan Patrick is, and I won’t speak against him personally. But the message that our racial problems are the result of the Left pulling America away from God is a truly breath-taking falsehood. Racism is certainly not the fault of Christians, but it was certainly Christian thinkers in the early 19th Century who (mis)used the Bible to provide a moral support for the “peculiar institution.” And while it was also Democrats who provided the political backbone for the subsequent Jim Crow laws in the South, it was also Democrats who began the political process of dismantling legal segregation, when President Truman in 1948 issued an executive order desegregating the Armed Forces. It was Republican President Eisenhower who enforced the Brown v. Board of Education decision, sending in the 101st Airborne Division to escort nine black children into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, but then it was liberal Democrats—mostly from the Northeast, but also including President Lyndon Johnson of Texas—who pushed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This led directly to the explosive growth of Christian schools in the South, where many white parents chose to pay for segregated private education rather than send their children to free public integrated schools.

The whole set of attitudes that brought us to this political crisis over George Floyd is not a symptom of any godlessness on the Left; it is the legacy of conservative Southern Christianity (which should have taught against racism, but did not). For the Lieutenant Governor of Texas to suggest otherwise shows either an ignorance of real history, or an actual intent to pander and deceive.

What it is is a classic attempt to misdirect the blame. It is never the fault of the people like him but the fault of others. He's done the same thing with shootings blaming video games for as being the root cause of the crimes. Frankly it is just as valid as me blaming pedophilia occuring around the world as being Dan Patrick's fault. And honestly given people like judge moore doing their part it probably is. That's right Dan Patrick is the cause of all pedophilia.

 

[Evan Jellicoe]

An underlying insurgency that has been trying for decades to undermine a nation by using events such as this as a provocation to take it far beyond the scope of original intention in order to destroy from within? What we are seeing is an effort to use 'justice' as a means to bring down the system and rebuild it in their own image. Unfortunately unlike the rebellion that created that nation and constitution, these new factions are not united and will further disintegrate the country once having dismantled the present system as they squabble amongst themselves, and create the type of destabilization that was/is representative of the countries they call their roots. Welcome to third world rebellion. Welcome to a time when globalist saviours will step in to calm the rebellion claiming governance over all races, and even the insurgents of today will realize they have been played.

No. This kind of reasoning is why so many arguments never get settled. One side, whether a single person or a group of people, will voice a complaint, and the other side will explain why the complaint is completely unjustified and the complainer is either making something out of nothing or else using the wrong methods to solve the problem. Instead of trying to see where there are valid complaints, you seem to be defending the position that things are fine just as they are.
But when we turn to the Bible, we see two scenarios: on the on hand, if I think I have a legitimate complaint against my brother, I am supposed to go to him and try my best to work it out (Matthew 18:15-17). On the other hand, if I become aware that my brother has something against me, then I am supposed to go to him and try my best to work it out (Matthew 5:23-24). And "work it out" does not mean explain to him why he is totally misunderstanding what I did. It means listening to the complaint, and discerning what I can do, or do differently, to make things better.

 

[timothyu]

But when we turn to the Bible

A nation divided will fall and with so many factions seeking to undermine the system in the name of 'justice', the system will soon fall. ALL are to blame.

 

[Evan Jellicoe]

A nation divided will fall and with so many factions seeking to undermine the system in the name of 'justice', the system will soon fall. ALL are to blame.

Yeah, great "doom and gloom" prediction there.
I've been in Christian ministry for over forty years, and I cannot begin to count how many times I have heard or read a prediction along the lines of "things are so bad now, and getting worse so fast, that there's no way America is going to be around in another five years." Yet here we still are.
Is Jesus going to return someday? Absolutely!
Does He want us to burn down the house before He gets here? I really don't think so.

BTW, I notice you did not address my point about listening to people who have complaints. Does the Scripture mean nothing to you?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Rev MLK Jr.

Rev Jerry Falwell

 

[timothyu]

Does He want us to burn down the house before He gets here? I really don't think so.

He'd have no reason to come otherwise.

 

[timothyu]

BTW, I notice you did not address my point about listening to people who have complaints.

Start listening to a few and you open the door to the landslide we have today. Soon the inmates take over the asylum as they are doing. God said love all as self. He won't stand for any self interest groups in the kingdom.

 

[Broken Fence]

First of all I see you have down as your signature this Bible verse,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law.
--Galatians 5:22-23

You should know you can't just teach against racism with knowledge to the mind. If a culture wants what you have put down it needs a spiritual regeneration by the life of God into the heart or spirit making one a New Creation in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of spirit is Spirit. John 3:6 God's real cure for America, if they want things REALLY to be better? Not a morality revolution but rather a spiritual transformation in each individual heart. For it not to be this culture is really just trying to deal with the branches of the problem instead of the more important root! So God is waiting on the culture....Do they want the real cure or not?

To speak of racism from biblical point only integrates fear and mistrust to the unbeliever.

 

[Evan Jellicoe]

Start listening to a few and you open the door to the landslide we have today. Soon the inmates take over the asylum as they are doing. God said love all as self. He won't stand for any self interest groups in the kingdom.

Interesting.
You're taking the position of "We've got to keep those people under control. Loosen up even the slightest and they will take advantage and we will lose control of them."
I don't mean this unkindly, but that seems to me to be the ruling philosophy of a dictator, not of the the government of a republic. You're saying that kindness will only let things spiral out of control. I believe differently.

 

[timothyu]

"We've got to keep those people under control. Loosen up even the slightest and they will take advantage and we will lose control of them."

That is the elite's standpoint. Mine is, none of man's ways are acceptable. Loving all as self is not a traditional way of mankind.

 

[Bobber]

To speak of racism from biblical point only integrates fear and mistrust to the unbeliever.

Please explain.

 

[Broken Fence]

Please explain.

To the unbeliever the bible is used to influence the masses so to speak. They think the bible is man-made not God-made. To understand their pain you must look to your own struggle. The deceived old man. Therefore to relate you must understand their point of view.