To be Christian is to be one of those whom God has chosen. God has chosen black people!
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the notion of divine selection and inclusivity within Christianity, specifically highlighting the inclusion of black people.
In this quote, James H. Cone expresses the belief that being a Christian inherently involves recognizing and affirming the chosen status of marginalized groups, particularly black individuals, in the eyes of God. It challenges traditional narratives of religious belief and suggests that faith is interconnected with social justice and identity.
In practice
In a sermon discussing the importance of inclusion in faith communities.
Indeed our survival and liberation depend upon our recognition of the truth when it is spoken and lived by the people. If we cannot recognize the truth, then it cannot liberate us from untruth. To know the truth is to appropriate it, for it is not mainly reflection and theory. Truth is divine action entering our lives and creating the human action of liberation.
In the act of worship itself, the experience of liberation becomes a constituent of the community's being . . . It is the power of God's Spirit invading the lives of the people, "building them up where they are torn down and propping them up on every leaning side".
The coming of Christ means a denial of what we thought we were. It means destroying the white devil in us. Reconciliation to God means that white people are prepared to deny themselves (whiteness), take up the cross (blackness) and follow Christ (black ghetto).
Black racism is a myth created by whites to ease their guilt feelings. As long as whites can be assured that blacks are racists, they can find reasons to justify their own oppression ofβ black people.
The requirements for our evolution have changed. Survival is no longer sufficient. Our evolution now requires us to develop spiritually-to become emotionally aware and make responsible choices. It requires us to align ourselves with the values of the soul-harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for life.
Nuclear disarmament is one of the greatest legacies we can pass on to future generations.
You may be sure that when a man begins to call himself a realist he is preparing to do something that he is secretly ashamed of doing.
The history of thought may be summed up in these words: it is absurd by what it seeks and great by what it finds.
He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.
You either have commercial pressure or ideological pressure. I prefer commercial pressure; otherwise, you can be at the mercy of one or two idiots.
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