Racist Faith, Pt. 2

For the most part, Churches of Christ, contributed very little to the Civil Rights Movement of the latter-1950s and 1960s. In fact, one could argue that congregations, colleges, and other para-church organizations among the Churches of Christ dragged their feet in adopting mindsets and policies that contributed to fostering racial equality.

But something happened in 1960 at the Abilene Christian College Lectureship that stirred the reluctant-to-act churches.

Carl Spain, preacher at the Hillcrest Church of Christ in Abilene, and one of the Bible professors at ACC, delivered a lecture at the annual lectureship entitled, "Modern Challenges to Christian Morals."

Spain was upset that ACC still did not admit blacks as students. He saw such a policy as racist and inconsistent with the spirit of Christ. He chose the lectureship -- the largest annual gathering on campus -- to address this matter. It is fitting that Spain, a white man from the South, decided to throw down the gauntlet on the racist attitudes that were not being confronted.

His speech was bold and direct. He asked the audience, "Are we moral cowards on this issue?" It is safe to say that Spain put his reputation, and his employment on the line by speaking so boldly about an issue that most white members of the Churches of Christ saw as having little importance.

Of the major periodicals among the Churches of Christ at the time, only The Christian Chronicle gave coverage to Spain's historic speech. The Firm Foundation and the Gospel Advocate both ignored the speech.

Though change did not come over night, Spain's speech helped create a sense of urgency on the part of Churches of Christ to take an active role in fighting racist attitudes. In 1962, two years after Spain's speech, ACC admitted black students for the first time.

Here are some quotes from Spain's historic speech:

"Whether we are willing to admit it or not, there are some dark chapters in the history of America in which are recorded deeds of Political Naturalism as vile as have ever been perpetrated on the face of the earth. Marching under the standard of the god of mammon and bluffing his way with ballots and bullets, the white man put his big white foot on the Negro's neck, quoted the pledge of allegiance to the flag, and piously recited platitudes about all men being born free and equal."

"What right have we to talk about the two faces of Khrushchev, when we guard the ballot boxes with guns and pass laws that deny native Americans the right to vote on the basis of their color and social background. Like Krushchev, many Americans just don't agree with Jesus and His moral code. The ethics of Jesus are foolish to many church goers."

"God forbid that churches of Christ, and schools operated by Christians, shall be the last stronghold of refuge for socially sick people who have Nazi illusions about the Master Race. Political naturalism, in the cloak of the Christian priesthood, must not be the ethical code in the kingdom of Jesus Christ."

"I feel certain that Jesus would say: 'Ye hypocrits! You say you are the only true Christians, and make up the only true church, and have the only Christian schools. Yet, you drive one of your own preachers to denominational schools where he can get credit for his work and refuse to let him take Bible for credit in your own school because the color of his skin is dark!'"

"We fear the mythical character Jim Crow more than we reverence Jesus Christ."

"As long as church members are carnal-minded, we shall continue to see the ugly manifestations of worldliness. We shall not correct the evil of worldliness until we do two things: (1) Call for a new birth, and put a stop to the evil of baptizing carnal-minded, unregenerate people who join churches rather than becoming children of God by the new birth, and (2) discipline with all the power of the truth in love those who are members of the Christian fellowship."