The Creative Encounter

Recently my youngest brother has suggested that I write more about the church in the 21st century. Recent events in California politics requires that make a few comments. Proposition 19 (the legalization of marijuana) is supported by the NAACP and there more than 20 African leaders are now calling for the resignation to the president of the NAACP.
Bishop Ron Allen was among the members of the International Faith-Based Coalition who stated that Proposition 19 on the November ballot would be harmful to African Americans. "Why would the state NAACP advocate for blacks to stay high?" Allen said. "It's going to cause crime to go up. There will be more drug babies." Quite frankly, I do not understand the logic of Bishop Allen’s statement. I must assume that Bishop Allen is relying on religious dogma verse’s examining the data. According to a study by the Drug Policy Alliance, a group that supports the legalization of marijuana, African Americans make up less than 7% of California's population, but represent 22% of the arrests for marijuana possession. The War on Drugs has become a war on black America, leading to a serious mass incarceration problem that has threatened to undermine the black family across America. Needless to say, that a byproduct of drug policy our children are attending failing schools. Moreover, the verdict is still out on marijuana use. At the very least, sending people to prison over the possession of marijuana makes me pause and wonder if the police don't have more important work to do. “Herb heads” that I have known generally want some candy, now “crack heads” are another story.
Professor Boyce Watkins characterized our community thusly, “Let's be clear: The black community is a church-going group of relatively conservative people. They don't collectively support gay rights, abortion, the separation of church and state or many of the other issues that liberals hold dear. Many African Americans are stuck with being liberal because liberals are the group that doesn't hate us as much as the conservatives do. If the Republicans could find a bit more compassion for the poor and respect for issues like Affirmative Action, they'd get a whole lot more black voters.” This is at the core of my philosophic conflict with Christians; they often do not have “the creative encounter” with individuals who question their conclusions. I would gladly support Bishop Allen’s proposition if all churches would give up their “tax exempt status.” I would gladly support Bishop Allen’s proposition if those churches who are receiving “tax exempt status” would demonstrate their Christian charity by daily feeding those who are hungry. I would gladly support Bishop Allen’s proposition if all of those Church members began to practice this simple commandment from Jesus: “love thy neighbor as thy self.”