This is an examination of the debate between two people who identify as Christians: James White and Corey Mahler both living in America. The debate is on Black Sanctification. The topic is “Can the Holy Spirit sanctify a Black Christian as much as a White Christian?” Both are of the White race.
For me the answer is yes. But that is not really the issue. The real question is what are some impediments to sanctification and how in general do those impediments show up in the Black community in contrast to the White Community in general?
Let me say if someone says they are a Christian then to me they are. For Christ will judge us all and all have sinned and do sin and come short of the glory of God. Just different sins.
I know some will hold that a person with such views cannot be a Christian. That conclusion would require one to conclude the founders of this nation were not Christians. I detach myself from emotions and do not arrive at such conclusion about Corey especially based on not knowing more about him nor about the founders. The Luteran Church Missouri Synod did excommunicate him. However, that is their decision based on their rationale. The Council of Laodicea of the 4th Century excommunicated people per Canon 29 for resting on the Saturday the Sabbath instead of the Sunday the Lord’s Day counting them as a Judaizer. That certainly was not a valid reason for excommunication. Therefore, whether Corey’s opinion is cause for excommunication may not be clear for some. I suspect there are other White Christian perhaps even Lutherans who think the same as Corey does in part of fully but lack the courage to say so for a variety of reasons.
One thing for sure the spiritual warfare is intensifying in America and beyond more than or at least in different ways than it has been in recent years.
Yet, his position is highlighted by many largely because of the current American political attitude, speech, and actions. For years there have been people who think like him in America and elsewhere.
Note that Corey’s position has to do with the average White and average Black. He recognizes there are Blacks that do better than some Whites.
I recognize Corey’s position is not about justification but about what some call progressive sanctification whereby one becomes better spiritually/morally in the natural over time. This is in contrast to what some call positional sanctification which has to do with Christians being made perfectly sanctified through justification done by Christ based only on our faith in Christ and him crucified. James White early on seems to neglect that distinction as his focus was primarily on justification.
I assume Corey’s position on Black sanctification is not rooted in dishonesty but in erroneous logic that has contributed to him being a racist. For Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a racist as one “having, reflecting, or fostering the belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”. Another definition given by Merriam-Webster for racist is “of, relating to, or characterized by the systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another”.
As to the crime statistics he gives I would love to have the source for such statistics at the FBI. Corey says “Blacks make up 13% of the US population; they commit 50 to 60% of all violent crimes.” At the FBI violent crimes are offenses of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
The report for 2019 can be found at the link in the reference section below entitled “Crime in the US for Year 2019”. The report shows Whites and Blacks commit 69.4 and 26.6 percent of all 2019 crimes, respectively. Just counting the violent crimes committed by Whites and Blacks for 2019 this report shows that Whites and Blacks commit 61.9% and 38.1%, respectively. Those figures do not reflect Corey Mahler’s claim concerning the percentage of violent crimes committed by Blacks.
Certainly the Black 38.1% of violent crimes does exceed the proportion of Blacks in the population as Blacks represented only about 12-13% of the population in 2019. That is problematic.
It is also problematic that there is at least the perception if not an actual truth that local and national mainstream news tend to portray Blacks as more violent and commit more crimes than Whites giving other Whites that impression. That is why it is the local church whether predominantly white or black responsibility to preach and teach about such things present in their respective racial community as well as the other racial community to impress on its membership the whole truth not partial truth (James 2:1) as well as the church role is resolving such issues under the love thy neighbor as they self and Good Samaritan principles (Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 10:25-37).
This is the last report available in the FBI Crime in the USA format. The new format at the Crime Data Explorer has later years data but it is not as well formed as it is a work in progress.
Key data points are given below. It shows the overall national arrest rates for various crimes rate as follows. Column 1 is the crime name; column 2 the White Percentage and column 3 the Black percentage.
The table shows Whites have a large lead over Blacks in overall violent crimes. Whites have a large lead in the crime area of (1) rape and (2) aggravated assaults. Blacks have a small lead in the areas of (1) Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter and (2) robbery.
| Total | 69.4 | 26.6 |
| Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter | 45.8 | 51.2 |
| Rape | 69.8 | 26.7 |
| Robbery | 44.7 | 52.7 |
| Aggravated assault | 61.8 | 33.2 |
Life conditions affect culture; cultural conditions affect violent behavior represented by crime. For example, consider the Roman barbaric culture of killing sports and Alexander the Great nation taking. Common sense says it is easier to do right when not oppressed and depressed by negative acts of past massive racism and its lingering effects as well as current systemic institutional racism. It is easier for a person to do right when around others doing right. That is one reason Jesus exhorts his disciples to be the light of the world doing good works to glorify our Heavenly Father. For it is the glory of our Heavenly Father for all to do good works so as to influence others to do good works. It is the glory of our Father that justice prevail in a nation and in the world, For Amos 5:24 speaks of judgement (justice) running down as water and righteousness like a mighty stream.
As in the case of crime, cultural conditions at least partly in response to racism and other societal influences affect IQ measurements. In fact IQ tests are often considered bias based on cultural, racial, and socioeconomic factors. Reportedly one or more research studies show Whites have an average IQ of 100 with Blacks having an average IQ of 85. Of course, the correctness of any such study should be seen as questionable and not useful for societal decision making that affects one’s view and treatment of a racial group especially when it comes to matters of justice and equal opportunity. Such studies are discussed at the link below entitled “Black Americans reduce the Racial IQ Gap” At the start of the second full paragraph on page 914 of the article it says “The performance of the two races could also be affected by changes in test content.” The fact that IQ measurements are subject to influence by test content and the fact that changes in the racial gaps occur over time strongly show the gap should not be viewed as a function of racial genetics but rather influenced by a number of external factors. In any case, Corey’s claim that a person with an IQ of 85 is unable to understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ is illogical and seems self-serving.
James White acknowledges things can hinder sanctification. Corey Mahler errors in not emphasizing that fault isn’t totally of the Black person; but, negative societal influences and conditions also hinder sanctification just as it does for White person.
James White reminds me of Christians of all races who think Christianity is just about justification and positional sanctification ignoring the importance of progressive sanctification. They fail to emphasize the importance of the secondary role of keeping God’s commandments applicable under the New Covenant in the life of the Christian. This includes but is not limited to the those brought forward from the Old Testament such as exemplified by Ephesian 6:2-3 which quotes from Exodus 20:12 about honoring parents; though not all Old Covenant laws are brought forward into the New Covenant. Indeed, being a disciple of Christ is also about surrendering to leading and prodding of the Holy Spirit to live holy in attitude, voice, and action.
James White and Corey Mahler reminds me of White Christians who fail to realize the extent they have an obligation to in attitude, voice, and action contribute to correcting the oppressive injustices of the past realizing and admitting the effect of such oppression on the spiritual, mental, and socio-economic conditions of the general Black community today rather than simply pointing the finger at the Black community. Obligation to help correct injustices does not mean they are themselves guilty of injustices their ancestors and/or others may have done. For no such guilt should be assigned to anyone alive today. It simply means loving thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22:39) similar to the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) shows up by recognizing the burden that racism places on Blacks; burdens which Whites do not have or at least do not have to same scope and degree. James White, Corey Mahler and such other White Christians are not balanced in their presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as rooted in love for God first and then love for self and all others including enemies. And godly love in attitude, voice, or action does not stereotype people based on skin color.
Corey Mahler reminds me of Black Christians who themselves dressed in a different skin color (Black instead of White) spew racist rhetoric rooted in anger and disappointment at past massive racism and its lingering effects as well as current systemic institutional racism. In some cases, such Christians fail to learn how to navigate “the system” in a constructive productive successful way despite the obstacles faced. Some that do learn cry racism despite their success and fail to properly encourage others to overcome as they do. They like Corey are not balanced in their presentation of the Gospel of Christ Jesus as rooted in love for God first and then love for self and all others including enemies. And godly love in attitude, voice, or action does not stereotype people based on skin color.
He also reminds me of Hebrew Israelism in that its proponents deceptively claim it is rooted in nationality when their whole doctrines are rooted in revenge, anger, and disappointment at past massive racism and its lingering effects as well as current systemic institutional racism. Indeed, Hebrew Israelism doctrine of exclusion of and superiority over all Whites without a Black male ancestor is akin to Corey Mahler’s relegation of Blacks to a lower status. In some ways Hebrew Israelism is worse in that at least Corey Mahler allows for Black to be fully equally integrated with Whites in every way in the next life with God. Hebrew Israelism generally hold that Whites will be relegated to a lower status in that next life even to the point of some form of enslavement by Black Israelites. Hebrew Israelites are not balanced in their presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as rooted in love for God first and then love for self and all others including enemies. And godly love does not in attitude, voice, or action stereotype people based on skin color.
Of course, I speak in general regarding my comments about the various classification of Blacks, Whites, Christians, Hebrew Israelites as there are exceptions in every group regarding the matters mentioned
Black Americans Reduce the Racial IQ Gap. If that link is broken see PDF
Luther Church Missouri Synod President Calls for Excommunication of White Nationalist
Corey Mahler Open Letter About his Excommunication
