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).
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the need for self-denial and transformation in the pursuit of spiritual reconciliation.
James H. Cone's quote challenges individuals, particularly white people, to confront and dismantle their ingrained notions of identity associated with whiteness. By calling for a transformation that involves accepting a deeper understanding of humanity through Christ, Cone suggests that true reconciliation with God requires recognizing and overcoming racial prejudices, ultimately encouraging a journey of self-denial that fosters a more inclusive faith.
In practice
In a sermon discussing racial reconciliation within the church.
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".
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 of’ black people.
To be Christian is to be one of those whom God has chosen. God has chosen black people!
The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class - it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity.
There is no doubt that we cannot do without variable quantities in the sense of the potential infinite. But from this very fact the necessity of the actual infinite can be demonstrated.
The armies of the day have chased the army of the night, Heaven and earth are filled with purity and light.
Walk to the well. _x000D_ Turn as the earth and the moon turn, _x000D_ circling what they love. _x000D_ Whatever circles comes from the center.
In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.
In short, all things that please the natural man in this world, are, to a true Christian, only so many crosses and temptations, allurements of sin and snares of death, that continually exercise his virtue.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.