drew moser : : theological riffs, cultural rants, anecdotal quips

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

29 May 2007

In continuing my reading on Islam, I thought it would be interesting to find out more about The Nation of Islam. So I picked up The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Fascinating, fascinating read...very enlightening for this middle-class white midwesterner.

A few thoughts struck me:
--Malcolm X's break with the Nation of Islam for embracing a more orthodox Islam, and, a more positive view of white people was gripping.
--Malcolm X's description of life in the ghettos of urban American gave me a much better understanding of the plight of African Americans.
--Malcolm X's critique of 'white man's Christianity' hurt, but he was true on many (not all) points. Malcolm rejected Christianity because he saw in it merely a sanitized form of racism against blacks. To him, African-Americans simply bought the religion of White America, with it's message of love, tolerance, and passivity. The result was deeper entrenched prejudice and segregation. Look around on an Sunday morning. Churches are the most segregated segment of society.

It could be said that Malcolm himself advocated his own form of segregation, seeking a nation of black muslims. But even I would agree that his view of segregation was a more equal form than that of Christianity in civil rights America.

--This led me to a thought that has haunted Christian scholars of Islam for centuries: What if Mohammed had been exposed to authentic, orthodox Christianity? The evidence is very strong that Mohammed interacted with many Christians in his lifetime. The problem: they were all blatantly heretical sects of Christianity. Mohammed never encountered orthodox Christianity. Likewise: What if Malcolm X had been exposed to authentic, orthodox Christianity void of the racism and prejudice?

I realized I'm stretching the analogy here, but look at the state of the American Christian Church in Malcolm X's day (and, in some ways, today). He saw Christians as hypocrites. They claimed to follow Jesus, but their lives (and their politics) betrayed those claims. Now, I'm not naive enough to think that Malcolm X was never exposed to orthodox Christianity, but it begs the question: If white 'Christians' hadn't killed his father...if white 'Christian' teachers hadn't told him he would never amount to anything...if white 'Christians' hadn't beaten, subjugated, and oppressed his people...would his take on Christianity be different?

Only mere speculation, but yet one could also observe implications for many assumptions in missiology. A popular and relatively recent trend in the theology/practice of mission is adhering to the Homogeneous Unit Principle. Essentially, it's the idea that the the missionary task must seek to plant churches within each distinct ethnic/people group in the world.

I essentially agree. To ask a Basque person to attend a Spaniard church is problematic. There are cultural, linguistic, and political hurdles. Yet, the concept of a unique church for every people group has its own pitfalls: an ethnically segregated, non-unified global church that is ethnocentric to its core.

I provide no solutions here; just thinking out loud. Malcolm X's description of his pilgrimage to Mecca seemed helpful. He saw people of every color and language walking together. Naturally, of course, they organized themselves in groups of their own kind. But they were walking this spiritual journey together.

It's sad to think that he didn't see that in Christianity. I believe the Homogeneous Unit Principle done well can achieve this. But I'm afraid in America's 'melting pot', we're failing.

(Rabbit trail finished)

Thoughts?

Labels: church, islam, malcolm x, missiology

Drew Moser @ 9:16 AM : : permalink : : 2 comments : : links to this post