White Church or World Community? James Baldwin’s Challenging Discipleship

Abstract

In February 2017, Scott Timberg wrote in the _Los Angeles Times_ that “James Baldwin is not just a writer for the ages, but a scribe whose work speaks directly to ours.” Retrieving Baldwin’s analysis of Christianity, as articulated in “White Racism or World Community?,” this article sets again and anew the Baldwin challenge before the Church. Baldwin urges Christianity to cease defining itself as “white” and encounter the humanity of its neighbor whose skin is dark colored. The Church must find the courage to assume its humanity in full (endemic racism included) and ask for forgiveness. James Baldwin’s prophetic voice and witness must finally be heard; the Church is to relearn that it does not own or stand for Christ, but rather finds, follows and is formed into Christ’s body wherever humans, in faith, suffer and struggle for justice.