Mega-Church Pastor that Allegedly said “N-Word”

The “n-word” is one of the most divisive and emotionally charged words within our U.S. context. I think social critic Ta-Nehisi Coates sums it up better than most stating in The New York Times, “If you could choose one word to represent the centuries of bondage, the decades of terrorism, the long days of mass rape, the totality of white violence that birthed the black race in America, it would be ‘n—–.’ ”

Martin Luther starts off the Small Catechism saying, “Dear God, what a misery I beheld!” Around 500 years later, I look at our privileged versions of Church and echo similar sentiments. It’s bizarre to think that a religion in which describes their theological position as Christocentric is known for everything but being centered on Christ. Pastors who sit back and say, “Andy, it’s not that bad…” are 100% correct. It’s not that bad, in fact it’s not bad at all… for them.

So when a video came out with mega-church pastor Perry Noble seemingly saying the n-word in his Christmas Eve Sermon, I didn’t expect much remorse from anyone, especially within predominantly white evangelicalism, including Noble. I want to say that:

1. I believe that when Noble says, “This word was not in his heart…” he’s telling the truth.
2. That this was, although understandably so, a misinterpretation of what he was actually saying.
3. This is not the first offensively racist statement I’ve heard from him on the topic of race [I’ve listened to many of his sermons, and even gone and seen him speak live – all that to say, this is not the first racially insensitive statement I’ve heard from him].

Hearing via Facebook, from those who attend the church, that Noble did “in fact” apologize. I was happy to hear this, until I actually heard his “apology.” Which played out more so like a #SorryNotSorry. My first listen to the short clip released by Newspring Church, his apology didn’t sit right with me. I think Jake Dockter, social activists and Huffington Post contributor, sums it up pretty well in a recent email to me stating:

First he mocks those folks online for critiquing.

Then, he denies it was “in his heart.” Then he “apologizes” and then turns it around in a really underhanded way. “If you watched that and you felt like thats what I said…” puts it on us rather than on him. then he says, “thats all we are gonna say, we are gonna move on cause we have people to reach for jesus.” as if justice and caring for this is a side issue… problematic [sic].

Before I go on, I want to be clear that this is not me “hurling insults” let alone “casting stones” this is me simply calling for accountability. This is larger than this one moment of misunderstanding. The Privileged Evangelical’s mega-church pastor, their silence on the issue of racial tension has been deafening. They’ll colonize Uganda but not show solidarity in North America. Their tactic is evasion and if that doesn’t work they result to a forceful abusive means of coercion.

Jake, a white male, who politely asked Noble to sit down and further talk about this topic over the phone, Skype, or via email was declined by Newspring Church’s PR team. It’s weird with Christian celebrities there is a higher level of arrogance to some of them that I would only expect to be found in people like Madonna, Prince, or Jesus, you know the people who at one point or another thought they were God [or in Jesus’ case, was God].

But all jokes aside one’s “messiah complex” begins to get sketchy when it impedes upon one’s ability to maintain their sense of humility. Are we not all called to be above reproach? This is the problem with homogenous church leadership. When the people keeping you accountable don’t understand the people being wounded, well, you get what’s happening within many, but of course not all, US mega-churches – patriarchy, racism, and hate [that comes in the form of nice, or passive aggressive].

White pastor @perrynoble used “n-word” in sermon.No apology then releases post with him as victim. #nobleapology@KilljoyProphets@suey_park

— Theology of Ferguson (@FaithInFerguson) January 8, 2015

I can’t help but mention that the day after this debacle, Noble posted an article titled, “Not Afraid to Take a Hit.” This would be fine if he was in fact “taking a hit.” The irony or rather, the level of incompetence it takes for a North American, Heterosexual, white, Christian, privileged male to say he’s “taking a hit” or even slightly insinuate he is somehow being persecuted is beyond insulting to the rest of the world. But even if he was taking hits being unafraid of getting “hit” doesn’t mean you become unafraid of being abusive, ignorant, offensive, or irreverent.

If you’re a heterosexual, white, privileged Pastor claiming you’re the victim, you need to know you’re not the victim, you’re the problem.

— andy gill (@itsandygill) January 14, 2015

I want to be clear, Perry Noble is not the victim and is certainly not part of the “persecuted minority.” He’s a mega-church pastor, on the evangelical speaking circuit, living within a first world context. He is PRIVILEGED. And should take note from his Uncle Ben because, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Seemingly needless to say – but I’ve learned on the issue of race the most basic levels of racial understanding are necessary to say – that with great ignorance from leaders with too much power comes comments like these from people who follow and listen worship them:

So please know that I agree that pastors are people too. I understand this more than most, as I am a former pastor from a larger evangelical “mega-church.” But when we as pastors do something wrong and then play the victim, due to the consequential repercussions, garnering more care and attention than the people we victimize [knowingly or unknowingly], we then step out of our role as pastor and into the roll of the oppressor.

Preaching and teaching is a privilege that should never be taken lightly. Whether or not you have a church of 30 or a congregation of 20,000. What we do and say as religious leaders should be handled with a level of fear and trembling. Asking Noble to apologize, without passively blaming the victim or misinterpreters, for seemingly saying the “n-word” is a completely rational, and even biblical, move. He’s a public leader that is human and makes mistakes. Nobody is questioning his motive [at least I’m not]. I, personally, don’t think he should be fired but I do think he should be humble; a pastor who lacks humility and believes that because they are now an evangelical “celebrity” they’re some how exempt from reproach, in my opinion, should in fact temporarily step down – John Piper did this, and I respect that, I don’t remotely agree with his teachings but I respect his humility in confessing his pride [and because of this I’m willing to listen more often and more closely to him, regardless of my lack of agreeing with him].

This doesn’t have to be a big deal, but this does point to a bigger problem. I’ve said already in this post, and I’ve said many times before this post, the evangelical pastor who is not just silent, but inactive on the issue of justice for the poor, powerless, and oppressed is damaging to the very mission of Christ.

“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was ‘well timed’ in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!’ It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

[In light of the above MLK quote, I encourage you to lovingly tweet this at Noble, keyword here is lovingly, but lovingly doesn’t always mean nice, to bring attention to the repercussions of his refusing to converse on this topic and decision to use his white privilege to sweep this under the rug.]