The Widest Possible Difference

As part of the 2019 EFCA Theology Preconference, “Evangel, Evangelical, Evangelicalism and the EFCA,” Pastor Daryl Williamson of Living Faith Bible Fellowship in Tampa, Florida, offered perspective on how many African-American Christians relate with the term, “evangelical,” and how that affects the way in which they view themselves today.

“Black and brown Christians have awakened to the reality that there are multiple ‘Chrisitanities’ in our country. In some ways, these different ‘Chrisitianities’ are not varieties. They are not merely cultural divides. They are, in significant ways, theological collisions. I think this quote from Frederick Douglass, will help us a lot: ‘Between the Christianity of this land and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference. So wide that, to receive one as good, pure and holy is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt and wicked. To be friend of one is of necessity to be enemy of the other. I love the pure, peaceable and impartial Christianity of Christ. I, therefore, hate the corrupt, slave-holding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land.’” — Pastor Daryl Williamson

Listen to the full lecture in the EFCA Theology Podcast episode, and stay tuned for the upcoming podcasts from the conference. If you missed other episodes from the conference, find them in the EFCA Theology Podcast archives.