What Should the Church’s Response to Black Lives Matter (the organization) Be?

By: Steve Huston

 

  We know there is a definite problem when America looks more like the civil unrest and massive destruction of Back to the Future’s Marty McFly’s journey into an alternate future than it does John Winthrop’s City on a Hill. If those references don’t make sense to you, let’s just say that when the American Dream becomes an American Nightmare we are on the wrong path. It saddens me to see many well-meaning people unwittingly get caught up in things that only serve to dismantle and disable our country.

During these turbulent times it’s vital to remember that God is sovereign and that we can trust Him regardless of what comes our way, even Black Lives Matter (BLM) – the organization – and other splinter groups (like Antifa) which are meant to cause division and to attack the church and our country.

Why are Christians supporting such organizations either in person, through social media, or through apathetic silence? How can we compassionately explain to them why they are wrong in doing so? Let’s pray for discernment and reason together.

It seems that the church is always ready to jump on whatever bandwagon comes along without thinking—if it sounds compassionate and right, we should support it, right? After all, that is what Jesus would do, right? No and no! I am not church-bashing, but Scripture calls us over and over to examine ourselves and to consider our ways. Frankly, many in the church need to pray for discernment, do some honest research, and look to where the destination is of the road down which they are being led.

First, we need to recognize that there is a big difference between saying that black lives matter (which is a truth, as God has created ALL people of ALL colors and ALL ethnicities; therefore, ALL lives matter) and the organization which calls itself Black Lives Matter (BLM).

Black Lives Matter (the organization) has communist ties and is meant to be divisive and therefore destructive to the UNITED States of America. We (and the church) need to ask ourselves: Where is their funding coming from? What are they really doing (is it useful or harmful)? Most importantly, do they support Biblical concepts or does what they do run contrary to those tenets we say we believe in?(Some of these things are addressed in a recent article I wrote, entitled Antifa: Protestors or Terrorists?)

Here are a few bullet points that we need to understand and can be used in conversation as we attempt to reason with others:

Christians should always stand for lawful behavior.  Lawlessness unchecked and/or accepted breeds further lawlessness. BLM (the organization) has been lawless—vandalism, wanton destruction, taking of life, and forcing others to submit to their senseless demands. All these things have been done indiscriminately. Black neighborhoods destroyed, black businesses ruined, black lives murdered—of course other ethnicities as well; but if black lives truly mattered, wouldn’t they be more careful?

Christians should call for Biblical justice not “social justice.” Again, the terminology that they use is a great marketing tool. Who can be against “social justice” or against saying, “black lives matter?” These things are true but the definitions have been hijacked and turned around backward. If we demanded Biblical justice, there would be real social justice.

Christians are to call for forgiveness and are labelled ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5). The BLM narrative has no desire to forgive; it’s about historical revenge (reparations, demands of kneeling and submission, etc.). This organization desires domination not reconciliation. How does devaluing the lives of other ethnicities show that Black lives matter?

Instead of kneeling to and admitting to “white guilt,” the church should be concerned about sin guilt. We should not feel guilty about being the color or ethnicity that God has created us to be; nor should we feel guilty about that which our ancestors have done. How many white men lost their lives in the Civil War in an effort to set slaves free? If it was wrong for the “white man” then, it is certainly wrong for the “black man” now. Nothing is gained by further violence except a continuation of destructive hate and violence. Instead of perpetuating hate and ascribing guilt, let us cry out against sin and recognize our own guilt against a most holy God. Christ’s work upon the cross was to atone for men of all colors, assuaging our guilt and allowing us to be seen as blameless.

Similarly, Christians need to oppose the false gospel narrative and embrace the true gospel which is color-blind. Jesus holds the only cure for “racism” so-called. Jesus died for all people of all color; we must lead them to the cross, not follow them into the cross-hairs of a holy God who will punish sin. We need to encourage others to love their enemies. This can only be done in Christ, by the power of the Spirit.

When the church buys into the lie of racism, it buys into the false theory of evolution. According to Genesis we are all one race. Many years ago, the church refused to stand strongly against this theory, not wanting to seem stupid or out of touch because science said so. This theory has run its course and now we are tasting its bitter and poisonous fruits. We must continually point back to the Bible as our only source of truth, recognizing that God is infinitely wiser and more knowledgeable than we.

Christians are to ascribe to God’s view of sexuality and authority.  BLM is a huge proponent of homosexuality and transgenderism. As read (in part) on the Sandy Rios in the Morning broadcast of Monday, June 8, 2020, from the  Movement for Black Lives (MFBL) “manifesto”: “We foster a queer-affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking.” As such, they also promote non-traditional families and see no need for fatherhood.

Christians, like their God, are to be an ordered people.  BLM want to do away with the police force and prisons which only leads to further anarchy and chaos. Are there problems in the police force? Of course, even as there are problems in any organization. But the statistics do not support the BLM organization narrative. How many unarmed blacks were killed by cops last year? 9. How many unarmed whites were killed by cops last year? 19. More officers are killed every year than are unarmed blacks. I don’t know how many blacks and whites have been killed in these riots but I have heard it is a greater number than those I’ve just listed above.

We could continue with a great many other things, like talking about their hatred for capitalism and push for socialism/communism. The very group that complains about slavery (rightly so) is leading this nation into a Marxist mentality and the system of government that makes slaves out of all its citizens. Again, look to history and to where the road leads that we are traveling on.

The answer isn’t to defund police or to remove statues of historical significance. The only answer for America and for the church today is to repent of our wrongdoing and sin; demand lawful behavior from ALL people of ALL colors and ethnicities; return to the Word of God and to demand the lawful implementation of our Constitution to ALL our citizens—from the highest in government to the lowest “man on the street;” and to stand firm in our God-given, Constitutionally-protected, freedoms.

Jesus is our only Hope; freedom is our best weapon; and the Constitution is our government! In dealing with others, let us keep the Apostle Paul’s words in mind: “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-22)

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