Black Lives MORE Than Matter

If you’re perusing social media, taking a walk in the city or even just watching television—you can’t miss it. The phrase “black lives matter” has proliferated and become infused in the fabric of our national conversations on racial tensions. It’s an expression used by those desiring peaceful reconciliation and justice, as well as those engaging in destructive riots and vandalism. Where does that leave Christians who want to address real-life, day-to-day issues of racism in our culture and walk toward Christ-centered reconciliation?  Below is a sample Q&A to help you have a redemptive response when the question arises with friends:

Question: I keep hearing the phrase “black lives matter.”  Some say it’s a needed movement to call attention to a widespread disregard for black lives. Others say it’s being led by anti-American organizations. What do you think?

Answer: 

• My first thought as a Christian who looks to the Bible for guidance is that black lives unquestionably do matter—but even that doesn’t go far enough. I think black lives more than just “matter”—I think they are sacred, created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27). As a result, they are unquestionably worthy of protection from degradation, harm or violence.

• In addition to Genesis 1:27, which says every human being is made in God’s image, many Scriptures make it clear that “every tribe and language and people and nation” are equal in Christ—leaving no room for racial hate or prejudice. Plus, I John 4:20 tells us that “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar.” In short, there’s no denying the biblical truth that Jesus shed His precious blood for our black neighbors and fellow citizens—and people of all ethnicities.

• Scriptures also emphasize God’s desire for justice, such the declaration in Psalm 11:7 that “the Lord is righteous, He loves justice.” That’s why I believe Christians—and the church nationwide—should lead the way in racial reconciliation and repentance for policies and actions that harm or devalue the lives of others—whether it’s the lives of the unborn, or those in the street vulnerable to violence and brutality.

Question: But what about the Black Lives Matter (BLM) organization? I’ve been hearing disturbing reports about it, and I’m not sure what to think.

Answer: 

• I agree with the true statement that black lives matter—and in fact, as I pointed out, it doesn’t even go far enough in making clear that black lives are created, and loved, by God. But the idea and the organization are two very different things. The organization Black Lives Matter—with an official website and a $6.5 million fund for affiliate chapters—and its founders have promoted principles that are in direct opposition to some of our most cherished biblical beliefs, as well as constitutional government. Just to give a few examples:

Family 

In its “What We Believe”  section, the BLM website states that one of its goals is to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure by supporting each other as extended families and 'villages'…” In addition to conflicting with God’s design for man-woman marriage as the best way to protect and guide children, this statement also ignores the havoc that fatherlessness has wreaked on our nation’s families—with black children especially impacted by that trend. 

Life 

• The BLM organization’s leaders also have a history of supporting “reproductive justice." For instance, in their response to the 2018 State of the Union, they declared, “we demand reproductive justice that gives us autonomy over our bodies and our identities ...” They’ve also proudly allied with “reproductive justice” groups, including those who advocate for access to abortion. In an article about that partnership, co-founder Alicia Garza stated, “I think from our perspective, reproductive justice is very much situated within the Black Lives Matter movement.”

• Perhaps that explains why, when Planned Parenthood chapters expressed alliance with “Black Lives Matter,” the BLM organization was silent on the reality that 36 percent of all abortions are obtained by black women—adding up to the loss of an estimated 19 million black babies since Roe v. Wade.

Sexuality

In its “What We Believe” section, BLM also calls for “a queer‐affirming network” with the goal of “freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking.” The website talks about its goal to “dismantle cisgender privilege” (cisgender refers to a traditional view of male and female gender) while uplifting transgenderism.  This exaltation of sexual experimentation should come as no surprise since two of BLM’s three founding leaders identify as “queer.” 

Constitutional Freedoms

In addition to statements that conflict with biblical values on life, family and sexuality, it’s also worth noting that leaders and founders of BLM have openly shared their inspiration from leaders such as Fidel Castro, Lenin and Karl Marx. In an interview, co-founder Patrisse Cullors said, “Myself and Alicia, in particular are trained organizers. We are trained Marxists. We are super-versed on, sort of, ideological theories.” The website lists partners, including the Movement for Black Lives, an organization whose own website states that “We are anti-capitalist.”

While it’s important that we not shy away from boldly revealing the truth about the BLM organization, it’s equally important to speak from a compassionate perspective. It helps to remember that some of the most radical, destructive philosophies are often born out of response to very real, deep pain. Take for instance, BLM founder Patrisse Cullors’ heartbreaking description of her childhood and experiences with racism. In many ways, the BLM organization’s radicalism is evidence of what we so often see in history—people looking for salvation from temporal human beings rather than the eternal God who created them. Now more than ever, we should remember Jesus’ words that “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35). The most powerful way we can speak peace into the chaos and can point the world toward the true Savior—Jesus—is by reflecting His humility and love for all races within the walls of our own churches, and then modeling what true repentance and redemptive action looks like.

Pastor Milton Harding—founder of Agapai Solutions and a former chaplain for the Washington Redskins— expressed this eloquently: “Our lives, not t-shirts or bumper stickers, should reflect the Gospel that points all people to Jesus! Jesus’ prayer for unity (John 17:21) is not based upon an outward production of man’s ideas, but the inward residency of God’s love in our hearts that anchors us in the faith while engaging the cultural confusion of racism,” he wrote in a Proclaimer article.

For more perspective from Pastor Harding and others watch our video discussion, From One Blood: A Christ-Centered Conversation on Race and Racism.