Many evangelical and conservative Christians, especially older white Christians of conservative persuasion, are weary of the popular slogan: “Black Lives Matter.” Some are even angry at the actual movement that is associated with this name and believe it is harmful to our culture. I’ve heard various responses regarding this negative view of the slogan and the movement but the most common is that this is a bogus notion because Christians should say, and believe, that: “All Lives Matter.” The truth is, as often is the case, much deeper and more socially and personally nuanced.
It is true that “All Lives Matter.” From conception to the grave life matters. This is, at least for the broad tradition of Christian faith and practice, the truth. This is why I believe the death penalty needs to be abolished. It has become a “cruel and unusual punishment” in its present form. (This assumes it was right in the past and I even question this conclusion on ethical grounds as I understand the New Testament and the teaching of our Lord.) I also believe environmental concerns must become the concern of the church because life matters, all life. Regardless of your political view about this issue surely we can agree that life in this biosphere is precious and we are to “steward” it with love and care; cf. Genesis 1:26. (“Dominion” in the Hebrew of this text does not mean the right to destroy and dominate or trample down the good of this earth, our home and God’s world!)
But here is the rub. “Black Lives Matter” is not about Black being superior to White or any other race or color. It is about valuing the weakest and poorest in our society. It is about true freedom and opportunity to advance and improve your life and to be (and feel) safe in your car and on the streets of our cities. It is about justice and mercy, at least for Christians. I am grateful that Urbana 2015 included an address by Michelle Higgins on this issue. It was given with great power and clarity.
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“Black Lives Matter” – Michelle Higgins @ Urbana 2015: Many evangelical and conservative Christians, especially… https://t.co/7BZUvZhbd3
H. Kevin Derr liked this on Facebook.
The problem with the “Black Lives Matter” organization is that it is built on lies (hands up don’t shoot being the cornerstone lie), broadly disparages police even in some cases calling for them to be killed and uses fascist tactics to intimidate people and politicians (storming political rally stages) to extract pledges of support. I detect a bit of stereotyping and bias in the opening paragraph of this post (especially older white Christians of conservative persuasion) of the type that has been used by actual racists against our black brothers and sisters in the past. I will say that older people of all types may look unfavorably upon the Black Lives Matter movement because they were alive in the 40’s 50’s and 60’s and know first had how things are light years better now in relations between the races. And are saddened at how a political party has used race and other ways of dividing our citizens for political advantage.
All movements, including the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, had characters from left to right. This is always true of movements for social change. (I grew up in the Civil Rights Movement in the South and attend the University of Alabama in the 60s.) I agree a political party has used the rhetoric to gain votes. I also agree things are better than the 1960s, on some levels. Yet on other levels (family, violence, police, housing, jobs, etc.) they are far worse. We can debate all day why this is so (and point blame) but the fact remains that for many (and here I most young urban blacks) their lives do not matter. I will be in an African-American Church preaching this Sunday on the South Side of Chicago. I can assure you they know what we do not know about this matter. Finally, the term racism is unfortunate and politicized. All must confess to “race-related thinking” and if Christians we can and should work to repent of it and change it. Swatch Chaplain Timothy Blackmon’s chapel address from Wheaton College, January 13. I posted it. I have seen nothing like it from a biblical Christian.
Being human none of us can claim to be free of all bias against anyone. That is not the point as I read it in the post about BLM. We can always be better as individuals and a nation. However BLM is a movement that has behaved very badly in word and deed and should not be the model for leading this improvement. They have shown bias in their assessment of the reasons for the causes of bad conditions in the black community and have openly aligned themselves with the political agenda of the left/Democrat party (visits to the White House). Their activity unfortunately has created more heat than light.
Also the lives of young urban blacks seem most threatened by criminal activity and black on black violence in the inner cities. There are many reasons for that but at the core is the destruction of the black family. The condition of the black family was certainly better in the 60’s and prior. This situation and carnage has not been the focus of BLM. They have been focusing on the police, racism etc. in line with the political agenda of the left/Democrat party. While they appear to be stirring up the feelings and calling on the Civil Rights movement of the 60’s the actual conditions and causes of the black communities problems today are far from the same as they were then. And BLM’s behavior appears to unworthy of those in the Civil Rights movement of the 60’s.
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