DO BLACK LIVES MATTER?
Two church denomination leaders have recently designated December 14th as “Black Lives Matter Sunday”. This was of course the result of recent events involving the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. The recent use of the rhetoric, “Black Lives Matter” actually goes back to the Trayvon Martin case. In all three of these cases men of dark skin died, their killers were not as dark skinned, and they were acquitted of the charge of murder.
Because of the pronounced differences in these cases there is no justification to lump them together, each verdict would have to stand on its own merit. The overriding charge is that the racial differences between those who died and those who lived was a factor in the outcome. In all three cases the legal system ruled otherwise.
Racial tensions are not new. The divisions based upon skin color have a dark history, one that was inherited by this nation when it became independent from Great Britain. In our Declaration of Independence, these word were penned: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. It took many years before those words would ring true for all people under the government of the United States. Blood was shed and great price was paid to eventually force this nation to live up to the words in their foundational document. Today in the United States of America all men are equal under the law. But when we see how easily racial tensions are arouse we become aware that the issue of race has not gone away. No one knows that better than those who seek to profit from it. Sadly it is much easier to stir up racial strife than it is to heal racial strife. The fact is that those who choose to cause trouble by creating divisions care not for the peace and well-being of the peoples of this nation.
The facts are clear for those who are willing to search for truth. There is one creator God who created one race of men, the human race. We are all children of Adam and inherited his sinful nature. We have all been offered redemption though Jesus Christ. Through the years we have developed cultural differences, one of the least of which is skin color. I think the most divisive difference is language.
The United States of American was a forerunner in opening its doors to many cultures. What was it about our culture that allowed us to do that? Why did we think that would not be a problem? Of course it was our foundation, that of the Christianity of the Bible. Out of many peoples, one nation, one God, one set of rules to govern all.
Today it is all being turned on its ear. Diversity is being celebrated, not unity. One nation under God is being replaced with many peoples following many gods. It is tearing us apart at the seams. The masses are being manipulated to hate and fear those who have differences.
Don’t get me wrong. I love differences. God loves variety He made us with differences. That’s not what I am talking about. For there are things that we all hold in common, such as the one God our creator. These things which we hold in common require of us love and respect toward each and every individual. We were all created in the image and likeness of God and therefore each individual is of equal worth as human being. We all have the same rights and responsibilities. Right and wrong as defined by God is the same for each and every one of us. We are all told to love God and love our neighbor as our selves.
This was the pattern and foundation for this once great nation. But we as a nation have lost our moral compass and can no longer tell our right hand from our left. The line between right and wrong have been blurred. As a nation we are being torn apart, trouble is brewing on every hand, and we are destined for destruction unless an answer is found soon. That answer is to return to our foundation, instead of our steady progression to the gates of hell.
I’ve said all this to tell you how disappointed I was that denominational leaders would succumb to the politically correct rhetoric that is tearing our nation apart. I read the statement that was presented by my denominational leader and I suppose if I was ignorant of what was really going on I would have thought that it sounded good and noble. But it wasn’t and I will tell you why.
Do black lives matter? Of course they do. Do white lives matter too? Do policemen’s lives matter? What about Asians? What about Hispanics? Etc. Etc. What about all these people’s families and the effects of recent events?
More importantly, do human souls matter? Does it matter what God thinks? Does justice matter? Should emotions rule or facts and reason? Can mercy triumph over justice if justice is not defined and set as the foundation of order?
Are you following me? When we designate a day for, “Black Men’s Lives Matter”, we are separating people along the lines of skin color. Skin color should be irrelevant when it comes to issues of life and death, right and wrong, legal or illegal, rights, responsibilities, and acceptable behavior. Black lives do matter, but so does every other human life.
Unfortunately government is necessary and because of that it has been ordained by God. Governments can be good or bad and to guard against our government becoming bad our founders established our government on the rule of law, not the rule of a man or men. Years ago we prided ourselves in having a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. When we see lawlessness in our streets, mobs demanding vengeance without knowledge, irrational chanting, looting, burning, it should become obvious that this is not our founding fathers’ idea of self government.
Shouldn’t the Churches response be, lives matter, souls matter, order matters, justice matters? Shouldn’t we care about everyone affected? Shouldn’t we seek unity through Christ Jesus? Shouldn’t we support restoration of righteous order? Shouldn’t we seek to rectify the cause of unrest instead of contributing to the effect?
I have to admit I come from a privileged position. That privilege has nothing to do with skin color or historical culture. That privilege was the result of my having been taught values from the Word of God. From the earliest of my recollection I can remember singing: “Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight”. I believed that then and I still do. As I grew older I also had to face the fact that not all people have experienced my privilege to see things from God’s perspective. Because of that I have at times been accused of hatred because of my skin color. I have been accused hatred because of my acceptance of God’s moral truth. But because of my privilege I have also accepted the responsibility to speak and act as one who has the truth.
The question is not if black lives matter, because they do. The question is how do we save men’s souls. How do we help people come to a knowledge of the truth that is found in the love of God. For if we can once again bring unity through a knowledge of Christ Jesus, then we can together insure that justice tempered with mercy is served in such a way that people know that their lives matter to God and to us.
I know this is easier said than done, for it takes love and patience which must be shown to people who have experienced neither. Of course we must do this while at the same time never compromising the truth of the gospel, which says all men have sinned and are in need of repentance. By the grace of God we can love people as God would have us love them and not based upon the dictates of man.
“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (Jas 2:8-9 AV)
It is very clear that to separate a group of people because of skin color, social status, or cultural background is wrong, it is sinful. We also must remember that showing respect to all people does not mean support for anyone’s immoral behavior, regardless of status. To do so would be disrespectful for another group of people. God reserves the right to vengeance for this simple reason, that we cannot righteously do it without causing more harm than good.
I have been speaking mainly to those of us who have at one time acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord. There are other aspects of these incidents that involve the responsibility of those who’s duty it is to uphold the law. We are instructed in scripture to respect those who have this responsibility. They don’t bear the sword for no reason. If they use their power unlawfully they will be held accountable. But we can’t exempt anyone from the law just because of skin color or social status. Give respect to whom respect is due. Godly love does not enable wickedness. Godly love cares for our neighbor as we care for ourselves. Think about it.
We must guard against false righteousness. God’s righteousness never disregards justice, rather fulfills justice. If we truly want to do what is right in regard to the present scenario we would be wise to follow God’s leading and example. No honest person will deny the pain and agony of many of people of color as they faced the atrocities that are associated with slavery. Nor should we ever try to minimize the horrible effects of segregation and discrimination based on skin color or historical heritage or social status. But two wrongs never makes a right. That is the path the world would lead us on. That is why God forbids us to enact vengeance, because we can’t do it righteously and we end up causing more harm than good.
Let me try to explain. First let us look at how God redeems us out of bondage and positions us in his kingdom. We were all slaves to sin. In a sense we are victims of Adam’s sin, but also suffering from our own misguided choices. God chose a man, from which came a people, the sons of Israel. Through them He illustrated His plan to redeem us from bondage so that we might live free. First He brought them out of Egypt. Then He took Egypt out of them. Then as free people He dwelt with them in communion and worship. Salvation, righteousness and then worship, this is God’s way. God walked with them and taught them and nurtured them as you would children, eventually establishing them as a nation set to be an example to all the world.
What God didn’t do was allow them to take vengeance on the Egyptians. He didn’t over compensate them for suffering in the past. By that I mean, God instructed them in righteous living that was necessary to live as free people. He held them responsible for their actions. He held them responsible for obedience to his instruction. They gather the food he provided. They were given opportunity to contribute what God had blessed them with for the construction of the Tabernacle. They had to grow up and in due time were given land to care for, a place to live, plant, harvest, and raise families for the glory of God. God established them as a equal among the nations, not as a ruler of nations. They were privileged because of the Word of God. But they were not exempt from the righteous judgment of God that every nation has to answer to. With their privilege came responsibility.
God has not changed. Neither has his ways, for they are righteous. As Christians, having been saved and sanctified by the blood of Jesus does not exempt us from following the law of God. You may never know this fact if you watch the lives of some who claim to be Christian, but never the less it is true. It is only when we fully understand how God intends for us as Christians to live the we will have the wisdom to help lift others out of slavery. As God demonstrated through Israel true freedom from slavery is spiritual more than it is physical. True freedom is not to do as we please, but to be able to do what we ought to do. Freedom doesn’t mean we don’t have work to do, or are free from following the law, or are free from responsibility. Because if we are granted these thing it would be at the expense of someone else’s freedom.
The battle to free black slaves in the United States began at our very beginning and continued until the Civil War brought it to a head. Even after the abolition of slavery many of our laws restricted the freedom of black people in this country. By the end of the sixties most of those laws were gone. To date I know of no such laws. But people are still sometimes held in bondage through, opinions, prejudices, attitudes, and words. Although this bondage is reflected into the physical world, it is rooted in the emotional and mental realm. It is the understanding of this kind of bondage that allows people to take advantage of large groups of people, holding them in bondage through deception and lies.
Don’t get me wrong. Although the walls of this slavery are not physical they are very real. They can seem impenetrable. They can be added to and fortified. The stones in the wall include hatred, mistrust, being unforgiving, harboring prejudices, having desires for vengeance, and many other such thoughts and attitudes. It may even been harder to deliver people from this kind of slavery than it was to deliver them the from the physical slavery that existed at one time in this country.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (Joh 8:36 AV)
But God has the answer and it is real. The truth is that Saeed Abedini who is in prison in Iran is freer than many blacks in America today. If they had experienced what Saeed has experienced, then many of the restrictions that they feel would literally vanish. The truth of what I am saying is evident all around us in the lives of those who live in freedom. Those of us who acknowledge the Bible as the Word of God have the message of true freedom. This is freedom that is not contingent upon the opinions or prejudices of anyone else. Experiencing that freedom we can live as free men.
In the United States of America our law states that all men are created equal. To emphasize this we have created laws that favor groups of people who have been marginalized in the past. All of this has not freed some people from the bonds of slavery. Why?
Jesus died to free all men from the bonds of sin. Why aren’t all men free? It should be obvious to Christians what the answers to these questions are. Christ’s death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin paying our debt in full. This empowers us to be free, but does not make us free. Why? Because of God’s gift of choice. We can refuse to let go of the sin that holds us in bondage. We can refuse to freedom that is set before us. To be free from the bonds of sin we need only to choose to accept the grace of God. To live free in America today one only needs to recognize the open door in front of them. It is a matter of choice. For example: Education is available, but you must avail yourself. You can be taught, but you must apply yourself to learn. Your destiny is in your hands. Choose life.
Why would anyone refuse freedom? Logically it makes no sense to choose to be in bondage to sin. But the lies and deception that originates from Satan (the father of lies), continues to be promoted by those that are bound in the grip of sin. The arguments continues to try to convince people that they can sin (break the laws of God) without resulting in unpleasant consequences. The longer people entertain this logic from the pit, the deeper the deception grips them. Soon they are able to justify injustice, lawlessness, hatred, respect of persons, and the breaking of all of God’s commands.
We live in a Country that empowered everyone to be free. With freedom comes responsibility. Freedom didn’t put food on the table, but enabled us to put food on our table. Of course there are restriction. We can’t put food on our table by taking it off of someone else’s table. I think you can see my point without my belaboring it. We who know the Scriptures, should understand that the principles of truth are true whether they are applied to spiritual things or material things. We should easily recognize the voice of deception when it raises its ugly head.
“Black Lives Matter”, was inspired by those who are encouraging people to break the commandments of God. God commands us to not covet things that belong to someone else. These people not only inspire coveting, but tell people that because of the color of their skin they are entitled to not only covet, but steal from those not of their color. History shows us where all of this leads, and it is not to a society dwelling in peace and justice. Hatred does not reap love. Lawlessness does not produce peace. Coveting does not produce equality or justice. Fruit is reflective of the tree from which it comes.
How could the Church leaders fall for this? The Church should not reinforce the rhetoric and perception that the world is using to influence people with. Separating people by color, culture, or class is the philosophy of the world. It fuels hatred, mistrust, rioting and decent. No good ever comes from it. The Church leaders are falling for this deception because they are listening to the World and not listening to God.
You may be thinking that I am being to judgmental. For these Church leader are good men. They have a history of faithfulness to the truths of God. They have preached the word of God for years. They mean well. They are just recognize those in the black communities that are hurting.
Good intentions do not equate to godly words and actions, although those who speak and act godly do have good intentions. Godly words and actions come from those who are being directed from above. Often good intentioned men are deceived into following the politically correct agenda of our age. They seem oblivious to the fact that they have sided with the unruly, comforted the unlawful, and reinforced the distorted concepts that people are being taught by those who would foster unrest.
I know of no greater example of this than the record of Saul of Tarsus as he sought to promote and protect the religion of the Jews. Although that religion had been rooted in the Word of God, yet it had stray through the traditions of men. We as Christian, as were the Jews, are the fruit of those who purposed to follow the Word of God. We can, as Saul did, pervert the way by paying attention to the philosophies of men. Listen to what Paul says of himself.
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Ga 1:10-12 AV)
I ask this question. By applying the phrase “Black Lives Matter” to an emphasis in our churches, are we seeking to please men or God? The meanings, both implied and articulated by the web site of this name, the media, corrupt government officials, and the shouting mobs, is anything but righteous. So I am sure that if confronted, our Church leaders they would say that they are not implying that black lives are more important than white lives. Nor would they agree that past abuses justify lawlessness, looting, burning, and cop killing. Yet they have picked up a phrase from the world and promoted it publically.
Do we think that the world will interpret this phrase differently, just because we say it? Isn’t the message that we have for the world much different that their feeble attempts to bring justice? Are we ashamed of the gospel? There are implications to the phrases that we used to use also. After all, “Jesus Saves”, implies that they are lost. Have we forgotten that there is more to real life than just keeping the body alive? Do we care about “black souls”? I am not talking about skin color here, I’m talking about souls stained by sin that can be only washed clean by the blood of Jesus.
In conclusion I want to emphasize that we as a Church need to put aside the crowd pleasing rhetoric of the politically correct. Instead we need to regain our boldness to proclaim salvation and righteousness through Jesus Christ. Paralleling our message we need to again dedicate ourselves to live out our lives before men in a godly, righteous lifestyle that distinctly sets us apart from the world around us. These things we must do in faith, believing that our obedience will produce the fruit of lives transformed by the renewing power of God in Christ Jesus.
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.” (Joh 12:32 AV)
With all sincerity and love,
Bob Gunderson