Black Lives Matter

This was originally posted on my personal facebook page on 5/27/2020 but I believe the subject is so incredibly important that I needed to post it here on my blog, too.

Black Lives Matter.

The fact that this still has to be said because racial violence and inequity continue to ravage our country is devastating. The fact that the reality is that many don’t believe it is exponentially worse. My heart is shattered and I’m disgusted by the abuse and disregard for human life that I’ve seen in this country. That we’ve all seen.

Institutional racism is real.

Denying it doesn’t make it go away. Denying it does nothing but show others that we refuse to give a damn about anyone’s experience or story but our own.

As a white woman I know there are many ways I benefit from systemic privilege. And I know I have so so much more to learn. It’s amazing to me the grace I’ve been given by people of color – whose job it certainly is NOT to educate me or anyone else on this – as I continue to try to learn how to be an ally as best I can. And for that I am immensely grateful.

I’m trying to do much more listening than talking.

But it felt wrong not to speak out about this. And as a Christian it felt straight-up immoral.

All white people need to speak up right now, of course, but in this moment I want to talk to Christians specifically:

I know that the church in America has historically absolutely been complicit in racism. That fact disgusts me, but denying it doesn’t change it.

White Christians, we need to step up. We need to use our voices to shout, cry, scream into the universe that this is not okay. If you can watch the news, see the brutal treatment, abuse, harm, and murder of our black sisters and brothers on this earth and not feel outraged, I’d ask you to take a good long look at Scripture and start praying about it. Hard.

The Bible says that we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). That means all of us. Racism by its very definition denies the inherent dignity and sacredness found in all human beings, as we are all made in the likeness of God. All. Every single one of us.

Racism is sin, point blank.
Disgusting, life-taking, soul-hardening sin.

Read James 2. Read 1 John 4:19-21. Read John 13:34-35. Read Matthew 22:36-40.

But really, just read your Bible.
And pray.

Talk to God and I’d be shocked if He doesn’t fill your heart with righteous anger about what’s going on in our country right now.

God made human beings in His image and Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself. How can we claim to follow this if we stand silently by while egregious hatred is flourishing all around us?

I would argue that we can’t.

So I’ll say it again and I’ll keep saying it as long as it needs to be said. Fellow Christians, I’d implore you to join me:

Black Lives Matter.