Thoughts And Resources Amidst Protest

The number of significant events in just the first half of this year is hard to believe. While a month ago, it seemed unfathomable that something could eclipse the pandemic in our global consciousness, perhaps now 2020 will be most remembered for its huge leaps toward equality and justice for all. And because every human being is created by God, known by God, and dignified by God (Genesis 1:26-27), Christians should be engaged, interacting, empathizing, and learning as much as they can in these days.

As a church, we will have much more to learn. There will be much to consider, grow in, and change about ourselves. One blog post will not do all of that. Lord willing, the conversations and relationships we will build and continue to have will long outlast the protests, but we wanted to pass along a few suggestions and resources for you in the meantime.

Mourn Death, Lament Abuse, REJECT VIOLENCE

As Christians, we know the value of every human life is incalculable. So we ought to mourn the death of all people, but especially those unjustly killed at the hands of law enforcement whom we should be able to trust. We should also mourn and lament the death of every police officer killed in the line of duty, every black, white, or brown person killed in senseless violence from a neighbor or rioter, and every innocent child caught up in the crossfire of violence or the sanitized violence of abortion. We should lament the loss of every human life.

But it is also good to focus on the unique and devastating sadness and need for change when abuse of power and racism rears its ugly head without feeling as though all other lost lives are being minimized. In all of this, we ought to heed the words of our savior that "he who lives by the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). Illegal violence to provoke governmental change ought to be rejected by believers in Christ. Peaceful protests, mourning, and lamentation ought to be utilized in law-abiding and neighbor-loving ways.

Acknowledge Racism Past and Present

While many Americans would like to think that the events of the 1860s, the 1960s, or the presidential election of Barack Obama now means that racism is dead and we’re now all living in Dr. King’s dream, this just isn’t the case. Systems and policies, like red-lining from the 1930s, often carry generational effects. A quick scroll through social media will unearth videos of language and action from the majority white culture that ought to elicit outrage. This has been the black experience for centuries—but now it’s on video. And lest we define racism that of merely ill feelings, it would do us all well to deeply consider what signs of favoritism or partiality (James 2:1-13) we might be even harboring in our own hearts.

Remember That POLICE ARE OFTEN THE FRONT LINES OF Community BuildING

If you are feeling the inclination toward a hardening heart against all police officers, every time you see a discouraging video of police online, consider finding an equally encouraging video like this or this or even thinking through what it’s like to be a black police officer in America.

Learn, Listen, and Invite More Voices

It can be our tendency to move toward polar extremes—to justify and explain things away, to interrupt and with “yeah, but what about…”, and then further settle into our already-held convictions. But this is an extraordinary opportunity to seek to better understand conviction and anger that you might not currently understand (Proverbs 18:17). To hurt with those who hurt, weep with those who weep, listen to those who speak, and learn from God’s image-bearers whose experience does not line up with yours (Romans 12:15).

With that in mind, here are a few suggestions. This isn’t necessarily a pastoral endorsement of everything behind these links. You might not agree with everything you read or listen to in these lists—your pastors might not either. But perhaps that’s the point. The black community isn’t a monolithic voice, but (especially with the social media recommendations), consider following voices that make you uncomfortable and challenge your perspective, including black voices that are more conservative. It could be that some of us need to be pushed and challenged in different directions. Even if you aren’t ultimately persuaded, pushing our circles of comfortability is helpful to cultivate empathy, understanding, and conviction.

Read Books

• Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America

• The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism

• Insider Outsider: My Journey as a Stranger in White Evangelicalism and My Hope for Us All

• The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

• Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility

• The Quest for Cosmic Justice

Read Books With Your Kids

Here’s a helpful round-up of books to help have conversations about race and racism with your kids.

Read Online

• Unmasking Racism, Starting with Me

• We Need to Be Uncomfortable

• Is Black Lives Matter the New Civil Rights Movement?

• A Criticism of the New York Times Historical Project on White Supremacy (and the rest of the 1776 Project)

• Across the Race Divide

• Racial Injustice has Benefited Me - A Confession

• Why I Protest and Encourage You to Do So Too

Follow on Social Media

• Trillia Newbell

• Thabiti Anyabwile

• Isaac Adams

• Mika Edmondson

• Tony Dungy

• Jackie Hill Perry

• Thomas Sowell (quotes from)

Watch Movies

• 12 Years A Slave

• Amazing Grace

• Selma

• The Help

• Hidden Figures

• The Hate You Give

• Just Mercy

Watch Videos

• My Thoughts on the Murder of George Floyd (Lecrae)

• "I am afraid of the police" & Urban Empowerment (KB)

• Don’t Lose Heart: Why It’s Worth It to Fight for Racial Harmony Even When We Don’t See Progress (Eric Mason)

• Deputy Deon Smith on Policing as a Black Man

• Black Lives Matter, Racism A Conservative Perspective

Listen to Podcasts

• Pass the Mic

• "Ending Overcriminalization and Mass Incarceration," with Dr. Anthony Bradley (Mere Fidelity)

• "The Color of Compromise," with Jemar Tisby (Mere Fidelity)

Take Real Relational Action

While we are already considering ways to congregationally build more enduring bridges across racial, ethnic, and socio-economic divides, in the meantime, personally communicate to your black friends (if you don’t have any, make some, truly and not tokenly) that you love them, that you don’t totally understand how they might be feeling, and that you want to buy them lunch and listen.

And then also communicate to your law enforcement friends (if you don’t have any, make some, truly and not tokenly) that you love them, that you don’t totally understand how they might be feeling, and that you want to buy them lunch and listen.

We have a long road ahead of us—as a country, as a city, and as a church. May God give grace and may the reputation and glory of Christ be made more fully known and experienced on earth as it is in heaven.

- Your Pastors