Nathan Jones: It is universally agreed that Black lives matter. But, what does the organization that calls itself by the same name actually believe? We are now going to find out exactly what the organization Black Lives Matter (BLM) believes.
The organization called Black Lives Matter was created a few years ago in response to the Trayvon Martin incident, who was killed by a neighborhood patrol. The organization exploded again onto the world scene in early 2020 when George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis.
According to Don Lemon, who is a news commentator at CNN, he claims Black Lives Matter is an organization that is just concerned about fighting police brutality. But, is that solely why BLM exists? I went to their website at blacklivesmatter.com to find out if that truly was the case. Let’s go right to their What We Believe page and let’s see what Black Lives Matter actually believes, because when we see on the streets riots and chaos and the destruction of our history and the tearing down of statues, is that really about ending supposed police brutality? So, let’s look through a little of what they believe from their website to understand BLM’s purpose.
For one, BLM’s mission is to “build local power and intervene when violence was inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.” It appears that’s what most people generally believe Black Lives Matter stands for.
Their mission is: “Imagining and creating a world free of anti-Blackness, where every Black person has the social, economic, and political power to thrive.” Obviously, most everybody wants Black lives to thrive. They then say they want to “connect Black people from all over the world,” so this is a global organization, “who have a shared desire for justice to act together in their communities.”
They see the fundamental problem as this, and it’s why BLM’s founders say they exist, is because there is “rampant and deliberate violence inflicted on us [Black people] by the state.” This persecution by the State is what they call systemic racism. Systemic racism can be defined as “a system or structure with an unfair impact upon a particular group, even if no law mentions the race.” So, BLM believes that it is not just racism against Black people from individuals or small groups around the world, but that governments are organized to inflict systemic racism against Black people.
BLM is clearly a political party, so don’t get that wrong. They say right on their website that they are a “political home for many,” and have “ousted anti-Black politicians, won critical legislator to benefit Black lives,” and so on.
Black Lives Matter’s motive, it says right there on their website, desires to “continue the work of our ancestors in fighting for our collective freedom” and “healing ourselves and each other.” When I read that motivation, it sounds like they are connecting the racism their ancestors experienced, speaking of the slavery that existed in the United States and around the world that ended over 150 years ago, to a wound that continues to be felt and a desire to right a wrong that happened many decades ago.
Tim Moore: I think that is the crux of their argument, obviously. Let’s be clear, we are two Caucasian guys talking about an organization called Black Lives Matter and trying to comment on the organization aside from the idea that all lives clearly matter. Black lives matter. White lives matter. “Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are all precious in His sight,” as the children’s song we learned in Sunday school goes. We don’t take any issue with the fact that all men and women regardless of ethnicity or color are created in the image of God. So, let’s be very clear about that.
But, the systemic racism that they are claiming still exists does seem to be a continuing wound that has festered in different ways over the years, and now it has become a source of division in our country and along racial lines, tragically. The reality is that in this country and around the world, slavery has been a problem that has been a manifestation of sin in many regards, even in recent years. We have to also remember that the way that slavery has been perpetrated has never been limited to any one race. There were White slaves brought over from Europe back a couple of hundred years ago to this country.
Nathan Jones: There is child slavery now. Saudi Arabia currently deals with slaves. The sex industry is considered slavery. But, is there systemic, State-sponsored racism here in the United States? You said we are two White guys, but if anyone thinks White guys have no right to comment on racism, then you’ve got to wonder if that in and of itself is a racist viewpoint.
So, let’s then look at what some famous African-American pundits have had to say about systemic racism. Larry Elder says: “One of the big fake news narratives is that institutional, structural, and systemic racism remains a major problem in American. When, in fact, race has never been a more insignificant barrier to success in America.”
And, Burgess Owens says: “No, my friends, there is no systemic racism in America, just systemic Marxism elitism and evil that uses, abuses, and discards anyone for power.”
These pundits, and many like them, are pointing out that Black Lives Matter as an organization is using the moral cause of anti-racism, which all sane people and especially Christians believe in, but they are using a good cause to hide their Marxist agenda, which is an anti-God, very humanistic, anti-Christian agenda they’re ramming forward.
Let’s look at what the statistics have to say about systemic racism in America as they relate to BLM’s claim that the police are killing droves of unarmed Blacks. These pundits point to the Washington Post database which reports that in 2019 there were 328 million people in the United States’ population. The police arrested 10 million people. Of those, 600,000 were arrests for violent crimes. Of those arrests, only 1,003 people were shot and killed by police comprising 405 White people, 250 Black people, 163 Hispanics, and 185 Other. Of those who were unarmed when the police killed them, the numbers equal 55 total comprised of 25 Whites who were shot, 14 Blacks, 11 Hispanics, and 5 Other. Out of 328 million people, that means 14 unarmed Blacks — 9 less than Whites — were killed out of 10 million arrests which equates to .00014% of the population.
So, are the police actually looking for Black people to gun down? The statistics say no. More White people have died at the hands of the police than Black people. Therefore, these African-American pundits do not believe this country is suffering from systemic racism. After all, we elected a Black president — twice! Many of the police chiefs and the city councils leading these riotous cities ensconced in upheaval are run by African-Americans.
Tim Moore: One of those quotes spoke of evil. Really, evil is the crux of the problem. It’s not racism, per se, but sin. Sin manifests itself in so many different ways. It is institutional in the human heart. So, if there is systemic sin, we would agree with that. It is systematic in that all people fall short of the glory of God. The systems that we create — systems made by mankind — have woven in them sinfulness because you cannot remove the human element. And so, there are always going to be manifestations of sin, which becomes evil in terms of the effects sin has on individual lives.
Obviously, statistically, we are concluding that there is no systemic racism per se in this country, so much as there is a continuing sin problem. As far as a prophetic perspective about this, the reality is sin is going to continue to infect human hearts until Jesus Christ returns to reign with perfect peace, righteousness, and justice during the Millennial Kingdom.
For us Christians today, we still grapple with sin. Paul talks about sin as the “old man.” But, Christians have the penalty for our sins covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we advocate for truth, we advocate for righteousness, and we advocate for justice in this world today.
So, do all lives matter? Clearly, they do. Black lives do matter. But, as a movement and organization, Black Lives Matter is trying to divide people by ethnicity, which is actually a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 that the nations will be divided in the last days. The nations will be at each other’s throats. There will be wars and rumors of wars. And, there will be ethnos against ethnos, meaning ethnicities. So, the BLM movement is feeding into that end times hysteria and division, meaning we are on the crux of the Lord’s return because this division is one of the signs of the times. Division now afflicts our own nation.
Nathan Jones: The cure to racism and racial reconciliation is Jesus Christ. We are told again and again, such as in James 2:1, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with partiality.” We as Christians are not to show partiality. First Corinthians 12:13 and other parallel verses reveal that for Christians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male nor female, for you are one in Jesus Christ.” It is Jesus Christ and Christianity which bring warring races, or ethnicities, together.
Black Lives Matter the organization, not the idea behind it, is driving people apart. That’s why we here at Lamb & Lion Ministries would say, Christians, Black Lives Matter is not an organization that we should support. Rather, support the evangelistic efforts of your local church.
In the second segment of our look into what the organization Black Lives Matter believes, we’ll explore how BLM redefines freedom and justice.
So glad to see this thank you!
As a black person I feel that if you are reaching billions of people to say NOT to support BLM then name ALL organizations that are dividing the country and world too. It’s seems one-sided! As a Black person I feel the news media reports incorrect information! I do not financially support BLM or any organization other than the churches.
We absolutely agree, and do. We called out the MSM as being the instigators in fostering racial division for the purpose of gaining ratings. We just focused on BLM in this series.
Greeting Nathan,
I am a Black pastor, who has written several books and one on Bible Prophecy. I love to watch the Christ in Prophecy television program and appreciate Dr. Regan’s Pre-Tribulation and Pre-Millennial theological stand.
I also appreciate you taking the time to address the Black Lives Matters Movement.
I believe the Black Lives Matter organization is anti-Biblical promoting an ideology that directly contradicts Scripture. However, I believe we must separate the organization from the reality. The reality is that from slavery until the current day, black lives have been minimized. While I believe we as blacks have come a long way in America, there are still several ways blacks still struggle. Blacks have come through slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, predatory lending, housing discrimination, inequity in education, high rates of imprisonment, discriminatory hiring, police brutality, etc. Even though we had a Black president for 8 years, many of these things did not change.
I believe that 99.9% of police in America are good and justly uphold the laws of society. I pastor in an inner city community and we have a great relationship with the local police (who are mostly white). We work hand-in-hand with them in keeping our community safe. They regularly visit our churches, and any time we need them to support our activities they are there. But I think what a lot of white people fail to realize that when Blacks are victims of police brutality, it is connected to a history of the de- masculinity of the Black man. Yes, more white men are killed by the police, but when Black men are killed it connects back to a history of abuse and mistreatment. When the White police officer in Minneapolis kneeled with his knee on the neck of George Floyd for over 8 minutes, this conjured up images of slavery where White men put their knees on the necks of Black men both literally and figuratively, i.e. beating with a whip and separating the black man from his family. Just think, God allowed the whole world to see this and they world was outraged. I believe God was exposing this aggregeous sin of America.
I believe that as a Black pastor, I must preach forgiveness and encourage my Black brothers and sisters to forgive things that have happened in the past. But I also believe we need to call out the sin of racism which exists in our society today and not try to disconnect it from blatant things going on in America today.
Brother Nathan, as you continue in your series, please don’t throw the baby (Black Lives Matter, the reality) out with the bath water (Black Lives Matter the organization).
My brother, thank you for your ministry and continue to lift of Christ and promote Biblical truth.
Dr. William R. Glaze, Pastor
Bethany Baptist Church
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pastor Glaze, thank you so much for your insights and wise advice. I wonder if the perception of racism is not stronger in the city than it is in the suburbs? I ask this because I served for years at an inner-city Philadelphia church and volunteer preached at a number of primarily black churches. Because the churches down there were more segregated ethnically due to neighborhood locations, I found my black brethren felt racism far stronger than my black brethren in mixed suburban churches. The inner-city churches felt very strongly that racism remained a primary issue, while my suburban friends almost all expressed no racism in their experiences. I can’t explain the reason for such different viewpoints, other than to speculate that ethnically diverse churches might help all races feel included. Your insights into this puzzle would be appreciated.
I agree with your assessment of the organization but do not agree with the statement that the police officer killed George Floyd. I agree his knee on the neck was wrong and he should be at least dismissed but it has not been proven the officer murdered him. Innocent until proven guilty still applies and the words that you used only incite anger and possibly untruth. And now that the full video has been released there is definite question as to whether the officer killed George Floyd. I just think different language should have been used until he is proven guilty.
Your article and conclusions are right on point, because my wife, who is black and all 6 of our kids stand for Jesus Christ and believe this is a way to divide countries and beliefs. Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!
Compelling and relevant article — two things though.
▪️“the reality is sin is going to continue to infect human hearts until Jesus Christ returns to reign with perfect peace, righteousness, and justice during the Millennial Kingdom.“ As I understand the Millenial Kingdom, though Jesus Christ will rule with total righteousness and justice, there will still be sin as evidenced by the rebellion at the end of the period when satan is released for a short time and many side with him. I submit that there will be no perfect peace until the the New Jerusalem where all sin and it’s effects are absent.
▪️Black Lives Matter is trying to divide people by ethnicity, which is actually a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 that the nations will be divided in the last days. The nations will be at each other’s throats. There will be wars and rumors of wars. And, there will be ethnos against ethnos, meaning ethnicities.
I do concur with the first statement but my understanding as a dispensationalist who believes in the pre–Tribulation rapture is that both Matthew 24 and Luke 21 refer to the actual Tribulation Period because those occurrences have always been yet during the Tribulation, as you well know, they’ll be intensified as never before . Though I do agree that in light of everything happening geopolitically, it is in actuality, stage setting, and it is occurring at an accelerated pace, praise God.
Welcome your comments…
Thank you so much for the BLM article, as a black woman I have felt that all lives matter, God created everyone us, he has a very vivid imagination to see so many beautiful colors. This BLM i thought to myself was a division and place for sin to hide behind. When the Jews were slaves and being slaughtered there was no apology for it, just as the black were slaves being torn from families, degraded and demoralized, so much in common. So to the two white guys, you were point on. The Lord Bless and keep you, stay and stand for righteousness.
Thank you for your help in understanding this BLM movement. B
Thank you so much Nathan yet again. I knew since the beginning that BLM was an extreme left wing organization with a radical agenda, I have always believed that every life matters, as you said, we are all equal in GOD’s eyes. It is terrible that our nation has fallen so far from the Christian principles upon which our founding fathers based our constitution, so many died to secure our freedom, and to many are so eager to kill freedom thinking they have something to gain. Perhaps if they would look at real history such as Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Mao Tse Dung, ( sorry if I spelled his name wrong) and many other dictators , even the current ones, they would see that they always purged, most often the ones who helped set up the revolution. If these left wingers really believed in peace they would turn to CHRIST and promote equality, they would not riot, kill, loot, and commit arson, and whatever other crimes they are committing. And if the democrats really cared about the people they would not promote the violence and allow it to continue like they are. As for me and my wife, we will serve the Lord. Thank you again my brother in CHRIST and GOD bless.
sincerely, your brother in CHRIST, Dan L
So good to hear the article was a blessing to you, Danny! Agreed that history has proven again and again that when Socialism says it stands for the people, its leaders end up taking everyone’s possessions and suppressing their own people. People should ask my friend Donald Dolmus in Nicaragua what life is like living under Socialism. Everyone is equally poor except for their President-for-life Ortega.
Nathan, This particular paragraph from your article stands alone as an extremely important subject and should be splashed all over Facebook. Thanks for a great article.
So, do all lives matter? Clearly, they do. Black lives do matter. But, as a movement and organization, Black Lives Matter is trying to divide people by ethnicity, which is actually a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 that the nations will be divided in the last days. The nations will be at each other’s throats. There will be wars and rumors of wars. And, there will be ethnos against ethnos, meaning ethnicities. So, the BLM movement is feeding into that end times hysteria and division, meaning we are on the crux of the Lord’s return because this division is one of the signs of the times. Division now afflicts our own nation.
Paragraph 5: It is not obvious that most everyone wants Black lives to thrive. I live in the deep South and I have to deal with racism every day of my life. I grew up in the 1950s in Alabama and Black people are still dealing with the same issues we faced back then. Maybe BLM is a global organization, but so is the Ku Klux Klan and is thriving still today.
Paragraph 6: Systematic racism does exist in this country today. If you have never lived in a Black persons shoes in the South you have no room to say it is not so. I was brought up in Southern Alabama in the 1950s. My Parents fought in the Civil Rights Movement and I saw our land, crops, homes being burned to the ground. I saw the KKK burning crosses in our yard every night and trying to break our doors down. I saw our land being stolen from us by what you call equal justice. Equal Justice? Not so. I went to college and received a Degree in 1991. I was told by every business in Town that there was no room for “My Kind” in the office but that they needed someone to “Clean the House”. This is still happening in this town and surrounding towns in the South. Equal Justice? Please. The court system systematically refuse to collect Child Support for Black Mothers, I was one of them. Police officers systematically sit in Black neighborhood and pull Black people over for driving nice cars, I was one of them. Equal Justice? Please.
Paragraph 8-14: If you think that the desire for slavery of Black people ended 150 years ago, then you have your head in the sand. You’re not Black so don’t tell me what it’s like to be Black. Yes our ancestors experienced a lot of things that we do experience today. But America is far from being and equal society for all. And yes, the wound continues to be felt, because we continue to fight the same demon “racism”. And yes, the root of racism is sin regardless of the color of the skin. It will never truly end until people realize that hatred and racism is a sin, not a right. Yes, there were white slave brought from other countries. But were they treated the same as Black slaves? Were they treated as if they did not have a soul? Are they still being treated that way? Were the Indians treated fairly? Are they treated fairly today? I say NO. White slaves were called “Bond Servants”, Black people were called “Slaves:”. Whoever said “One of the big fake news narratives is that institutional, structural, and systemic racism remains a major problem in American. When, in fact, race has never been a more insignificant barrier to success in America.” Is clearly out of touch with the truth of Black people today. He who made that statement needs to come to Alabama or of the other Southern states and try to live as free as any white man in the area. Or maybe he/she who made the statement would still keep his/her head in the ground to be more politically correct for the white man’s sake. Just to be accepted by the white man. You call the BLM Marxist and anti-Christian. Why, because it speaks about what you don’t want to hear? I believe that all men should live together as brothers and sisters as God designed. My Church is non-denominational with people of all colors, races and backgrounds from all walks of life. Did over half of the white people change churches when people different from them started coming? Yes, they did. Did it stop our Pastor? No it didn’t. Is BLM anti-God? I don’t believe so. Do they want equality for all people? I believe they do.
Paragraph 16: Your statistics say that police are not looking for Black people to gun down. I beg to differ. My grandson was told by police a few months ago that even if he doesn’t do anything wrong that they would find a way to implicate him because “I just don’t like the way you look. You’re a proud N…..” So, are the police actually looking for Black people to gun down? YES they still are. Like I said before, I live it. Yes, we had a Black President elected. Did it help the Black American people? No. Because right after we elected a Black President we put a White supremist in the White house. He’s the one spreading hatred, not the BLM. Yes, it does look like Civil War, but only because of the President who’s spreading segregation and hatred. I’ve heard all of his speeches before; from a Governor from Alabama by the name of George Wallace.
Paragraph 17-18: 17. Yes, I agree sin is the main problem. Sin is causing the racism problem. But until people realize that one human being is not better than the other the sin will continue. Racism cannot be legislated, nor can love and acceptance. I agree, what we need is Jesus Christ. Not just for Black, White or any race of people. But for all people. I don’t know where all of this fits into prophecy.
Paragraph 20-22: Yes all lives matter. I do not believe the BLM is trying to divide anyone. But to bring people to an awareness of what is really going on in the country and around the world. But I can agree on one thing. Jesus is so soon to return. Yes, division afflicts our nation. But is BLM really at the root of it, or is it the President of the US?
Paragraph 21-22: 21. Yes the cure is Jesus Christ. And I pray for unity in America. BLM is not driving people apart, but trying to bring Black people together to stand as one people. We need to stand as one nation and one country. I support the evangelistic efforts of the move of God in my local Church and around the world. I am not anti-BLM and will never tell anyone else to do so. The cure to racism and racial reconciliation is Jesus Christ. We are told again and again, such as in James 2:1, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with partiality.” We as Christians are not to show partiality. First Corinthians 12:13 and other parallel verses reveal that for Christians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male nor female, for you are one in Jesus Christ.”
Amen to 1 Corinthians 12:13! The Church should always transcend any ethnic, political, or class divide. We are all children of God equal in His eyes. You may like this short video series with black evangelist Don Perkins (https://youtu.be/gys65bRv6x8) and the former police chief of Detroit Dr. Patrick Oliver (https://youtu.be/a-BL7VssPF0).
Honestly, I am embarrassed by your article. It is not well researched (such as the perpetuated fake history about white slavery) and lacks understanding of systemic racism and white privilege that you portrayed by your insensitive opinions. Don’t quote a few token black men and assume that they represent the true perspective because you agree with them. Dare to have a conversation with those who can reveal to you what it’s really like to be a person of color in this country, even in 2020. Then, humbly ask them to speak and bravely share what they have to say.
Cris, one short article/video cannot cover the whole topic. That’s why we made four articles/videos (click through), as well as this series with black evangelist Don Perkins (https://youtu.be/gys65bRv6x8) and the former police chief of Detroit Dr. Patrick Oliver (https://youtu.be/a-BL7VssPF0).
Amen Nathan and Tim-I was a Dallas Police Officer and US Deputy Marshal with the US Marshals Service, and I saw a lot of racism within the city police department I hate to say. There was one officer who worked on a beat near mine, and by 1983 he had been involved in five (5) shootings of minorities, all of them which he was cleared. I finally asked a supervisor why he was allowed to continue on the street, and the response was “he puts the fear of God in people of his beat!” Having went into law enforcement for the sole purpose of ministry and to try and help people, I was amazed at how many false arrests of people I witnessed. I ended up being called in by the FBI because they had wind of what was happened within the department, and there were a number of civil suits filed as well as there was a growing sentiment in the minority community that there were too many “cowboys” within the department who were not being properly supervised. I told the truth as did others and I paid the price by being ostracised by several officers I worked with. Fortunately about 3 years after the Justice Department put the department under a “consent decree”, I was hired by the US Marshals Service and was able to go to an agency where professionalism was clearly seen and felt. After many years, I was retired and went to work in the private sector for the US government which was a door opened by the Lord. In all my years I never had ONE complaint filed against me, and I also never fired my weapon once. I knew what the consequences of not being able to bring a fired bullet meant. Thank you for your writings. I do believe that there is a major movement in the country where blacks feel they are owed reparations for the sins of the past. You are right, when you say that Jesus Christ and him crucified are the only answers that exist for any person of any color or race. By the way, i am believing the Lord to travel to the Holy Land next year with Col. Tim Moore. I went as a young boy with my parents after the 6 Day War, and I would love to see the places where my Lord and Savior lived and ministered.
Thank you for your service, Michael! Our police force may be human like the rest of us, but they’re our heroes.
Do you call shooting innocent people down “Just being human”. I have loved ready your articles until now. This article is far from insightful as to where we are in prophecy. It’s just a shot at the BLM and a couple of articles suggested to watch given by two men who knows nothing about Black lives in America whether they are Black or White men speaking. I’ve encountered a lot of people like that in my life. People who say what they think the majority wants to hear.
Please view/read the entire 4-part series for the prophetic perspective. You may like this series with black evangelist Don Perkins (https://youtu.be/gys65bRv6x8) and the former police chief of Detroit Dr. Patrick Oliver (https://youtu.be/a-BL7VssPF0).
Amen! Sin is the problem, but the ungodly left are blind to this reality, and they reject the only real solution to it – Jesus Christ and the Bible!
I am an avid fan of Dr. Reagan’s ministry. Now that you have covered BLM, how about a study on dictators. As we watch voting suppression daily from our crime family in the WH, it is high time. truth comes out. Bad Kings in the bible
I live in Iowa. It could possibly be the “Most” racist state in the USA. Our rep Steven King(Republican) was taken out in the primaries. BUT, now we are witnessing a plan to suppress the election. How does the Bible address dictators, which we are headed for, if the Trump crime family is not replaced. I voted for John Kasich, one of the few real humans left in the Republican party. I agree with Dr. Reagan on his views of God’s wrath upon us and the election of Donald Trump as the “deception” that voters chose over the lesser of two evils. America is in for a few months of chaos and God’s wrath is upon us.
Craig, do you only watch CNN? “Trump crime family” – sheesh. Donald Trump is definitely not the Savior of this nation, nor is Joe Biden or any other politician. You need to search your soul about making so many irresponsible allegations that actually constitute malicious gossip.
You should be thanking the Lord for:
1) Trump’s great appointments to our courts
2) His strong stance against abortion
3) His strong support of Israel
4) His opposition to world government
5) His incredible stimulus of the economy
6) His opposition to the Sexual Perversion Movement
7) His strong defense of law and order
8) His determination to stop illegal immigration
9) His lifting of draconian regulations on business
10) His freeing up of the oil and gas industry, making us the world’s number one producer
I could go on and on…
Being a Christian, I understand and agree about the relation to sin in the world, and Jesus being our salvation, but I can’t be the only one who notices that the statistics mentioned, while being used to claim there’s no systemic racism, does actually prove that unarmed Black people were disproportionately shot and killed, right? If Black people make up about 13% of the population, only 130 and 7, respectively, Black people should’ve been shot and killed to match. You read aloud that instead, 250 and 14 were.
Of course, your claim is that BLM said “droves,” are killed, in order to validate your manipulating the usage of the data to compare it to the entire number of those arrested, but that’s arguably a purposefully negative exaggeration on your part – on the contrary, the whole point people protesting are making is exactly as stated: that double the amount are shot than should be.
Not to mention the problem with quoting the likes of Larry Elder as proof of anything (“look, a Black person said something we agree with, so it must be true!”) – it’s the equivalent of HRC as “proof” of there being systemic racism because she’s white and the side using her as proof agrees with her. The obvious argument made would be that she’s an unreliable source because of her politics, etc. yes? Likewise here.
So, what exactly were you trying to accomplish with this? Was it intentional deception? Because oeople who don’t already have a predisposition to believe your conclusion aren’t going to believe this.
The point is to encourage first using facts instead of feelings before taking action. The statistics and the number of successful Black people in positions of power and influence prove America no longer has systemic racism. Nobody’s disagreeing about individual cases of racism, but not systemic.
If you want to talk statistics, how do you explain 18% (you say 13%) of the population commits 50% of the crimes in the US? Blaming the system or white people or whatever will not fix the heart of the problem for the Black community – no fathers. Only 1 in 4 Black families have actively involved fathers. Fix that and many of these other problems will fix themselves.
Nathan your response was soooo Christian. The problem for the Black community – no fathers? You just proved Christy’s point, you just put on your white robe and coned shaped hat.
“White robe and coned shaped hat”?!? (That was uncalled for.) Associating white people with the KKK neither addresses nor fixes the problems within the Black community that are holding it back from its true potential. At least Candace Owens is brave enough to tackle the issues (see https://www.facebook.com/prageru/videos/590343885002368/).
I first want to say that it is really hard to have conversations about race. It is also hard to have conversations where we do not have agreed upon language.
But what is the hardness that damages is when the statements are political and not Christ-like. Candace Owens does not speak for all black people, as I am sure you do not speak for all non-black people.
If anyone would like to see some historical perspective on this please watch the PBS special by Henry Louis Gates, called: “Reconstruction: after the Civil War”.
It records the advances, then struggles, then historic enemies of equality and equity for black people. If we are honest, we would be doing this differently. One of the things that becomes useful is Cultural Humility which is looking through the eyes of another. We quote Micah 6:8, but how do we venture forward into opening our hearts towards real solutions to what is happening in America? Candace Owens is a politician, or seems to be put out there as one.
Let’s talk Kingdom, not country. If someone does not believe in systemic racism, please feel free to look at Data on African Americans in the areas of health, housing, and criminal justice. Also, perhaps, lets drop the term systemic racism and create something that drives into people’s hearts that how can a sinful world NOT have created something like Systemic Racism?
I think we all must make sure we are representing Christ and His Cross in our views, and that is the Christ that unites us in His Church. But He does not rule the world system, according to the Bible. In this commentary from Got Questions on 2 Corinthians 4:4: The phrase “god of this world” (or “god of this age”) indicates that Satan is the major influence on the ideals, opinions, goals, hopes and views of the majority of people. His influence also encompasses the world’s philosophies, education, and commerce. The thoughts, ideas, speculations and false religions of the world are under his control and have sprung from his lies and deceptions.
Since we can agree that the United States is not the church, we can agree that it is under the world system of Satan, which makes systemic racism plausible and probable.
The very next question I would pose is: what are each of us as Christians and individuals, and can I say the church because God’s House can be filled with all Black or all White, or all Brown and be as divided as the World is.
If you bring the Bible into this, with the purpose of creating Unity or understanding, or at least not making any wider the chasm that divides us (speaking universally here), maybe we can do some good instead of stirring up all the things that makes the devil happy.
WIth the grace of God and prayer for what is His desire in all of this, I call on this Scripture in this time: Isaiah 59:14 14 So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.
Please pray: search your hearts, your minds, Scriptures, and good reliable facts of both sides of the Argument, then as God leads you so do. There are well meaning people on both sides who may be blinded to the full picture. If the women that put together BLM are wrong, pray for them that God would open the eyes of their hearts. Are there disruptive people within the movement? Pray for them that God would open the eyes of their hearts.
I guess what I am saying is be careful when you do things the World’s way. I do see some issues on the BLM website, but I think there are a lot of people in the world who could not witness a man of any color with a uniform of authority kneeling on another mans neck until death. That uniform represented something to too many people, just as a soldiers uniform would.
They (like I) may not agree with everything the BLM movement puts forward, but this whole sorrow (yes, SORROW) about that that could happen in a country where there is “no systemic racism”, cannot be ignored.
Amen to that, Stephanie! That the entire nation was universally appalled that one person would put their knee on another person’s neck until they died shows how far our society has come over the decades in the issue of race relations. While there’s definitely room to advance further, this very important point has been lost in the upheaval as of late.
By the way, let us also agree that are also problems internal and external to all communities. But let Black folks deal with the internals, as we always have.
I think no one knows us, and is content to just turn us into what they read. It doesn’t appear that you have a lot of experience with the community…but forgive me if I am wrong.
Would you care to have or open up a discussion with African Americans and other communities and record it? It may change you to hear some of the real life stories, to know about lynchings, whole towns ravaged by insanity. Sorry, but that just doesn’t go away by law. I think its called a STRONGHOLD.
Saying this in Love but frustration 🙂
Stephanie, definitely, I’m always up for the “conversation on race” everyone says should happen but as soon as it does gets shouted down. Christians should be able to safely discuss these issues with each other because we’re all one in Christ and should be colorblind, and we know that the root of all of mankind’s ills is our sin nature and the Enemy.