Reflections: 'Black Lives Matter'

So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him."

-- Acts 10:34-35

There is no hint of racism with God. He "shows no partiality." Like the song we learned as children, "Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight."

Yes, in the Old Covenant He chose the Jews to be His congregation and bear His witness, but other nations and races were always welcome to proselytize into Judaism and count themselves among God's people. By the dawn of the New Covenant, large numbers of Ethiopians from the continent of Africa were God-fearing adherents to the religion of Israel. In the New Covenant, God came to us as a man, a Jewish man, but He made disciples and sent them to make more disciples of all the nations and races of the world. Therefore, to discriminate against someone, or intentionally harm someone, or refrain from sharing the gospel with someone, just because they are of a different race, is an abject sin against God and man.

I used to think racism was disappearing in America. Before I became a pastor, I was the human resource director of a large company. We had Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity policies that I pursued on the company's behalf. I worked with the local NAACP and other minority organizations to recruit applicants and hire new workers. We gave African Americans fair and equal treatment, and many found employment in the company.

Since then, however, I have attended two almost all-white seminaries and served as a pastor in virtually all-white churches. Yes, I have willingly gone into black neighborhoods to witness. Yes, I have traveled internationally to preach the gospel to other races. Yes, I have promoted and participated in joint worship services of black and white churches. But no, no, no, I have no idea what it is like to be an African American in the United States of America.

The Minneapolis Police Department may have had a right to question George Floyd in regard to a complaint made against him by a nearby convenience store. But they had no right to pounce on him while he was on the ground in handcuffs and stay on his neck while he was begging them to get off him so he could breathe. They had no right to murder him on the street. I cannot help but believe if it had been an elderly white woman accused of counterfeiting, who mildly resisted getting into the police car, she would have been handled much differently.

I listen regularly to a podcast featuring sports writers Tony Kornheiser, who is white, and Michael Wilbon, who is black. Mr. Wilbon is an alumnus and trustee of prestigious Northwestern University, a critically acclaimed journalist and a bestselling author. He drives a car and lives in a neighborhood befitting his accomplishments, but recently revealed he has been stopped by police at least a dozen times on his way home, even though he was not speeding nor doing anything unlawful, and you know exactly the reason why.

We must face the fact that racism is alive and well and raising its head in our country. It exists on both sides of the color divide, to be sure, but in a democracy the majority has a responsibility to protect the rights of the minority. Racism is wrong, in any circumstance and for any reason. God's people, of all people, should decry it, speak out against it, and do their best to eradicate it.

I know that only in Heaven will people of all nations be able to live and worship together in perfect peace and harmony. I know that on earth most churches feature only one color, and that is not necessarily due to racism. I know that all lives matter to God. But I also know that the black community needs to hear the white church specifically say to them, "Black Lives Matter," to God and to us.

Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church in Hot Springs. He is a graduate of Valdosta State University, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has served churches in Arkansas and Georgia and preached the gospel across the USA and other countries. Email him at [email protected].

Religion on 06/06/2020

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