What Is The Solution?

Let me begin by stating the obvious: Racism exists.

Many individuals suffer from real social injustices because of the color of their skin. I can make a blog post sharing stories of racism I have seen first-hand by my African-American friends but that is not the purpose of this post. The purpose of this post is to discuss something far worse than racism – sin. At the root of racism, and every injustice, is not prejudice or privilege but sin in the form of blatant rebellion against a holy God to love His image bearers as God has loved us (John 13:34). My concern is that Christians, sadly including myself for a time, are getting swept up in the momentum of movements and demands for social change without knowing what these movements truly stand for. Change is needed. After all, Christians should be about working to make His “kingdom come… on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10). However, how we go about pursuing that change is of utmost importance.

Over the past few days I have begun to research what is behind the movement “Black Lives Matter,” as I had used that phrase many times before, genuinely in defense of my African-American brothers and sisters. To my sorrow, I discovered that the movement of BLM is demanding far more than loving our neighbors as ourselves, it is demanding the dismantlement of family structures, the removal of policing and funding, and lastly the removal of democracy as we know it. In fact, the founder of BLM said in an interview that she is a “well-versed Marxist,” a political and economic form of socialism which opposes the Christian worldview. I also do not believe the movement of BLM is really about black lives mattering. If it were, why are we not seeing outraged protests at the thousands of black lives killed via abortion?

In addition, the movement of BLM is far more complex than the equality of human beings. The movement is also pushing for LGBTQ rights, feminism, and the dismantlement of any form of thought that might oppose their worldview (including Christianity). BLM is far more than a movement, it is a political entity with an agenda. I recently saw this take shape in my own town during a BLM peaceful protest. It was my understanding that the gathering was to stand up against current injustice and racism, not to attend in addition to a politician’s campaign rally. Moments into the protest a candidate arrives making the gathering more about his political agenda than working to love our neighbors as ourselves.

So how do we go about seeking real social change in our communities, specifically as Christians? It is not by voting, protesting, tearing down statues, or joining movements. Real transformation, that changes not only hate-filled mindsets but hard hearts, is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what needs to be our focus. This is what we need to be proclaiming in the streets and on social media. People do not need to hear BLM, they need to hear “Repent and believe in the gospel!” (Mark 1:15). Social liberation can only be possible through the conversion of lost souls.

Joining a movement will not fix the injustice in our country. Voting Republican or Democratic will not fix it either. Only in surrendering our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ can we see true peace become reality between individuals who look different from one another. Our issue is not political, it is sin. Thanks be to God that Jesus came for you, for me, and for all sinners that we might find new life in Him (John 1:29; 2 Cor. 5:17).

Christian, may you not be distracted from the biblical mission Christ has set us on. We are not created to bring social justice to our communities, and then see people go to Hell without Jesus. We are created to bring the gospel, the good news of Jesus, to our communities. Everything we do is to be done with the gospel, not social justice, in mind (1 Cor. 9:23). Our fight for justice in our country and globe is a byproduct of the gospel message we labor to share, it is not the message itself.

God forgive us if we strive to liberate people from worldly injustice to only find them guilty before a holy and just God, condemned forever in conscious torment due to their sin. If we truly love our neighbor, we will give them Jesus and help point them to a new Earth, redeemed by Christ, where racism and every form of injustice will cease to exist (Revelation 21:1-5).

Soli Deo Gloria!