CHRISTIANS & BLACK LIVES MATTER

Race Relations
Written By Baily McDaniel

SHOULD CHRISTIANS SUPPORT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER ORGANIZATION?

Girl in classroom

Key Facts

  • Black Lives Matter was formed 6 years ago on July 13, 2013. [1]

  • Ubisoft, Square Enix, Lululemon, Anastasia Beauty and other major corporations have donated directly to the Black Lives Matter movement. [2]

  • There is a difference between the Black Lives Matter organization and the larger movement. The “Black Lives Matter” organization, known simply as "Black Lives Matter," exists as a decentralized network with over 30 chapters worldwide, while a larger Black Lives Matter movement exists consisting of various separate like-minded organizations such as Dream Defenders and Assata's Daughters. [3]

  • “Although Black Lives Matter does not fund Democratic candidates, it has launched a #WhatMatter2020 campaign aimed at increasing the voice of black voters that could potentially benefit Democrats. The campaign’s priorities include racial injustice, economic injustice, LGBTQ rights, voter suppression, and “common-sense gun laws”—all items high on the Democratic Party’s agenda.” [4]

Key Scriptures

  • Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly[a] with your God.”

  • Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.””

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

  • 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

student raising hand

Application

Before addressing the issue, it is important to be very clear that the question at hand is not whether Christians should oppose racism or care about black lives and the particular challenges that they face. The answer to both of those questions is a resounding yes. This article reviews Black Lives Matter (BLM) as an organization and examines some of its core tenets. BLM advocates for much more than their naming suggests. This means that Christians should be diligent in researching what BLM truly stands for and is active in developing.

There are many biblically supported tenets of the BLM organization, although BLM is not religiously affiliated. These include the condemnation of racism (Gal. 3:28) and advocacy for justice when violence is committed against innocent persons (Prov. 21:3; 25:26), the inherent value of human life (Gen 1:27), the importance of empathy (Rom. 12:15), and striving for peaceable living (Rom. 12:18). There are likely many other biblically supported principles that underlie BLM and should be encouraged by Christians. Yet, there are still other principles that pose problems for Christians who wish to advocate for racial equality.

First, BLM advocates not only for racial policies but also many other political policies, including stricter gun laws, LGBTQ+ affirmation, free healthcare, and reparations. This is crucial to recognize when assessing the values of the organization. There are Christians on both sides of these issues, but it is important that Christians know what the organization supports explicitly and who they support financially. The BLM organization is not as simplistic as it presents itself to be and this must be examined as we consider whether to support it or not.

Second, BLM seeks to “disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement.” This is both in opposition with God’s Word and research which reveals that children are more successful in nuclear families.[5] The nuclear family is not a ‘western-prescribed’ notion as BLM suggests, but it was instituted by God in the beginning. In the Bible, marriage is the foundation created to support the raising of a child (Gen. 1:27-28). Christians should never find themselves in opposition to the order which God created and ordained.

Third, BLM states that they “build a space that affirms Black women and is free from… environments in which men are centered.” This is a concerning statement for Christians because it diminishes men and explicitly excludes men from a centralized position within or around the organization. Galatians 3:28 teaches that “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” No gender should be singled out or excluded from a centralized position in seeking justice as it is something each Christian is called to do.

Fourth, the use of the donations to Black Lives Matter is unclear at best. The organization has not released any detailed information regarding the use of donations which have spiked in the wake of recent events.[6] Christians should be good stewards of the finances God has gifted them with, which means donating to organizations that align with biblical justice and care. The vagueness of where BLM donations are going means that donors could be supporting a cause they do not wish to. As we seek to steward our finances well, it is important to donate to righteous causes (Prov. 16:8).

Finally, it is reasonable to infer that BLM might support other organizations or candidates which align with its values through their #WhatMatters2020 campaign. Christians should be cautious to avoid supporting candidates who do not align with their values. BLM’s views concerning healthcare, gun legislation, and reparations likely suggest that their support will be in favor of democratic candidates. The democratic party has, for many years, supported abortion and continues to pass laws advancing the practice of the procedure. Christians must consider if their support of BLM would potentially influence the election and furtherance of candidates who disregard the value of life in the womb.

Girl researching on computer

Conclusion

There are many other potential concerns to consider, but the aforementioned issues are sufficient to show that BLM is not as simplistic as it first appears to be. Supporting BLM carries other implications than purely opposing racism. Christians do not have to agree with each aspect of an organization to get behind it. However, the issues mentioned above are highly significant points of disagreement. Christians should recognize that some of the BLM tenets are not representative of the Christian community’s tone, approach, or biblical teaching on many issues. How Christians show support or opposition to BLM is a point of discernment that they may differ on. As Christians, we know that fighting for justice is founded in the gospel. Justice is so easily twisted when it is removed from the Bible, and true, biblical justice is easily drowned out by the social justice of news media. Christians should have open conversations about the best way to affirm racial equality, oppose racial injustice, and assess if involvement in BLM compromises our biblical values.

Baily McDaniel
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