Why I Can't Support #blacklivesmatter...and Why Black Lives Matter

Why I Can’t Support #blacklivesmatter…and Why Black Lives Matter

That’s a sensational title in the midst of our current American climate.  I get it.  In fact, I am sure that this post will divide.

But it will only divide people who do not read the whole post or do not believe what Scripture says.
Besides, if it does divide because of truth, then I am in great company (Matthew 10:34-36 - Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; ³⁶ and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.)

At the end of the day, I care more about what God says is true than the crowd.  And, I am accountable to God for standing for His truth…not the mob, the crowd, or even my friends.

So, you read that title and think: "This guy doesn't care about black people".

Nothing could be further from the truth.  Black lives DO matter.  Jesus died to save black lives. 

Then you say, "Christians must be racist".

Also, not true.  Christians above all people in the world should understand that we have been forgiven an infinite sin debt by a perfect and Holy God and therefore should be the MOST forgiving and loving people in the world.

Of course, there are many people who call themselves "Christian" who aren't loving, forgiving, and who are in fact racist (and usually they hate lots of people, not just one ethnicity).  Those people act in a way that shows they are trying to earn salvation and honestly think they are better than others.

I question whether they are really Christians.

The problem is that they do not see the sin that infects their own heart and it blinds them to the reality of their actions.

Let me start by saying a few things:

1. I am not a racist (I know that every white person says that).  We're in a funny time in human history.

If you claim to be a racist, everyone accepts it as a fact.  Of course, if your actions back it up, it makes it much easier to believe.
If you claim you're not a racist, most attack you and shout "only people who are racist say they're not racist".

That is intellectually lazy.  How can contradictory statements both be true?

Of course, there are those who say nothing and are racist and those who say nothing and are not.  There are those who claim not to be racist and who in fact are.

But saying you're not doesn't automatically confirm that you are.  Maybe you are telling the truth?

Of course, you need to examine someone's life to determine if their speech matches.  But since many of you who read this will never meet me...

Here’s why I am not a racist:

First, I believe that Jesus Christ died for people from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Revelation 5:9).  If Jesus can shed His blood for all kinds of different people, who am I to argue their value or importance relative to another “type” of person.  The Kingdom of God will be made up of all kinds of unique individuals, so I will be with all kinds of believers for eternity.

Secondly, I grew up not knowing or caring about skin color.  In fact, I didn’t know any better.  Some of my best friends are black and we found things in common, had fun together, and shared many memories and experiences together as good friends.  I never once thought that I couldn’t be friends or that I was superior or they inferior in any way, ever.

Lastly, man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and Jesus took on the “likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7).  Jesus was not white.  He was Middle Eastern, olive-skinned and Jewish.  Yet, it clearly says that He came in the likeness of men, took on flesh, and as Hebrews points out was able to identify with humanity and die for all different types (tribes, languages, nations).  That means Jesus (and the Bible) don’t believe in “race”…except to say, the human race.

2. Saying that I cannot support #blacklivesmatter doesn’t mean I do not value black lives.

I believe what the Bible says…throughout the Scriptures…that life is a gift from God and is precious.  All life has value.

Why? 

Not because of the foolish nonsense that evolutionary thought teaches (a random existence) but because each human being is an image-bearer of God created by Him for a specific purpose.

That means that EVERY HUMAN LIFE HAS VALUE AND MATTERS.

I understand that the feeling running rampant is that black lives are more vulnerable right now to oppression and by stating “all lives matter” minimizes the message from trying to spread.  However, since Jesus cared for every tribe, language and nation, and cared for the Jews by being concerned for their spiritual well being more than their oppression from Rome, I will take His example.

Now, why can’t I support #blacklivesmatter?

Simple.

As a movement, ideology, philosophy and agenda, they disagree with Scripture and God’s principles for life.

So, while I want to see God’s love shared for all people, and see the black community loved and nurtured and supported, I cannot support the movement or its founders.

Here's why:

1. The movement is founded on a lie

2. They Seek to thwart God’s Creation design

3. They Seek to promote and normalize that which God says is sin

4. They don’t really care about black lives

*Disclaimer: all information about BLM (except my conclusions of their actions) comes directly from their website or from direct statements made by movement founders or actions supported by BLM*

1. BLM is founded on a lie

BLM was developed in 2013 in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin.  That emotional response was large in Orlando, where I lived at the time.

In 2014, Mike Brown was killed by a police officer, Darren Wilson.  The original narrative that was spun was that Mike Brown raised his hands and asked the officer not to shoot as the officer “gunned him down”.  At Darren Wilson’s trial, evidence proved otherwise, and the FBI/DOJ corroborated that in their findings.  What really happened is that Mike Brown attacked officer Wilson and attempted to wrestle the gun away from Wilson and was killed in the process, which allowed a grand jury to exonerate (in essence, since a grand jury simply decided whether or not there is enough evidence to go to trial) Officer Wilson.

(https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/justice-department-finds-that-ferguson-officer-did-not-violate-michael-browns-rights/article_06cfab32-5fb1-59dc-bf47-5711ae36cd8a.html)

Riots ensued, known as the “Ferguson Riots” because the outcome that many members of the Black community wanted,  did not occur, including the BLM founders.

However, to this day on their website, BLM refers to Mike Brown’s death as murder (https://blacklivesmatter.com/herstory/), even though evidence proved self-defense and the criminal court could not sufficiently charge him (Wilson’s DNA was on Brown’s palm and body, proving that they made physical contact with one another).

I will be the first to say that not all verdicts are correct (OJ, Casey Anthony, etc…), but we must accept the outcome of those human verdicts and trust that a sovereign God will deal out justice in His time and His way.

BLM continues to use Ferguson as the standard for its movement, claiming that “Ferguson was not an aberration, but in fact, a clear point of reference for what was happening to Black communities everywhere.”

The problem with this statement is that it is a lie.

First, Mike Brown was not murdered.  
He acted foolishly, attacking an armed police officer, getting injured from an accidental discharge, running away and then returning (As blood spatter evidence proved).

Second, if this is a “clear point of reference” of what is happening, it needs to stop.  BLM insists that it is systemic racism for these shootings to happen, but that is not accurately assessing the situation.

If Mike Brown had not stolen from a store (which was why he was asked to stop) and did not rush an armed police officer (after trying to disarm him), he would still be alive today.  His death in the moment had nothing to do with skin color and everything to do with Wilson trying to preserve his own life.

So, BLM continues to propagate and use a lie to tell their story and as the basis for their movement.

In Romans 3, Paul expounds on the nature of man, mainly that ALL men are born sinful.  In verse 5, he writes that we cannot justify our actions before God if they are sinful by claiming that God’s righteousness will be demonstrated because of our wickedness (by comparison).  He asks “but if God gets glory by my lie, why is it wrong?” (paraphrase).

This is the principle: you cannot base anything (even a supposed great moral argument or idea) on a lie and receive God’s blessing.  In fact, Paul dismisses the notion that we can choose to do evil for a good reason in verses 8-9.

The Apostle John states that “no lie is of the truth” (1 John 2:21).  No movement or idea based on a lie, is truthful…let that sink in and set the stage.

As a better proof of context, James 3 tells us that lies against the truth come from bitter jealousy and selfish ambition.

2. They seek to thwart God’s Creation Design

On the “What We Believe” section of the website, the founders of BLM are outspoken about what they believe.

They start the beliefs section with this statement, “We acknowledge, respect, and celebrate differences and commonalities.”

I can totally get behind that statement.  As DC Talk said years ago, “we’re colored people and we live in a tainted space” and “I tip my hat to the colorful arrangement, ‘cause I see the beauty in the tones of our skin”.

Some of the other statements are empowering and assertive for justice for the black community.

Again, I have no issues there.

But then we get to this:

“We dismantle the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” so that they can mother in private even as they participate in public justice work.”

Patriarchal Practice is the idea that men hold the primary leadership positions in a family and society.  As defined here, BLM defines this as a family context.

This idea is anti-Biblical.  God established leadership.  In Daniel 2:21, God tells us that He sets up and removes kings.  Romans 13:1 says “…there is NO authority except from God and those established by God”.

What is God’s design for families?
Male servant-leadership (patriarchal practice)

God gave Adam charge over His creation.  It was Adam, that God chastised for his failure to lead his wife.  Eve sinned first, yet Adam was cursed to have sin pass-thru him (Romans 5, which coincidently is how we can get a perfect Messiah).

1 Corinthians 11 couldn’t be any clearer.  God placed men as leaders in the church, in the homes, and in society.  In fact, in Isaiah 3, God pronounces a curse on Israel for its disobedience.

Do you know what the curse was?
God would remove godly male leadership and replace it with weak leadership and female leadership.

Isaiah 3:4 - And I will make mere lads their princes, And capricious children will rule over them…

Isaiah 3:12 - O My people! Their oppressors are children, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray and confuse the direction of your paths.

So, surprisingly, a movement founded by unbelieving women opposes a God-ordained leadership structure for the home and society.

I’m sure that my statements will come across as sexist, but remember, I am simply quoting God’s instruction here, so…...

BLM next makes this claim:

“We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.”

Disrupt is a strong word.

What do they disrupt?
“The Western-prescribed nuclear family”.

If the concept of “nuclear family” was simply a North American (or Anglo-Saxon) invention, I would have no problem with this, because white people and Americans don’t make the best inventions or ideas.

But is the nuclear family a “Western” invention?
No

The “nuclear family” is God’s design.

Genesis 2:24 teaches us what a “family” is. “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”  Jesus repeats this in Matthew 19 and Paul giving instructions to the family in Ephesians 5.

God prescribed the “nuclear family”…with the very first one!!

So, “disrupting” the nuclear family is not an offense to Western culture, but to God.

Studies are done all the time about the impact on children of divorce and single parents (particularly missing/absentee fathers) and the difficulties it brings.  But I don’t need to read research studies to tell me what the Bible already makes clear.  Two-parent, married, heterosexual families typically do better in society than not.  Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but notwithstanding, the axiom is true.

Some would argue, but God can still use single parents.  AMEN!!

Deaths leave widows and widowers and divorce happens because of sin, but ask yourself…is that the best possible scenario, the best design?

If it wasn’t, God wouldn’t have instituted it.

So, BLM stands directly opposed to God’s design for male leadership, marriage and family life and…

3. They Seek to promote and normalize that which God says is sin

“We make space for transgender brothers and sisters to participate and lead.”

“We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise).”

First, they promote the idea of “transgenderism”.

Genesis 1:27 - God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

God created male and he created female, perfect complements to one another.

He did not create a man who identifies as a woman (what does that even mean?  I want to identify as a 67-year-old so I can begin collecting social security or a 12-year-old so I can dominate the Little League World Series).

Biologically, there are two genders (I use the word gender in the biological sense, synonymous with sex).

Some will argue, what about the people with genetic characteristics of both.  That’s a stupid argument.  The question destroys the argument.  If a person has a genetic anomaly that gives them sex characteristics of both male and female, there’s still only two genders ("both" meaning two).  That doesn’t change the fact that in God’s design, male is male and female is female.  The exceptions in creation do not determine the rule.

The BLM encourages leadership from people who are confused about their gender, which again is an affront to God, His sovereignty over them in creation and purpose and His design.  It communicates that God somehow made a mistake.

Then, they “affirm” homosexual behavior, something which God condemns.

Let’s be clear: ANY sex outside of the confines of marriage (between one man and one woman) is sinful.  Homosexuality is just another perversion of God’s design.

Affirming this or any other sexual sin is disobedience to God.

The last statement is also ridiculous.  The vast majority of the world claims to be heterosexual.  In the USA the numbers are like close to 90% and worldwide, the number jumps much higher.

Making an assumption that most people are not heterosexual is ludicrous.

But, what that statement intends to do is to normalize homosexuality, much like has been going on in mainstream media for 30 years.  If you believe that there are more people living this lifestyle, it influences you to believe that it is normal, acceptable and lastly that you can affirm it for others even if you yourself don’t choose it.

Lastly, BLM is hypocritical.

4. BLM doesn’t really care about black lives (or any lives…they care about power)

“We work vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by extension, all people.”

“We are guided by the fact that all Black lives matter, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status, or location.”

This is blatant hypocrisy!  Their words do not in any sense match their actions.

Jesus instructed us to watch people’s lives and discern who they are.  “You will know [false prophets (liars)] by their fruit.”

First of all, I will claim that BLM doesn’t care about lives/ life for several reasons:

1. They do not fight against abortion, particularly in the black community.  
Currently, black people makeup about 13 percent of the US population (black woman make up 13% of the female population), but 30% of all abortions are carried out on black women.

If Black Lives Matter, why has BLM been silent about that issue, particularly given the history and founding of Planned Parenthood?

https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/1/19/16906928/black-anti-abortion-movement-yoruba-richen-medical-racism

2. They don’t speak out against gang violence and black on black crime.
In 2019, over 2700 black people were killed by other blacks.  That is more than 10 times the number of blacks killed by police every year.  BLM has made no statements on record about that violence.  Nothing condemning it or speaking out about how the lives of the victims mattered.

3. They don’t care about blacks killed by non-police actions.

These 5 people were killed in the last week by rioters.

Can you name any of them?

Dave Patrick Underwood, David Dorn, Italia Marie Kelly, David McAtee and Chris Beaty

If black lives really mattered (as the movement claims), why has no one besides conservative media talked about these law-abiding citizens who were murdered by riotous thugs?

Underwood, a federal officer, was killed on May 29 during riots in Oakland, California. Police said the 53-year-old was fatally shot when he was trying to keep the peace during riots.

Dorn, a 77-year-old retired police captain, was killed by looters who broke into a pawn shop.

Italia Marie Kelly was killed in a random shooting as she was leaving a protest in Davenport, Iowa.

David McAtee was shot and killed in Louisville, Kentucky during riots.

Chris Beaty was shot and killed by rioters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 38-year-old real estate broker was killed while trying to stop two thieves from robbing two women of their purses.

Read more: https://yen.com.gh/158861-george-floyd-black-americans-killed-riots-us-cities.html

BLM….crickets.

4. BLM does not care about police officers…white, or black

In 2015, a police officer in Houston, Texas was killed.  Within hours, a BLM group marched in Minnesota chanting “pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon”, referring to police officers.

To be fair, the St. Paul organizer told media outlets that “no one was advocating violence against law enforcement”, but the chant is pretty clear that the intended outcome for police is death....We all know what frying does to things.

In December 2014, BLM protesters can be heard chanting again “What do we want? Dead cops!  When do we want them? Now!”
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXcLuIq23tw)

They have stood by the narrative and not once viciously condemned violence toward police.

A common saying popularized in a rap song by Days N Daze goes something like this, “Save a life; kill a cop”.

Has BLM spoken out about violence toward the police?
Nope

5. BLM doesn’t care about life at all, they care about power.

On the BLM website, the current project they have invested in is #defundpolice

A person who cared about life would understand that police have God-given authority to protect citizens from harm (Romans 13:3-4, which by the way is why it is so important to vote for and elect leaders who properly define what is right).  Remember who was in charge when Paul wrote Romans...Nero.  He was a state-sponsor of murdering Christians for sport.  he used them as torches for his evening parties.

If Paul can say to obey authorities when Nero is in charge, what does that say for American leaders?

"No police force" equals lawlessness.

What does the Bible call lawlessness? 
Sin (1 John 3:4).

A lawless society is a sinful society because there are no restraints on evil.  A sinful society is not one in which life is valued and protected.  Just examine Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19-20).  Lawlessness and violence permeated the city (and that behavior also manifested itself in sexual perversion).

That idea does nothing to protect life.

Beyond that, when has BLM spoken out about life: only when a white police officer shoots a black person.

They say nothing when a white person shoots a black cop or when a gang banger murders a pregnant black woman.

Where are they on the rape and abuse of children?

What about sex-trafficked black young women?

Look at the website (and their history) and you will see that the entire focus is to protest white cops shooting (or killing) black citizens.

Let’s be clear, that’s not morally or legally right in any way, shape or form.  See that is my point.  If all lives mattered (even if just ALL black lives mattered to them) they would speak out about all of it.

BUT….

If they only speak out about cop killings (which by the way, unjustified (meaning not self-defense based or based in defending a third party from harm (hostage)) police shootings of black men make up less than .002% of all police shootings.

There were 10 unarmed black police shootings in 2019, according to the Washington Post which tracks these issues.  (19 unarmed white people were killed by cops in the USA in that same year.)

Of the 10 who were shot, 8 of them attempted to attack the police officer in some way, either with bare hands (in an attempt to wrestle the weapon away), a vehicle and two even attempted to use a taser on a police officer.

That is not a “systemic” problem.  That is a feeling.  At some point, we have to see beyond color and judge the actions.  A white man attempting to attack an armed police officer deserves to be killed, if nothing more than for his own foolishness, if not his own evil heart.

The same should be said of ANY man!  A man who acts that way is a criminal with evil intent!

So, why does BLM only promote those things and seek to delegitimize the police?

If their motives were pure, based on everything else they do, I would believe it was because they were legitimately scared of police actions and the evidence would support targeting and hunting of the black community by state-sponsored actors.

But, since I know the BLM is funded by purveyors of real hate and anti-Biblical ideology like George Soros, I believe it is for the purpose of obtaining power when they “save” the black community from the "evil" white society (so they believe).

How do I know that?

What is the reaction in the country when the BLM speaks about a black killing? 
Anger, rage, etc…

Where’s the anger and rage when other lives are taken, even other black lives?

Have they ever told anyone to adopt the Biblical method of obedience to authority?

It’s used to foster an idea that authority can’t be trusted and America is out to get them.

Now, does racism exist?

Yes.

There are people who hate others simply because of the color of skin.

Is it state-sponsored?
NO

Germany, under Hitler was state-sponsored racism.  He authored it, encouraged it and funded it.  He even carried out the "Final Solution".  We have INDIVIDUALS in America who still cling to hatred because of the amount of melanin in the skin.

But what person in the world has no hate?

Have things been harder for black people because of the start our country had?
Yes.

Does it need to improve? 
Yes.

How will it improve?

Here’s the problem.

Hatred (which Jesus equates with murder in Matthew 5) comes from the heart.  The Bible overwhelmingly tells us that the heart is wicked.

“Race” relations will not improve thru education, reform, political movements, protests, violence or any other way.  They will only improve as the Gospel goes forth.

Hatred comes from the heart.  The heart must be fixed for the hatred to stop.  The only heart fix is to recognize that we are all sinners and that our only hope is found in Christ, Who died to cover sin, eradicate it from our existence (as far as the east is from the west).

So, I believe human life is precious, ALL of IT.

I will continue to look at wicked acts as acts committed by sinful individuals, not a group of humanity.

I will not assume that every black person is skeptical of white people and that every white person is a racist.

I will evaluate each person’s actions in light of the Scriptures and discern whether those actions are obedient with Scripture or not and judge only that person, based on those qualifications.

In the end, I support the idea that life is precious.  I support the idea that God loves His creation, those who were created to be His image-bearers (even marred by sin, human design is extraordinarily fascinating).

He created all kinds of colors to “represent Him” in the world.

I will denounce injustice, to whoever it occurs against because God Himself tells us to be just because He is just. 

But remember, God is the standard of justice.  There is no standard placed on Him from somewhere else.  He is completely just and will recompense all men for their deeds.

So, I can’t support BLM as a movement, ideology, or philosophy because it is anti-God.  No Christian should support anything that is founded in anti-Biblical thought (2 Corinthians 10:5 – “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”).

I can, however, say without question, that abuse of authority, mistreatment of human beings, and murder (unprovoked or unjustified) is a sin.  In that, I can agree with Black Lives Matter…we just want a different definition of justice and for vastly different reasons.