The Starting Point
The Revelatory Relevant Good News
From a biblical perspective and from the teachings of Jesus,
justice is the response of God for all of God's people who are victims of
injustice (evil). The proverbial writer
says "When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to
evildoers" (Proverbs 21:15). This
is why African Americans exclaim that "Black Lives Matter," as a
response to the unwarranted killing of Black men by law enforcement throughout
the country. God's justice tells us that
God is aware of the injustices that cause death and distress to Black
life. And, more importantly, that God is
ready to act on behalf of Black lives.
In this context, as Latin American liberation theologian Pablo Richard asserts "God's Word becomes a source of hope and life," as it always has
been for African Americans since their involuntary arrival on eastern shores of
the United States. And, even though
their evangelization was achieved by unjustifiable means, “the Word of God has
been a source for survival and resistance for Black people, because it offered
them "an inspiration for alternatives and utopias" that gave them
hope. A liberative evangelism or
liberative sharing of God's good news tells Black men and women who face
insurmountable brutality by law enforcement that Black Lives Matter because the
good news," as Cone says "is also a
prophetic word about the righteousness of God that must be spoke in clear,
strong, and uncompromising language." In that, the good news speaks the truth to power and proclaims justice
wherever injustice shows its despicable face.
Moreover, the gospel "demands that I (we) take a side, and that
side is always the side of the oppressed," as Dr. Keith A. Burton says.
God's justice tells us that God is with us.
The Good News Addresses the Issue
Restore Dignity to Blacks in the United States who are impact by police brutality and all forms of injustice.
Affirm the ethnic identity of Black Christians.
Promote "All" Black Lives Matter.
Institute Ethnic Conciliation that build relationships with Christians of all ethnicities.
Develop Biblical Guardrails for Co-Belligerency with like-minded believers, believers who may differ, and nod-believers that embody stewardship and missiological motives that advocate for justice.
CLICK THE LINK TO HEAR Pastor's Speak on why Black Lives Matter
Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in. ~Isaiah 58:12
Cone, James H. “Evangelization and Politics: A Black Perspective.” Black Theology: A
Documentary History, volume two: 1980-1992. eds. James H. Cone and Gayraud
S. Wilmore. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1993. ISBN 0-883344-773-8.
Evangelism Online, Twitter Feed. https://twitter.com/EvangelismOnlin
Horton, D.A. Viewing Black Lives Matter, Part 4: D.A. Hortin looks at Black Lives Matter missiologically. http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2016/february/viewing-black-lives-matter-part-4-da-horton.html
New Revised Standard Version.
Richard, Pablo. Reading the Apocalypse: Resistance, Hope, and Liberation in Central America in David Rhoads. From Every People and Nation. Kindle Edition, 2010.
New Revised Standard Version.
Richard, Pablo. Reading the Apocalypse: Resistance, Hope, and Liberation in Central America in David Rhoads. From Every People and Nation. Kindle Edition, 2010.