In the midst of a difficult few months, this has been a particularly grievous past few weeks.
We lament the appalling and unjust murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. Each of these individuals was an image-bearer of God-created, known, and loved by Him and therefore of supreme dignity and worth. In each case, the sacrilege committed against black life is an affront to God almighty and a denial of His creational intentions. When image-bearers are not respected as such and when human beings are not afforded the dignity they inherently have as God’s beloved creatures, God Himself is grieved and righteously indignant (e.g. Amos 2:6-7; Amos 5:10-15). As New Testament Scholar Esau McCaulley wrote in a recent NYT op-ed on Ahmaud Arbery, “The tragedy is not simply what his death reveals about how black life is valued here. The tragedy is not only the freshly invigorated fear that black men and women will feel....The tragedy is that his black life ended. For those who believe that all life is sacred, there is no bigger catastrophe.”
The evil done to Ahmaud, Breonna, and George evoke memories of the horrendous injustices inflicted on so many other black Americans, both known and unknown, throughout history and up to this present moment. Black Americans continue to bear this collective trauma. The persistence of racism and the devaluation of black life at both an interpersonal and systemic/institutional level in our country call for deep lament, reflection, repentance, and a renewed commitment among Christians, particularly non-black Christians, to the holistic gospel and to the Kingdom-citizenship to which Christ calls us. While we will never experience the Kingdom of God in its fullness on this side of Christ’s return, we are called to embody the first fruits of it (Luke 9:2), to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39), and to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
Many worthwhile pieces are being written in response to these recent events. We realize not all are in a place to delve into them. Here are just a few that we’ve found helpful the past few weeks for reflection, lament, and practicable action:
Christianity Today: George Floyd Left a Gospel Legacy in Houston
Dr. Esau McCaulley’s Pentecost Sermon, 5/31/20: ‘The Flames of Pentecost, Minneapolis Burning, and the Hope of the Kingdom’ written manuscript and audio version
The AND Campaign's Statement on Racialized Violence in America + 6 practical steps that can be taken
We also are reposting the video below from the 2019 UNC Veritas Forum with Dr. McCaulley and Lecrae: Racial Justice: Is Christianity a Help or a Hindrance? As now is a more sober and fitting time than ever, we encourage you to re-watch this video.
To close with a few lines from the AND Campaign's statement: "pray, mourn, and bear witness to the justice and peace that are constitutive of Christ's reign. With the help of the Spirit, the Church can again be at the vanguard of a truly transformative movement for the soul of America."
Yours in Christ,
NCSC Staff