The Frailty of Common Christian Critiques of #BLM

In a country that has systematized the oppression of black lives from the institution of slavery to peonage, lynching, Jim Crow, segregation, mass incarceration, and police brutality, #BLM provides the church an opportunity to proclaim the gospel that announces the end of oppression. BLM provides the church an opportunity to proclaim the gospel that announces the end of oppression. However, it seems Christians are searching for excuses not to support the movement, the hashtag, or the organization. Common Christian critiques such as, “We are opposed to racism and sexism, but we cannot support these movements because their agendas embrace other policies such as LGBTQ rights, abortion rights, an expansive welfare state and so on” are frail.

Furthermore, these expressions of ambivalence appear ideological, meaning that they are given not for the purpose of revealing something illuminating, but rather for the purpose of obscuring what matters, protecting the status quo, and impeding reform.

Equally trite is the claim that social justice should not be confused with the gospel. According to this view, social justice is separable from the gospel. One can understand the gospel without giving a thought to social justice, and one can appropriate the gospel without … Click HERE to continue reading