Why I’m terrified by Black Lives Matter – (and you should be too)

Firstly, let me say that it is clear that all men are made equal by God and deserve to be treated as such by all persons. Secondly, let me add that police brutality as recently evidenced in the US needs to be dealt with and stamped out. Thirdly, I recognise that black people, all over the world experience life outcomes significantly below the experience of other ethnicities and this has to change.

So why am I so concerned about “Black Lives Matter”?

Initially I had thought that “Black Lives Matter” was a simple slogan adopted by folks wishing to protest against the abuse and death of George Floyd. I would have understood that, and it would not have caused concern. However, I decided to do a little research and investigate more about the Black Lives Matter organisation.

What is “Black Lives Matter”

This is what their website says. You can check up on the US organisation at : https://blacklivesmatter.com/about/

• Founded in 2013 and active in UK, USA, and Canada
• States that its “Mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power
• By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation”
• Says that “We affirm the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, undocumented folks, folks with records, women, and all Black lives along the gender spectrum”

If you check up on the UK website (http://blacklivesmatteruk.com/briefing/) you find a more radical message, including:

• “Reform - What did Obama’s eight years in office really achieve? BLM was established during Obama’s presidency precisely because he failed to deliver on the hopes invested in him. Across America black police chiefs and mayors preside over racist police departments and declining inner cities. In a change from the past there is now a deep class divide in the black community.”
• “WHY WE NEED A REVOLUTION - The current crisis has shown who the key workers really are. We can and must harness our collective power to overthrow this system and create a better world.”

Finally, I went to the Black Lives Matter GoFundMe website (https://uk.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fund):

• “We’re guided by a commitment to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy and the state structures that disproportionately harm black people in Britain and around the world.
• We’ll spend funds developing and delivering training, police monitoring and strategies for the abolition of police.”

My Observations

It seems to me that, particularly in the UK BLM has been a front for an organisation promoting:

• Rights for black under privileged who they see as being oppressed by white and privileged black people.
• Gay and lesbian rights
• Gender rights
• To advance their cause, now that it is seen that a black President can’t change things, they intend to work for a Revolution to “overthrow this system and create a better world.”
• By this, they mean to “dismantle “imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy and state structures.”
• 
  

I get it that many (but far from all) black people are frustrated by the slow pace of social change. Younger black people didn’t experience what their parents did and so have not seen just how far things have changed, at least in the UK. One notes that social change takes place at different speeds in different places/situations and where it appears slower frustration inevitably arises.

It would appear that in the US there remain legal injustices and there appears to be a requirement for further Police training. Police culture in dealing with the US public appears to be unnecessarily aggressive.

Black Lives Matter has a revolutionary objective in the UK of dismantling capitalism…and state structures. This sounds to me like a Marxist agenda.

I see that they also want to abolish the Police! Bearing in mind the levels of knife crime amongst black youths, who is going to control it?

I note comments on the BLM website where the French Revolution is seen as an example to be followed!

Should we be concerned?

If I thought that the BLM organisation was likely to fulfil its objectives, I would be seriously concerned. The overthrow of capitalism, our state structures, abolition of the Police and replacement with some ill thought through Marxist utopia is definitely a matter for concern.

Fortunately, my history tells me that when France was torn apart by revolution our national institutions were found to be substantially stronger. Hopefully, they will remain so? My concern however is with other countries where governments are weaker. How will they respond to the existential threat of a BLM revolution?

What has the Bible to say about this?

There are many messages one may glean from the Bible and the Amateur Christian recognises the temptation to draw lessons in accordance with past prejudices.

The following points however have come to me and might help:

• As far as salvation is concerned, whether one is Jew or Greek, slave or free, male, or female, Christ deals with us the same. I’m certain this extends to racial differences incidentally. Gal 3:28
• James makes clear that within the church we should deal with one another without favouritism. The example he uses is shabby clothing, however I’m sure his lesson applies to racial differences. James 2:1-13
• Governments are given to us by God for our benefit and to establish peace. “He who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted”. Rom 13:2. Clearly if a Government is directly acting against God’s law careful consideration of the issue is required, however I don’t see BLM raising issues that justify this.
• The extension of the BLM campaign into areas of sexual ethics raises concerns for practicing Christians who see sex as exclusively for heterosexual marriage. There are also concerns over the area of Gender fluidity, bearing in mind Biblical understanding that God made them “male and female.” Gen 1:27.

The Christian church has challenges to meet on this issue. In the UK there are many “Black” churches, usually with a distinctive style of worship and teaching. The mainstream denominations have found it difficult to accommodate these groups within their memberships. Why? Could we do better?

Identity

It has been said that many BAME people find statues and memorials erected in past times to celebrate the lives of famous British men insulting or oppressive as these men acted against their forefathers. I have written on this here. In the US, a number of statues of George Washington have been toppled, because he owned slaves. I thought Washington was the “Father of the Nation”? In the UK, Churchill's statue outside Parliament was defaced and other statues attacked.

However, I do understand the point made. I find it uncomfortable viewing statues or paintings of William the Conqueror, Robert the Bruce, and William Wallace. But it would be omitting an important part of British national history to remove statues of men who, fought against my king and country. There are lessons to be learnt from past history and removing statues makes this more difficult.

We live in a country which has benefited from good and bad Monarchs, Prime Ministers, Generals and Traders. I do not have pride in any one of these men (after all we are all the same in God’s eyes), however, I do identify with the nation who gave birth to them, warts and all!

Knowing who we are, in God’s world is important. It means that my identity is not primarily based on my skin colour, white/black or my nationality, English/British. My identity is as a man, made in God’s image, called to follow him, saved through the blood of Jesus, and adopted into his family.

The state does not change my identity or my relationships with other people made in God’s image, though from time to time social legislation has attempted to do so. Sadly, whilst changing legislation may (sometimes) change behaviour, you can never change a man’s heart by simply changing laws.

So, people of God, now is the time for God’s church to rise above the mayhem, for us to “let your light so shine before men that they shall see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.” It is for us to demonstrate that black (and white) lives matter to God, and they all matter to us even when the organisation Black Lives Matter is pursuing an agenda which we might find scary.