Pastoral Letter on Racial Injustice
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love,
a tender heart, and a humble mind.
1 PETER 3:8
I’ve been thinking all week what to write to you all since the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests. Everything I’ve thought to say seems so trite, shallow and an attempt to escape the discomfort and culpability of the moment.
My overarching emotion in all of this has been grief. I’ve been able to talk to some of you (I wish it was more of you) and heard your pain, anger, and confusion. I’m looking forward to spending some time next Sunday’s service leading us through some Scriptures on lament and grief.
I have been reminded in those conversations about how foolish, blind, and fearful I’ve often been about issues of race. My mind has gone back over self-centered, ignorant, and hurtful comments I’ve made to friends about race in my life, as well as the comments I have left unchallenged by others. As I’ve read and listened to people of color across the country relay the ways they’ve experienced under the radar racism and taken for granted white privilege, it has felt like a scalpel in my soul.
But there have also been enough comments exhorting white Christian leaders to make explicit what is obviously biblically true that I felt compelled to write to you briefly. Scripture clearly describes the church as being a people drawn from every tongue, tribe, and nation (Revelation 5:9), united by one faith, one Lord, and one baptism (Ephesians 4). To separate and divide what Christ has joined together is to re-erect a wall of hostility that Christ has destroyed (Ephesians 2). Our church has the opportunity to be a witness to Christ’s work on the cross when we speak with one voice of his saving power to all (Galatians 3).
Knowing that our church is made up of people who are diverse and having different experiences of this week, here’s what I wish I could say to you in person:
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR
I want you to know that your church loves you, values you, and grieves with you. The murder of George Floyd was evil. The murder of Ahmaud Arbery was wicked. The murder, abuse, and oppression of countless other African-Americans in our 400-year history as a country is a legacy of sin we must confront. And any participation our church has in white supremacy must be actively rooted out and removed. Please hold me and the other elders accountable to remember this priority as the urgent crowds in over the upcoming months and years.
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE POLICE OFFICERS OR FAMILY OF POLICE OFFICERS
You are doing important work in our community, work that can honor why God has placed the sword in your hand (Romans 13:1-4). I can’t imagine how difficult your work is; you see the consequences of sin in a way most of us are insulated from. To be conformed into the likeness of Christ while being a peace officer must be your goal, but your trail is narrower than most. Press on toward the call of Christ; do not despair and give in to the easy way of hatred, racism, and exploitation.
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE PROTESTS
It’s not fair that you were caught in the middle of this upheaval. If your business or property was harmed and you need financial help to provide for your family, we have a Caring Fund and are happy to support you as you recover.
For all of us, though, please do not equate the damage done to property with the loss of life. As Christians, the loss of property is worth noting, but the unjust murder of a person made in God’s image is infinitely worse.
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO JUST WANT THINGS TO GET BACK TO NORMAL
I can understand the longing for normalcy. To have these events unfold against the backdrop of 100,000 dead from a pandemic in our country alone is a dystopian movie come to life. Even those of us who have not caught COVID19 yet are still a part of a national trauma. Each of you is carrying a heavy load. And for those in our church who have lost jobs, become sick, or seen a loved die from COVID, the pain is all the deeper.
But when we say we want a return to normal, many people of color hear a willful desire to continue patterns of oppression.
Jesus taught us to pray: “May your kingdom come, may your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” This is a prayer for change to something new, not a return to what was there in the past. Whatever year each of us considers “normal” or the “good old days,” it was not the Kingdom in fullness. We cannot be satisfied with a return to what was; we need to long for what has never yet been but will be when Christ returns.
This frees us to hear from others that what we remember as “normal” was for them far less than the Kingdom. Our “good old days” may have been for them times of pain and oppression. This doesn’t need to threaten us or anger us since as Christians our hope is in the future, not the past.
TO THOSE IN OUR CHURCH WHO ARE WHITE AND WANT TO HELP
You may have a desire to reach out to your friends who are African-American in order to seek reassurance that you aren’t racist or to ask them what you can do to learn more about racism. Prior to doing that, please consider the burden you might be placing on them. I’d encourage you to take some steps to learn from African-American leaders who have written publicly on these topics before asking your friends to explain things to you. It will show them that you are willing to take your time and effort to truly learn and care. At the bottom of this email, you’ll find resources to help with this journey.
NEXT STEPS FOR US AS A CHURCH
1. PRAY WITH LAMENT
In addition to our time of lament in the service on Sunday, on Wednesday at 5:00 PM, Pastor Tim will be leading ourweekly time of prayerfor anyone who wants to pray about this and the other challenges we’re facing together.
2. LEARN AND LISTEN, THEN SPEAK
I’ve asked our elder board to devote some careful study to crafting a teaching position for our church on issues of race and the gospel.
3. PARTNER
We are going to look at how our partnerships (whether with other churches or Compassion Ministry partners) can be expanded to help people in our community experience more fully the diversity of God’s people.
May the events of this week be a turning point for us as a church and a country that sparks a great revival. May many in our country say they came to know Jesus because of how His people led the way in repentance and reconciliation. May God be honored and pleased with how we treat one another in His name.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
Here are some resources from Christian leaders who are black. Obviously, there are many more evangelical leaders we could list, especially from Latino and Asian-American backgrounds. But I confined the list to African-American leaders who could be your pastor or leader. We share theological alignment with everyone on this list. We went to the same or similar seminaries, participate in the same theological societies, and agree on the same doctrines. The reason I did that isn’t because there’s nothing to learn from people with different theological beliefs; it’s to help us see that if we are irritated or push back on them about their concerns, it’s not because we have different theological convictions.
DR. ANTHONY BRADLEY | Professor at King’s College in NYC | @drantbradley
A very helpful article on how Transitional Justice can help us with race relations in America. Also, wrote Aliens in the Promised Land: Why Minority Leadership is Overlooked in White Christian Churches and Institutions.
CHARLIE DATES | Pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago | @CharlieDates
All of his sermons are worthwhile, but this one he gave at the MLK50 conference was terrific.
MIKA EDMONDSON | Pastor and author | @mika_edmondson
Wrote an academic book on MLK’s concept of suffering and God’s presence.
DR. TONY EVANS | Pastor and author | @drtonyevans
Has been a leader in American evangelicalism for the last forty years.
DR. DERWIN GRAY | Pastor in North Carolina; former NFL player | @DerwinLGray
Author of The High-Definition Leader on building multi-ethnic churches
DR. BRYAN LORITTS | Pastor and author | @bcloritts
Author of a variety of wonderful books on race and the church, including editing Letters to a Birmingham Jail: A Response to the Words and Dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
DR. ERIC MASON | Pastor of Epiphany Philadelphia,
Leader of the Epiphany church planting organization | @pastoremase
Few people in America have discipled and deployed as many church planters and gospel preachers as Dr. Eric Mason. Author of Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice.
DR. ESAU MCCAULLEY | Pastor of Anglican Church of the Redeemer in Greensboro, NC, and Assistant Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College | @esaumccaulley
Gave a wonderful sermon on Sunday about how Acts 2 and Pentecost guides us in these days. Christianity Today published the transcript.
TRILLIA NEWBELL | Author and executive with Moody Books | @trillianewbell
Author of general Christian living books; her children’s book, God’s Very Good Idea is great for kids.
JOHN M. PERKINS | Civil rights leader, pastor, author, and co-founder of the
Christian Community Development Association | Wikipedia page
Author of a number of helpful books (see the Wikipedia page for a list and to be inspired by his story).
ALBERT TATE | Pastor of Fellowship Monrovia | @alberttate
One of the most compelling and engaging preachers in American evangelicalism.
JEMAR TISBY | PhD candidate in US History; President @thewitnessbcc Author of Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism | @JemarTisby