Stand Up for Racial Equity
Do right. Pursue justice. Defend the Oppressed.
These words from Isaiah 1 have been ringing in our ears since we heard them at a peaceful protest a few nights ago.
I have to preface this by saying I’m still shocked that the statement, “Black Lives Matter” is so controversial and polarizing.
Seriously?
Listen to it again and please hear my heart.
Black. Lives. Matter.
I know many people just clicked off of this page. And that’s the sad reality, right?
Brian and I have been having tough conversations about racial equality for years. We’ve had to face head on the implicit biases we have within us. We’re blessed enough to work for an organization that has provided training around DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) for the last few years.
We can empathize with those of you who are at the “starting line” of facing these tough conversations.
But regardless of where you are on the spectrum of understanding, I just have to say that standing up for racial equity does not mean you hate white people. Or black people. Or cops. Or the president.
Standing up for racial equity means you’re standing up for justice. It means you’re standing up for people.
We truly believe that change happens one conversation at a time around tables.
I’ve never heard of one racist person who read a compelling, heart-felt Instagram post and thought, “Hmmmm I think I’m done being racist.”
It happens one conversation at a time.
One question at a time.
It happens when your uncle makes a racist comment at the family barbecue and you ask a simple question such as, “what makes you say that?” or “do you really think every single Hispanic person is like that?”
I hope you’ll listen to the video and check out the campaign below. I hope you’ll hear my heart and consider purchasing or sharing this campaign with other church leaders and members in your circles.
We aren’t naive to think we’re starting the conversation in 2020. Our role is to join the conversation that’s been ongoing for 400 years.
Will you join us?
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." - Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause." Isaiah 1:16-17
Jesus modeled for us what it looks like to not only show compassion and love, but also to take action as He set the captives free and defended the oppressed. He ignored racial and gender barriers and norms because it was the right thing to do (and He's called us to do the same!)
As the church body, we should be at the frontlines of social justice regardless of our political affiliation. We know that simply wearing a t-shirt does not "fix" centuries of oppression, but it is our hope that it will keep conversations going beyond short-lived social media posts in a way that encourages perspective-seeking and authentic dialogue.
"When he came to Nazareth, where he had been raised, he went into the synagogue, as he always did on the Sabbath day. When Jesus came to the front to read the Scriptures, they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and read where it is written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has anointed me to be hope' for the poor, freedom for the brokenhearted, and new eyes for the blind, and to preach to prisoners, ‘You are set free!’ I have come to share the message of Jubilee, for the time of God’s great acceptance has begun.” Luke 4:16-19
stand up for racial equity t-shirt campaign
I’m so glad you’re here, friend. I’m not sure how you found this post, but I continue to be amazed by the internets. It brings us together in such beautiful ways and reminds us that we’re more alike than different. More united than divided. Whether you spend a minute or an hour on this page, know that Jesus loves you like crazy. Like CRAZY. I’d love to hear how I can pray for you. Would you let me know here?
