Statement on Racism

#BlackLivesMatter

Jason Tilley and I have mostly been silent on Ministry Accelerator regarding racial issues although each of us has, on our individual accounts (and on my devotional ministry, The Park Forum, of which Jason is a board member), spoken out affirming that #BlackLivesMatter.

Mostly our silence here has been due to a desire to listen to Black voices rather than speak, and a desire to avoid the appearance of capitalizing on the situation. We are not looking to add to our audience or gain clicks or reads based on tapping an issue like racial injustice.

The competing tension, however, is that we do not want to allow our silence to indicate complicity with those who oppose efforts to abolish racial injustice.

So, as two sinful people, two white guys raised (mostly) in the South, who have been on a long journey of learning about racism for our entire lives, we want to unequivocally say a few things.

1- Racism is a sin that is real and is pervasive. It is not an issue from the past but an issue of vital importance for today.

2- Racism is not simply individual feelings, thoughts, or actions, but shows up in systemic ways. This is consistent with the Bible’s definition of sin. Sins can be individual. Sins can also be collective. Here are some examples:

• God holds individuals accountable for individual actions. For example, David’s adultery and murder of Uriah. (Uriah was also a minority race/nationality living within the state of Israel, by the way.)
• God holds nations and races accountable for collective action and inaction. For example, the refusal of the rich and powerful to care for the poor and their use of violent methods to crush the poor in Judah and Israel is one of the most repeated complaints against those kingdoms by the prophets.

3- The church must retake the mantle of combating racism by speaking up loudly and strongly against both individual acts of racism and against manifestations of the collective sins of racism in politics, policing, financial systems, the educational system, and other places in culture.

We are working on more writing and resources about racism and its effects on ministry that are based in biblical theology and ways that the church can effectively stand as Peter did to proclaim, “God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10.34–35)

Here are a few voices we have found helpful to listen to regarding race and its political and ministry implications:

The And Campaign: an organization dedicated to improving how Christians engage politics and culture and to disrupt America’s sociopolitical arena by asserting the justice and righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Esau McCaulley: Professor of New Testament at Wheaton and Author of Reading While Black, coming out in November

Jordan Rice: Pastor of Renaissance Church in Harlem

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