Last updated on September 25, 2023
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:28
The round clock at the front of the classroom struck at 9:00 a.m. Sunlight streamed through the whitewash blinds and fell on my wooden desk. I clasped the newly sharpened pencil. Did I dare look to the back of the room?
I bit my lip as I studied the kids around me. The girls wore brand-new dresses, and the boys were in their Sunday best. I knew boys didn’t care how they looked—except for the first day of school.
I glanced at the calendar—August 28, 1966. Today was my first day of fifth grade and the beginning of a new school year, a new classroom, and many new faces. However, it wasn’t like any other first day of school.
I eyed my new teacher sitting at her desk. Why didn’t she introduce the new students seated in the back? I supposed that would be awkward. To point out those in the back would only draw attention to them. They weren’t like us white kids—or so I was told.
I stole a glance despite my conscience telling me I should quit peeking. I was bothered by everyone ignoring the new kids. The room was tranquil. I could only hear whispers. No laughter. No warm greetings. No jokes. Just—whispers.
I turned to look into the eyes of one of the black girls. Could I read fear on her face? Could I sense shyness in her unwillingness to make eye contact? Or was it something else?
In a classroom of uncertainty and scorn, I knew what it was like to be different. Long-buried memories resurfaced, and I felt their discomfort, alone in a sea of white faces.
The above story introduced me to desegregation in fifth grade in Cobb County, Georgia, north of Atlanta. Much progress toward racial equality has been made in the years following. However, I fear the Black Lives Matter Movement (and later the Woke Agenda) threatens to undermine what’s been achieved. The founders spearheading the campaign have added an underlying goal unrelated to the core issue.
I’m not going to minimize the problem of prejudice and racism. I know it exists, but I genuinely believe it is a people problem, not a country one. If one looks hard at America compared to other countries, racial equality is more the norm here than anywhere else. We are a vibrant culture—mainly due to the vast number of people who have immigrated here. The truth is, except for the Indians, we are all immigrants.
For a moment, though, I want to focus on African Americans. On May 25, 2020, I was as disturbed as everyone else to witness the murder of George Floyd at the hands of three white Minneapolis police officers. What happened was pure evil. Regardless of what preceded such an atrocity, to hold a helpless man down on the ground for almost nine minutes and stand by and watch his life slip away was inhumane.
It makes me wonder if those police officers were psychopaths. I hope the legal system punishes them to the fullest extent of the law. In my mind, they should receive the death penalty. But this is where I draw the line: Because three officers in Minneapolis used poor judgment, it cannot be used as a basis to judge all police officers.
One cannot use one injustice (killing George Floyd) to fix other wrongs (e.g., defunding the police), which would have a disastrous effect on society. To riot, set buildings on fire, create autonomous zones where police are forbidden to go, or embrace and give credence to a movement like Black Lives Matter is only perpetuating evil.
I captioned the local Santa Monica news when rioters were stealing and robbing stores. The police stood by and did nothing. I am a single mother, and I found this appalling. It made me consider that I needed to arm myself and know how to shoot like a pro.
And that’s what I did for my 65th birthday. I bought a gun and took a course on how to use it. Who knows when I might have to defend myself or my daughters because the police can’t or won’t. We live in dangerous times. If we continue on this path, we will have anarchy.
Is that justice? What are people thinking when they say they want to defund the police? Look at what happened in Seattle’s Chaz Zone (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone). The area was off-limits to Seattle police. There were two shootings within forty-eight hours. One person was killed, and another was critically injured.
I captioned Fox News when rioters destroyed businesses in the Chaz Zone, and the police did nothing. Who knows how many rapes and assaults took place. I want to give these people the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they are well-intentioned, but they are sorely misguided to come up with this ill-conceived solution. One person is needlessly dead, and another is critically injured.
These demonstrators, encouraged by the Black Lives Matter Movement, have exchanged God’s moral law or standard for one based on a tribe’s governing rules. Whatever the tribe says is right. If you have a different set of standards, you are part of the problem. That makes what’s right and what’s wrong morally relative. What does that create? Lawlessness.
In Matthew 24:10-12, Jesus told his disciples when the end of all things would be. “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”
In II Thessalonians 2:6-8, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church:
“And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
“And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
The Black Lives Matter Movement is dangerous. Their platform shreds the Bible—God’s moral law—and replaces it with the #BLM tribal standard. Sadly, many well-meaning organizations, Christians, and churches have bought into the Black Lives Matter agenda without considering their real motive or platform.
The Bible predicted these events thousands of years ago. Those who know Biblical prophecy recognize what is happening now are the very things Jesus and the Apostle Paul predicted.
The original website has been scrubbed, but I copied the quotes below before they took them down.
We are guided by the fact that all Black lives matter, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status, or location.
We make space for transgender brothers and sisters to participate and lead.
We are self-reflexive and do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence. We build a space that affirms Black women and is free from sexism, misogyny, and environments in which men are centered.
…we dismantle the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” so that they can mother in private even as they participate in public justice work.
We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families…
We foster a queer‐affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise)[i]
In contradiction to Biblical teachings, the last statement is disturbing: “We foster a queer-affirming network.” Nowhere in the Bible does God promote a “queer” lifestyle.
The definition of “queer” in Merriam-Webster is:
- a: Worthless, counterfeit – queer money; b: Questionable, suspicious.
- a: Differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal; b: (1): eccentric, unconventional (2): mildly insane; c: absorbed or interested to an extreme or unreasonable degree; d: Often disparaging + offensive. (1): SEXUALLY ATTRACTED TO MEMBERS OF THE SAME SEX
- Not quite well
As I wrote above, I remember my first day of class in fifth grade when three black students were seated in an all-white classroom. I became good friends with one of the girls. She was a B+ student and a kind person.
However, at that time, my parents were uncomfortable with me bringing her home. My mother’s comment was, “What would the neighbors say?” That was almost sixty years ago. Most people today, including my mother, would think nothing of it. Things have changed despite the fact some want to stir up hatred and prejudice.
If you embrace the Black Lives Matter platform, I ask the reader what God will say to you. If you kneel for George Floyd or anyone but Jesus Christ, what are you saying about your faith in God?
My mother has long since admitted her response was racist, and she is no longer like that. Most people aren’t. Just because a few rotten apples are racist should not taint the rest of us who are white, hard-working American patriots. I don’t know anyone who has the predisposition to dislike anyone who isn’t white. However, we still need to talk about our differences without throwing each other under the bus.
One afternoon at a writer’s conference, I went over to sit across the table from an African-American author whom I respected. I told her I wanted to discuss racial relations and get her thoughts. When I told her I didn’t see color, she said it was a racist comment—that I should see black because black is beautiful.
Her response was not what I expected. I have two daughters from another continent who look nothing like me and are not Caucasian. I don’t see skin color. I don’t see physical differences. I see my daughters. Why should I consciously I.D. everyone I meet on the basis of skin color?
I’m afraid I have to disagree with my author friend’s observation, but I respect what she said. I’m learning and listening. That’s the first step toward reconciliation.
In the twenty-plus years since I adopted my daughters, I have never heard a racist comment about my family. People have asked if we go together. But considering my daughters were born in Asia, and I’m about as white as they come, it’s a legitimate question.
Perhaps my author friend was right; I should see black. However, everyone blends in when you live in a diverse community (my community is more varied than hers as she lives in another city). The first thing I notice when I look at someone is not their skin color. I wonder if they are a Christian. I see them as someone I might like to know better or as my sister or brother in Christ.
I don’t believe the Black Lives Matter Movement is based on racial reconciliation as they want us to believe. Demonic forces in high places are at work, stirring up the #BLM Movement (and Antifa) to cause strife, unrest, and hate.
Remember, the world today is governed by powers of darkness (Satan is the prince of the air), and the fallen angels empower the sons of disobedience (nonbelievers) to wage war against the sons of God (believers). Those battles can take many forms.
Tearing down statues of iconic figures from the past—people like Winston Churchill of England, Mahatma Gandhi of India, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other American heroes—does nothing to help the more significant cause of promoting reconciliation and racial equality. Were these men perfect? No. But there was one man who was—Jesus Christ, and some now want to tear down statues depicting the only perfect human being who ever lived.
Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is a song I love to sing with the title, They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love. How does that translate into action? What can we do as Christians to combat racism and prejudice?
As a starter, don’t support Black Lives Matter. Their platform is divisive and goes beyond promoting racial equality to the point that it discriminates against heterosexuals and the traditional American family. And that’s just for starters.
I also want to point out one other important thing. Nowhere in the BLM platform is there any mention of abortion. The fact is they do nothing to condemn it. Like Stacey Abrams from Georgia, who served in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017, many African-American leaders are pro-choice advocates and promote the #BLM agenda, including abortion. The Planned Parenthood Oregon website touts its commitment to Black Lives Matter in the article “Our Commitment to Black Lives Matter.” [ii]
If they cared about black lives, shouldn’t they care about black babies? Do the lives of black babies not matter? The hypocrisy is sickening. How can #BLM advocates march (even peacefully) when they condone the killing of their black children?
According to the Arizona Capitol Times, in the article “Abortion: The Overlooked Tragedy for Black Americans,” the leading cause of death in the African-American population is abortion. Don’t “Baby Black Lives” matter also? If so, then why do they promote abortion? The article states: “At a ratio of 474 abortions per 1,000 live births, black women have the highest ratio of any group in the country” [iii]
We will never have good racial relations if African Americans play the “race” card and continue to see themselves as victims. If they are victims, often, it’s because of their own choices. If they remain victims, I have to ask why.
In America, out of all places, citizens have the freedom of upward mobility. That’s what makes America great. Travel to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa—you won’t find a single country where people have as much opportunity to better themselves and their families as you do in the United States.
Most people don’t realize the history of slavery. Slavery was an acceptable form of bondage that dates back thousands of years, even before the time of Christ. Of the millions of Africans sold into slavery worldwide, only 5% came to America, and they were the fortunate ones. Muslim countries relied heavily on enslaved people, castrated them, and turned them into eunuchs.
When the enslaved Black people outlived their usefulness, they killed them. The five percent that came to America married, bore children and formed their own culture. Many left paganism to embrace the true God, Jesus Christ, and became believers. They wrote spirit-filled hymns and were allowed the freedom of worship.
Our country fought to end slavery in the Civil War. When that happened, we set the standard for everyone else to follow. Many countries did end slavery in the years and decades following. Our abolishment of slavery set a new worldwide standard. The last nation to outlaw slavery was Mauritania in 1981. (I recognize that slavery is still practiced in some regions of the world, but we need to focus on the norm and not the exceptions for this conversation.)
Again, as long as African Americans see themselves as victims, they will never achieve their full potential as a distinct race with God-given creativity and potential. However, much progress has been made. Let’s not condemn the excellent work done because many people in the United States want to create division and chaos. We’ve even had a black man serve two terms as President of the United States. That means there is no level of achievement that an African American cannot attain. When you think about it, considering their humble beginnings in America, that’s pretty remarkable.
Hundreds of black athletes in the NBA, NHL, MLB, and other high-profile sports make millions yearly. I doubt any of them would have achieved their dream without working hard. Playing the “victim” card wouldn’t have earned them a spot on any team roster. Hard work, talent, and perseverance prevailed. There was a time when it didn’t, but that’s not true anymore. Team owners want the best athletes and will pay to get the most bang for their buck.
I can’t think of any profession today where African Americans have not contributed their gifts and talents to pursue the American dream. It’s there for the taking; my biggest fear is that our young people will settle for mediocrity rather than work hard to achieve their potential.
Like many others, I had a DNA test to discover my ancestral origins. I discovered I have African roots. One of my relatives on an ancestry website, whom I share DNA links with, claims to be America’s first black postal worker.
We are all interrelated. We all go back to Noah and his descendants. There is beauty in diversity, and there is unity in Jesus Christ.
One day last week, when I returned home, I saw my African-American neighbor pulling my trash bins up from the road and depositing them at my house. She didn’t have to do that. It was kindness.
As I leaned out of the car window, I called her over and told her, “I don’t care what happens in the world. You will always be my friend and neighbor.” I ended the conversation by saying, “God looks at the heart, and you have a good heart.” I thought she might burst into tears.
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him what the greatest commandment was, He replied, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
Who is your neighbor? It’s anyone in need. Just open your heart, and God will show you.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, help us to read our Bible every day and perform Good Works for the Kingdom. In doing so, we will become more like Jesus and a witness to those who are lost and perishing.
[i] “What We Believe,” Black Lives Matter,” https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/ (site removed)
[ii] “Our Commitment to Black Lives Matter,” Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, June 1, 2020, https://www.ppaoregon.org/2020/06/01/our-commitment-black-lives-matter/
[iii] “Abortion: The Overlooked Tragedy for Black Americans,” Arizona Capitol Times, February 25, 2020, https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2020/02/25/abortion-the-overlooked-tragedy-for-black-americans/
Thank you so much for writing this. As a fellow Christian, I can't align myself with the BLM organization, either.
When the founders tell us from their own mouths that they are marxists, what more do we need to see the deception at play? And that's in addition to the other ungodly ideologies you already discussed. And for an organization so fond of using the names of black men as the battle cry for their so-called revolution, they seem to have little use for them in their future Utopia. At least, that's the impression I get when I read their mission page.
I've been so incredibly disappointed to see so many of my Christian brothers and sisters (especially the white ones) become swept up in this mess. I appreciate the sentiment. They want to show support for my community. I understand that's the intention. But backing an organization based on hate and ungodliness ISN'T the answer.
I know the opinions you and I hold aren't the popular ones. I'm sure I have readers who will turn away once they know my convictions concerning BLM. But I can't, and I won't, compromise on this. I love my people, whether they be black, Christian, or American, too much to back down.
So much truth in this post, Lorilyn. This is my view and so many others of my friends and family. Wake up, America. The end is near!
I think as people become informed and are not intimidated by the media and those who hold a big stick, they will be more inclined to speak up. What concerns me, though, is the heart of Christians. If you are deceived, it becomes increasingly difficult to see the truth. Pretty soon, you can't. Then God hardens your heart even more because you have chosen to believe the lie instead of the truth. I could not find one Christian pastor or person I respected speaking out on this. I asked for prayer about it at my prayer meeting last night, and the prayer leader told me about an article just published this week by Albert Mohler. Here is the link. https://albertmohler.com/2020/06/18/briefing-6-18-20. I read it and was amazed at how we had focused on the same quotes from their platform and had many of the same thoughts. His writing style is different from mine, but excellent reading. He's always good. So maybe more and more Christian influencers will start to speak up. Thanks for sharing your own thoughts. We need to pray for our country and its Christian leaders.
Absolutely. We need to make America up, and pray for repentance and revival.
You are absolutely right about BLM and its agenda. When I was a freshman in high school, our class was the first integrated class in the history of Sikeson, MO. Black people marching in the streets today never endured what black people endured during segregation, and none of them were ever American slaves. I wonder if any of them ever think about the fact that that European slave traders would have had no slaves to sell if black Africans had not sold black people from enemy tribes to the slave traders.
The agenda of the revolutionaries who have taken over in the streets is nothing about race relations; it is entirely about destroying the USA. I pray every day for our country and our leaders that they may be inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit to do what is right for our country. I pray God's angel armies will protect our country from all the enemies who want to destroy it.
You are right, Katherine. It's not about race relations. Martin Luther King wss a pastor and promoted Judeo-Christian values to get his message out. This has nothing to do with Martin Luther King's vision. It's a big deception. I captioned tonight that there are threats about tearing down a statue of Abraham Lincoln.
I had a strange thought about tearing down all these statues. Could it be this is part of a demonic move by satan to cast down all statues to be replaced by the one statue people will bow down and worship? Satan wants to be worshipped, and his "man of lawlessness" no doubt will be appearing soon because the spirit of lawlessness is at work.
I'm on your email list. I am female and white. I read your post on Black Lives Matter with interest, especially the website you checked out. A week or two ago, I happened across an article by John Piper, who had done the same thing you had – looked into what Black Lives Matter stands for. He was also disturbed by the origins of it, and tweeted a link to the site. Later on, in conversation with a friend of his who is a black pastor, he received a bit of a rebuke. Piper writes:
"He helped me see for the mass of ordinary folks, black folks in particular, that website is a nonissue. It doesn’t even exist. They don’t know it is there. It is not driving anything and, therefore, my call now, my learning afresh of needing to make distinctions between, one, a patently true slogan — black lives matter — and, two, ideological roots of a name that may be the real roots, or they may have been co-opted. I mean, the name may have been co-opted." Here's the link to the article: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-can-we-learn-from-black-lives-matter
I respectfully disagree with some of the other things you said. In full disclosure, I am also Canadian, but my disagreement is not an attack on you or the United States, merely to share the things I've come across that maybe give a fuller picture than what you've said here. I fully recognize that Canada has its own issues with racism, from individual hearts and families (even Christian ones that sincerely believe we have no bias), to corrupt police and judicial cultures, to economic situation and policies that keep poor people poor. I agree with you 100% that racism is a "people" or heart issue, and I agree that there are many good police officers. But I believe the system is stacked against black people and other people of color, in both our countries.
You said: "We will never have good racial relations in this country as long as African-Americans play the "race" card and continue to see themselves as victims. If they are victims, oftentimes, it's because of their own choices. If they remain victims, I have to ask why." In the little bit of reading that I have done, it seems to me that being black is an invitation for others to discriminate. For example, black parents have to teach their children how to respond when pulled over by the police (I have heard this in Canada and the US), because a) they are more likely to be pulled over than white youth and b) are more likely to be viewed with suspicion, hostility and fear, which is a recipe for a violent response to an unexpected move.
Also, it seems that economically, a large majority of people of color do not have the opportunity to succeed. Redlining is just one factor. I was not aware of this practice until recently, and in case you don't know about it either, here's a definition: "Redlining, a process by which banks and other institutions refuse to offer mortgages or offer worse rates to customers in certain neighborhoods based on their racial and ethnic composition, is one of the clearest examples of institutionalized racism in the history of the United States. Although the practice was formally outlawed in 1968 with the passage of the Fair Housing Act, it continues in various forms to this day." Here's the article that came from: https://www.thoughtco.com/redlining-definition-4157858
There's a lot more I could have said, but this is way too long already. I agree with you that we need to be "learning and listening. That's the first step toward reconciliation." All I want is to share some of my learning with you. Thanks for sharing what you've learned, and for listening to me.
Janet Hamm
Redlining is illegal across the U.S. If you know of someone this has happened to, get on the phone and call a lawyer. There are remedies in the legal system for illegal activities.