The following is a virtual conversation with Charles E. Blake, Bishop of the Church of God in Christ.\u00a0 Bishop Blake sent out a call to all Christians to join his denomination in observing Black Lives Matters Sunday. \u00a0He also spoke to heads of denominations, including George Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, who agreed to honor BLMS. \u00a0Had we actually conversed about BLMS, the following is how it might have gone. \u00a0I searched news articles and listened to his speech on BLMS to his congregation.\u00a0 This virtual conversation includes his statements and the statements of supporters.<\/p>\n
Blake: \u201cMr. Fisher, I respectfully request that your church join with the Church of God in Christ as we sponsor a day of prayer throughout our 12,000 congregations around the world, in honor of Eric Garner and Michael Brown that were killed by police.\u201d<\/p>\n
Me: \u201cMr. Blake, I find that an amazing and disturbing request. You really want me to join your church in honoring two criminals that were killed in the process of resisting arrest? Why these two men? Couldn\u2019t you find a couple of incidents where truly innocent black men were gunned down by rogue cops?\u00a0 Also, Black Lives Matter Movement is an organization Christians ought not to be associated with.\u201d<\/p>\n
(The conversation may have ended at this point? But for the sake of extrapolation, we will go on.)<\/p>\n
Blake: \u201cWell, you see, the killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and the Grand Jury verdicts takes us back years in the struggle for equal justice. As a result, many black people feel that their lives are not highly valued by many in white America. We need to speak with one voice that police forces are to abide by the laws they are called to enforce. They should not bring fear to our citizens, but rather confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Me: \u201cWhite America? Really? I am struggling to understand that term in this multi-colored nation with a black President, Attorney General, and Supreme Court Justice. \u00a0There are more African Americans employed by the Government than all other races combined.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdditionally, I do not believe you suddenly feel that your life does not matter as the result of a criminal\u2019s death.\u00a0 White criminals have been killed by black police officers. I seldom hear about those cases since they do not make it into the news. However, it never crossed my mind that my life does not matter as a result of a white criminal\u2019s death. No matter what happens in the world, I know that my life matters because Christ Jesus paid the ultimate price for me. He is the only reason anyone\u2019s life is \u2018highly valued.\u2019\u00a0 I will not ignore that fact because of what occurs in the world or else I would be unstable in my Christian walk.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther, please explain how it will make you feel better to join forces with the world system and protest on Sunday.\u00a0 That\u2019s the day when we should be feeding God’s people the milk and meat of the Word. If that is all it takes, then your feelings of worthlessness must not be very deep. May I suggest that prayer is a better balm than protesting in God’s house?\u201d<\/p>\n
Blake: \u201cWe must find a way, through God\u2019s help, to continue the work of emphatically telling everyone that will listen that black lives matter! We need to unite and remind the nation how important the lives of African Americans are. We also must insist that the federal, state, and local governments install some measure to police the police.\u00a0 Are you refusing to join us in this show of unity?\u201d<\/p>\n
Me: \u201cIf it were about racial unity, there would be no question about joining you. It is not about racial unity. \u00a0It is about what you are really asking us to do. You are asking us to join the world spirit.\u00a0 You are not asking us to affirm our love and support for you; that we will do and as often as occasion presents. \u00a0And our love extends to the Michael Brown and Eric Garner families. But we also love the people whose livelihoods were destroyed in Ferguson, Missouri. We love law enforcement personnel who risk their lives daily to protect citizens and enforce the law. We love the other races that are adversely affected by the lawless rioting and looting as the result of race-baiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot ignore them to join you in what appears to be an effort to ignore the rule of law, shame and ostracize police officers many of whom are your Christian brothers and sisters.\u00a0 \u00a0We cannot accept the conclusion of race-baiters that have created this present facade of racial injustice. What you are attempting to do on Sunday is wrong. It is supporting the wrath of the world system. It is not grounded in truth. It will cause much harm, division, mistrust, and bring disgrace upon Christianity. I counsel you to abandon your plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blake: So you are choosing to agree with the murderers of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. You agree with the Grand Jury that black lives do not matter. Black men are being tried on the sidewalk, gunned down simply because of the color of their skin and you are not concerned. You do not want racial reconciliation and healing over the ugly history of slavery and Jim Crow, the spirits of which live on with the mass incarceration of black Americans in this nation. You are unwilling to support healing and unity that God’s word declares all true Christians must believe and practice. We are admonished in God’s word to \u201cmourn with those who mourn.\u201d How dwells the love of God in you? If Spirit-filled Christians cannot find a way to work together to heal these divisions, what hope is there for the rest of the country?”<\/p>\n
Me: \u201cBut you say one thing and mean another. You say \u201cunity,\u201d but you mean \u201cdivision.\u201d\u00a0 You say \u201cjustice,\u201d but you mean \u201cspecial treatment.\u201d\u00a0 You say \u201chonor\u201d, but you mean \u201cshame\u201d and \u201cintimidation\u201d of law enforcement.\u00a0 You say \u201creconciliation\u201d and \u201chealing\u201d, but you mean \u201ckowtow to race-baiters and the grievance industry.\u201d\u00a0 You say \u201cend racism\u201d, but you mean \u201csupport black racism.\u201d\u00a0 Under those terms there will be no healing in observing BLMS, but only more division and strife. \u00a0You cannot generate respect and honor for black people by promoting shame and dishonor for white people.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther, just because someone disagrees with you does not make them a racist.\u00a0 Every negative experience involving a white person is not racism.\u00a0 You asked your congregation how many had a negative experience with the police, and 99% raised their hands.\u00a0 A speeding ticket is a negative experience with the police.\u00a0 Why didn\u2019t you ask them how many had been shot or choked unjustly by the police?\u00a0 That\u2019s what you claim to be protesting.\u00a0 And since most black people are killed by other black people, why didn\u2019t you ask how many had a negative experience with another black person?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe critical and most pressing need of the black community is to strengthen and support black families.\u00a0 There are also the issues of black unemployment, gangs, influence of rap, hip-hop and the drug culture, lack of proper education, abortion, and out-of-wedlock pregnancies.\u00a0 These are serious issues that any Christian would join you in solving. \u00a0But I will not join you in ignoring truth, rejecting the Rule of Law, and joining the race-baiting spirit of the world.\u00a0 I might add that when the church fails to influence and change the culture of a generation, it is a bit hypocritical to blame the police and judicial system, or any other entity for the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blake:\u00a0 \u201cI find your remarks rather offensive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Me.\u00a0 \u201cThe truth offends some people.\u00a0 With all due respect, there is a way to solve that.\u00a0 One only has to cover the distance of about 2 feet.\u00a0 That\u2019s approximately how far it is from our knees to the floor.\u00a0 Prayer removes all the offense of truth.\u00a0 If you want to pray now, I will join you.<\/p>\n
(At this point, the conversation ends. \u201cCan two walk together, unless they are agreed?\u201d\u00a0 Amos 3:3)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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