Hello,<\/p>\n
I am a member of the church. We have mixed views here on whether or not we are allowed to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement and the ongoing protests. Some members have asked me to settle the topic biblically, but I need some advice.<\/p>\n
In addition, concerns have come up in light of whether it is right to partake in strikes organized by company unions.<\/p>\n
Can you please help me?<\/p>\n\t
In looking at this group’s declared beliefs, I found:<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
We make space for transgender brothers and sisters to participate and lead.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\nWe foster a queer\u2010affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking”
\n[“What We Believe<\/a>,” Black Lives Matter]<\/blockquote>\nThe group declares support for homosexuality and other deviations from sex only being allowed in a marriage between a man and a woman (Hebrews 13:4). While such a stand is considered popular in the secular world, Christians recognize that this runs contrary to the teachings of the Bible. See “Homosexuality<\/a>” and “Transgenderism<\/a>.”<\/p>\n
The group also declares itself as opposing traditional marriage with a husband and wife raising children.<\/p>\n
“We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.”
\n[“What We Believe<\/a>,” Black Lives Matter]<\/blockquote>\nI especially wonder why “fathers” were left out of this statement (Ephesians 6:4).<\/p>\n
The very name of the group places emphasis on a specific skin color. The group states, “We are unapologetically Black in our positioning.” They do qualify it to state that they see fighting of the rights of this group is then extended to all other skin colors. But what I want to note is that their method divides mankind by an arbitrary characteristic. Christians see that there is only one race in the world — the human race. “And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation<\/em>” (Acts 17:26). We are all descendants of Adam. You don’t fight unbalanced treatment with unbalanced treatment.<\/p>\n
What concerns me is how often protests where Black Lives Matter is present end up turning violent and destructive. Officially, the group states it is against violence, but the trend is too glaring to ignore. Solomon warns, “Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble<\/em>” (Proverbs 24:1-2).<\/p>\n
“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these<\/em>” (II Timothy 3:1-5).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Fairness and equality are ideals that Christians promote, but this group claims to want these goals while going about it in ways that actually destroy the foundations of society.<\/p>\n
Regarding union strikes, see:\u00a0What does the Bible say about employment?<\/a><\/p>\n\t
Follow-Up:<\/h2>\n