{"id":24009,"date":"2020-07-20T17:27:23","date_gmt":"2020-07-20T22:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=24009"},"modified":"2020-07-20T17:27:23","modified_gmt":"2020-07-20T22:27:23","slug":"black-lives-matter-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/black-lives-matter-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Lives Matter Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\tby Jefferson David Tant\nThere is much turmoil and violence taking place in our nation over the racial problems that have become prominent in recent months. The \u201cBlack Lives Matter\u201d movement has taken a leading role in discussions, demonstrations, and even violence in many places, including the murder of a woman who said \u201cAll lives matter\u201d at one of their demonstrations. And while there are valid points in light of the fact that God created all of one blood, whether yellow, black, white, brown, or purple, we must respect God\u2019s intention for His creation. In reading over the BLM statement on their website, the following paragraphs caught my attention. The BLM words are in italics.\n
\nWe make our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We dismantle the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work \u201cdouble shifts\u201d so that they can mother in private even as they participate in public justice work.\nWe disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and \u201cvillages\u201d that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Photo by Jessica Rockowitz on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

The idea that \u201cWe dismantle the patriarchal practice <\/strong>\u2026 and we disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure<\/strong>\u201d certainly goes against Biblical teaching as to the family and the place of fathers. The truth is, the \u201cnuclear family\u201d is God-ordained rather than \u201cWestern-prescribed<\/strong>.\u201d Much of the high crime rate among the black population must be laid at the feet of the high rate of unwed births among the black population. It is close to 70%. Among the white population, it is 28%. Children growing up without a father to show them how to be a loving father, and a model of manhood for their sons are missing a vital factor during their formative years. So, to \u201cdismantle<\/strong>\u201d the directions God gave for an orderly society will further destroy peace and security in the nation, but will only increase crime and mayhem.<\/p>\nHow does a boy learn how to be a man, how to be respected, and how to be a leader if he never sees a model? How does a girl learn what true love is without the tender embrace of a loving father who cares and provides for her? Notice that in the BLM statement, the word \u201cfather\u201d or \u201chusband\u201d is not once mentioned.\nIn my work in Jamaica over the last 30+ years, I have observed the chaos of this philosophy. With an unwed birthrate of around 80%, crime is off the charts. I know of men who have 30 or more children by who knows how many women. Do they support the children? Do they care for them? Usually, NO! If they saw some on the street, they wouldn\u2019t know who they were. This is how they prove their \u201cmanhood,\u201d which is by bringing more and more children into the world.\nSo, mothers struggle to provide for their children and often do not have enough for food, which leads some boys to turn to crime to get money for food and some girls to turn to prostitution. I knew one girl whose mother turned her out at age 13. \u201cYou\u2019re old enough to make it on your own.\u201d So, what does a girl that age do to earn money for food? She became a prostitute. For many girls, the only time \u201clove\u201d is mentioned is when a boy tells her \u201cIf you love me, you will have sex with me.\u201d\nThe BLM statement that the nuclear family structure is \u201cWestern-prescribed<\/strong>\u201d is far from the truth. The family structure is \u201cGod-prescribed.\u201d The company that made my car knows what\u2019s best for it, and I follow the \u201cOwner\u2019s Manual.\u201d Our Creator knows what\u2019s best for us, and if we have common sense, we will also follow the \u201cOwner\u2019s Manual,\u201d the Bible.\nOur \u201cOwner\u2019s Manual\u201d says:\n