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You’re in a conversation and someone asks: “Should Christians support Black Lives Matter?” What would you say? It is absolutely true that black lives matter. Christians believe that because all people are made in the image of God, everyone has dignity and equal value. And it’s important to affirm that truth for specific groups who feel their value and dignity have not been recognized or have even been denied. However, we need to distinguish between the truth of the phrase “black lives matter,” and the organization that goes by the same name. Some say #BlackLivesMatter is merely a concept. But when a concept is used to identify a well-funded group, with a published manifesto, the group must be evaluated on its own terms. The Black Lives Matter movement is made up of leadership from two main umbrella organizations—the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and the Movement for Black Lives (or M4BL). They claim to fight for racial justice and human rights, however that doesn’t mean their claims are true or that their solutions are morally right. The Church should be leading on issues of justice, operating from a solid foundation of truth and love, instead of merely following movements with broken worldviews. For instance, Christians should champion women’s rights, but should never support abortion. Christians should care about the poor, but that doesn’t mean supporting the Communist Party. In the same way, Christians should promote racial justice, but we should carefully evaluate organizations before endorsing them. The next time someone says Christians should support Black Lives Matter, here are 3 things to remember. Number 1: The Black Lives Matter Movement is all about “Black Power” The movement’s self-identifying Marxist founders clearly state on their website: “It became clear that we needed to continue organizing and building Black power across the country.” Martin Luther King Jr. rejected black nationalism and the black power movement of the 60s, saying: “Let us be dissatisfied until that day when nobody will shout, ‘White Power!’ when nobody will shout, ‘Black Power!’ but everybody will talk about God's power and human power.” Christians know that the identity humans have is that they are made in the image of God, an identity fully realized in Christ. Galatians 3:28 says: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Number 2: The Black Lives Matter Movement is radically pro-abortion “We are working for a world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise.” These words are from BlackLivesMatter.com, but contradict their support of an industry that systematically and disproportionately targets black lives for demise nearly 1,000 times a day. BLM has declared that abortion is a “human right.” Christians can never support a cause that believes in destroying innocent lives made in the image of God. Nationwide, abortion rates in black communities are 3.4 times higher than the majority population, according to the CDC. In New York City, the home of Planned Parenthood, more black babies have been aborted than born alive for years. This is not racial justice. Planned Parenthood kills an estimated 360 black lives every day, yet BLM stands with this organization that is the epitome of the “white supremacy” they demand must be dismantled. The solution to suffering and inequality is not elimination; it’s elevation. Number 3: The Black Lives Matter Movement is fundamentally dishonest There can be no justice without truth. Psalm 89:14 says: “Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of your throne. Faithful love and truth go before you.” In our pursuit of what is morally right, we cannot embrace moral wrongs. We must demand justice for anyone wrongfully killed—regardless of hue, gender or any other characteristic. But the policy aims of the BLM organization include defunding the police and abolishing prisons. However, the statistics do not support an epidemic of black lives being killed by police. In 2019, there were a total of 999 human beings killed by fatal force by our law enforcement. Of those deaths, 405 were white individuals, 249 were black, 145 were Hispanic and 182 more individuals were categorized as “other” or “unknown.” A shocking 84% of these individuals were armed with a deadly weapon Context and Truth matter. We cannot achieve justice without them. Acting compassionately requires that we separate fact from fiction. So, the next time you’re talking about racial justice and someone says Christians should support Black Lives Matter, remember these 3 things: Number 1: The Black Lives Matter Movement is all about “Black Power” Number 2: The Black Lives Matter Movement is radically pro-abortion Number 3: The Black Lives Matter Movement is fundamentally dishonest For What Would You Say, I’m Ryan Bomberger.