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There is great injustice happening in our world today that has largely been ignored by the Church.
In the name of “staying out of politics,” many Christians have been silent about issues of racial equality. While these conversations have always been happening in my circles, I haven’t been as vocal or intentional as I should’ve been in the public spaces that I own.
It’s important that Christians bring these issues into the open, because they are happening and they are not of God. He is grieved at the loss of life and oppression that His children are experiencing.
As Christians, we follow and trust a righteous, just Savior and He cares about what is happening to his children of color in America and all over the world.
Systemic racism IS our fight as Christians because it is deeply rooted in sin. It is the child of deep-seated pride and greed and selfishness.
In this article, I’ve rounded up just a fraction of the resources that are out there for us to do the deep work of uprooting the sin of racism in our own hearts, our communities, and our churches.
This article is by no means exhaustive and will continually be updated as I do my own work and listen to the voices of color who are bravely, kindly, and lovingly educating us and sharing their stories.
Black lives are precious to God and they should matter to you. Any injustice against fellow humans should grieve us.
I pray that as a Church body we would be humble enough to listen to the perspectives of those who are different from us and to acknowledge our role in the hurt they are feeling. I pray we would be humble enough to sit in our discomfort and turn that into action.
I am by no means an expert. Like you, I am a student who is learning and growing. But I know that staying silent and doing nothing is not an option.
I pray these resources bless you and that you share what you are learning with your families, friends, small groups, youth groups, and Church leadership.
Articles to Read
We Need to Be Uncomfortable by Phillip Holmes at The Gospel Coalition
Is An Offense Worth This? by Val Woerner of ValMarie Paper
Books to Read
The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby
Be The Bridge by Latasha Morrison
How to Be Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin J. DiAngelo
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity by Trillia Newbell
I’m Still Here Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Christian Smith & Michael O. Emerson
Unreconciled: From Racial Reconciliation to Racial Justice in Christian Evangelicalism by Andrea Smith
Documentaries to Watch
Podcasts to Listen To
How Can We Respond to Racial Injustice? by The Daily Grace Podcast
The Beauty of Racial and Cultural Diversity in the Church by The Daily Grace Podcast
An Honest Conversation on Racial Reconciliation (Ft. Zach & Megan Duke) by the SHE Podcast w/ Jordan Lee Dooley
The Reality of Racism & What the Church (and You) Can Do with Dr. Shannon Polk by the Christian Women Leadership Podcast
Bonus Episode: Can I Live? Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor by the Melanated Faith Podcast
Be The Bridge Podcast with Latasha Jones
Grace & Truth Episode About Racial Inequality by the More To Be Podcast
Women of Color & Faith to Be Encouraged By
Priscilla Shirer & Going Beyond Ministries
Elizabeth Woodson: Bible Teacher, Theologian & Disciple-Maker.
Jackie Hill Perry : Author, Bible Teacher, Poet, Emcee.
Jo Saxton : Author, Speaker & Entrepreneurial Coach.
Nona Jones : Speaker, Business Executive, Media Personality and Ministry Leader.
Morgan Harper Nichols : Artist, Poet & Encourager.