Redemptive Grace

Clay Harrington

Aug 4

Like it or not, the cultural narrative today has been largely dominated by the disruption of COVID. And to make matters all the more fun, the Church is currently experiencing yet another critical disruption within a disruption, as racial tension boils over to the likes not seen since the Civil Rights Era of the 1950s and ‘60s. Needless to say, we indeed live in such a unique and historical time!

It’s this conversation on race that’s hijacked much of the Church’s attention and narrative (understandably so) as we find ways to discuss and reconcile race-related injustices, racial tension, police brutality, etc., that plagues our nation.

Simply put, the majority of Christendom has taken notice and are now engaging in real and honest dialogue with Black and Brown brothers and sisters in profound ways. There indeed is an awakening reverberating in the American Church today – and much of it has to do with these three controversial words: Black Lives Matter.

I know… after reading those words, you may have felt a spike in your blood pressure. Or, on the flip side, you may have felt a deep sense of comfort and relief. Regardless of your stance on this phrase, one thing is abundantly clear: this statement (and movement) has sparked vehement debate and controversy among sons and daughters of God across the globe.

But how has the phrase Black Lives Matter been the source of so much discord, division, and disagreement among the saints?

Well, in short, one of the plethora of reasons could be attributed to the way we see the world. We all have opinions and worldviews -- as all thinking people should -- that will either compliment or clash. In Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, Steven Covey states, “We see the world, not as it is but as we are – or as we’re conditioned to see it.” How we see the world has more to do with how we are and less to do with how the word is. Thus, we naturally ascribe to complimentary or clashing opinions and worldviews.

But can’t we disagree and still love each other? Can’t we disagree while we seek to understand polar opposite opinions, thoughts, and worldviews?

The Parable

I’m reminded of the lawyer with the intention to test Jesus by asking how he could inherit eternal life. Do you recall this exchange in Luke 10:25-37?

To summarize, Jesus, through masterful questioning, determines that this expert of the law was really looking to find a shortcut into the Kingdom that allowed him to love only certain people groups (unfortunately, this lazy Christianity is something we still encounter to this day).

So, in pure Jesus form, He goes into story mode and shares one we know today as the “Good Samaritan.”

As Jesus concludes the parable, he asks the convicting question in Luke 10:36 (NLT): “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by the bandits?”

The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Uhhh, can you say, “mic drop”? Better yet… I imagine you would have literally heard a quill drop if you were a fly on the wall for this exchange!

If you recall, Jesus purposefully highlights ethnicity in this parable to make a larger point, that sons and daughters not only love their enemies (in this case, groups of people at odds, according to culture norms), but seek to help tend their wounds, help tend to their pain, and even help a brother and sister who may not think like, act like, vote like, or culture like us. Such actions help us make gains to full recovery and restoration.

That was a “wake-up call” truth Jesus left the lawyer with, and I believe it’s still the same “wake-up call” truth He leaves the Church with today.

So, do Black Lives Matter? Of course.

Does affirming the statement that Black lives matter mean that other lives don’t matter? Absolutely not! But the focus on one portion of a hurting body never suggests a direct or indirect disparage of another portion of the body.

Nursing the Hurt

I was playing basketball with my 13-year-old son who was chomping at the bit to beat his dad for the family crown and eternal bragging rights (he’s got a few more years, but he’s trying hard!).

Just recently, while playing 1-on-1 with him in the driveway, I landed on my ankle wrong and immediately knew it was sprained. Spraining my ankle was a commonplace injury for me throughout my rec, high school, and college playing days – so I instinctively knew to elevate and ice the ankle for a speedier recovery.

I needed to nurse my ankle back to good health – but the focus on my ankle didn’t mean other parts of my body didn’t matter. They most certainly mattered, but my ankle was the part of the body that was hurting and in need of my attention.

I know this is a silly example, but isn’t this what Jesus taught us in the parable of the lost sheep? He left the 99 to go after the one. The 99 could’ve thought to themselves, “Wait a minute… why don’t we matter?! All Sheep Matter, Jesus!”

Yes (a million yeses), the 99 found sheep did matter to Jesus, but it was the lost sheep who was in desperate need of the attention of the Good Shepherd at the time.

Redeeming BLM

May I not be remiss about addressing the larger elephant in the room, though. Many people can affirm the phrase Black Lives Matter but are quick to hate on the organization that made this phrase popular.

“I will never support Black Lives Matter as a movement! They are a Marxist, queer-affirming network that has been more about violence than peaceful protest!” These are some of the sentiments I see and hear many of my brothers and sisters in Christ expressing. A large majority of Jesus followers who subscribe to these views usually write off the BLM movement entirely as one that God cannot and will not use.

And personally, I don’t support and align to 100% of the fine print you read on the “About” page of blacklivesmatter.com, either. But one thing I’ve come to realize about BLM is how they’ve raised awareness of hurting voices all across the nation, similar to the #MeToo movement. Thus, raising the cause that ensures Black lives are treated, viewed, and judged as having equal value to that of white people sounds to be rooted in both righteousness and justice, two attributes that make up the foundation of God’s throne (Psalms 89:14).

To put it another way, if God can use the imperfect vessel of Donald Trump in the office of the President to achieve His will, then I’m sure He can use the imperfect vessel of the Black Lives Matter organization unto more righteousness and justice in the area of racial disparity.

So instead of searching for and magnifying what we don’t agree on, what would be the worst that would happen if we identify and magnify elements we can agree on in the name of redemption?

I’m sure it was easy for the Jewish people of Jesus’ day to find what they didn’t like about the Samaritan people and their culture (and vice versa). But Jesus sought for redemption for both Jew and Gentile then as He is now!

Jesus taught a selfless gospel that requires us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. He taught the Church how to be carriers of the ministry of reconciliation as opposed to one of condemnation. He taught us how to be a people of His Love… a love that has proven time and time again to crush and cast out fear!

Church, it’s only through Christ that we have the assignment to redeem because he redeemed us, just as we have the power to love because He loved us first.

So rather than throwing out the proverbial BLM baby out with the bath water, I believe in something radical. I believe the Church is primed to access a redemptive grace, a redemptive grace that works to redeem Black Lives Matter and the values it ascribes to.

But only in a posture of humility would this even work… a humility that graces us to tend to the wounds and pain of the hurting… a humility the graces us to seek understanding with those who may not think like, act like, vote like, or culture like us… a humility that graces us to refuse taking it personally when hurting people get the attention…

…a humility that graces us to LOVE AND REDEEM LIKE JESUS.