Black Lives Matter – A Response
On May 25, 2020 a life was snuffed out in the state of Minnesota. A man created in God’s image was murdered on the streets of Minneapolis. He was not famous or rich or influential; he was an ordinary man. His murder was tragic, as all murders are. His name was George Floyd. The color of his skin was black; the color of his blood was red, the same as mine, the same as yours.
When God created man & women, He gave them something unique to all of creation. “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” (Gen. 1:26 NIV). Now God is not a god of flesh and bone, but an eternal being with an intellect, emotion, and will. In this way He created humans with a consciousness different than that of the other creatures. That is why it is such an evil to murder another human. Because they are of infinite value regardless of ethnic background, social status, or class. God condemns all murder in Exodus 20:13 and by this standard, we too condemn the murder of George Floyd.
The death of George Floyd however was more than just another big city murder. It was a betrayal of public trust, and a violation of God’s command that the governing authorities, which He puts in place act righteously. The murderer, and his accomplices, were all police officers. They took an oath to abide by the laws they enforce. They did not live up to their word.
The murder of George Floyd and the betrayal of trust by these police officers are two good reasons to rise up and speak out. Many of us need to rise up and speak, reminding the civil authorities God’s word to His people. “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.” (Zechariah 7:9-10) But unfortunately, legitimate protests at the injustice of George Floyd’s murder have been hijacked by people who continue the injustice through stealing, destruction, and at times assault.
So, what is a godly man’s response to all of this? First and foremost, we must pray. We must pray for our leaders, for all police officers, for the protesters, for the innocent, and yes, even for those committing evil acts. Second, we must bring a biblical perspective to the situation in our conversations with people. We must remain calm, thoughtful, and prayerful. Third, we must remind all those who have and are breaking the law that they too will be held accountable. Not one soul will be allowed to break the law without consequence (Romans 6:23a). Lastly, we must love as Christ would love and does love everyone involved. But we must remember that the loving thing to do is see that justice is done. We must continue in prayer. For only God can give us the wisdom, strength, and compassion we need to act fairly and justly.