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Honoring Black
History Month
“In the midst of all the pain, oppression, and lack of meaning in life, the Church must proclaim the answer that is provided to us so clearly in Scripture. It is simple. We must be loving like Jesus in this fractured world.”
― John M. Perkins, One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race and Love
Black History Month
To honor Black History Month, we must do three things: look back on the past to see where we have been, recognize where we are in the present, and courageously imagine what could be in the future as we seek God’s dream of “every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne" (Rev. 7:9) being a reality.
There is much to celebrate when it comes to our past. But there is also much to lament. A cause for lament is the history of segregation in the American church. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “11 AM on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America.” God's desire - one family in Christ of different ethnicities and backgrounds - white churches, due to fear and sin, resisted. For this reason, among others, we honestly look back on the past to lament the sin, and celebrate the stories of people pushing back segregation and inequality.
We recognize where we are in the present, celebrating the progress that has been made while lamenting the ways we fall short today. In this present moment, we recognize that we are a part of a bigger story - God’s story of reconciliation, reconciling humanity to God and humanity to one another. And we have a part to play in this amazing story of reconciliation.
As we look back and learn from the past - honoring to stories of people who pushed back against racism - and as we celebrate how far we have come, we recognize the journey is not over. There is still a chasm between where we are today, and the vision God has for all peoples of all backgrounds worshipping the Lamb. But this is not a cause for despair. With hope-filled, love-fueled passion, we honor, learn, lament, celebrate, and we pursue God’s vision of His Kingdom, the Beloved Community, on earth as it is in heaven.
Adult Resources
Movies
