All Lives Matter?

It is impossible to turn on the news, go to the grocery store or simply check your email without seeing one of the most influential movements of our time, Black Lives Matter. This movement has spread to the four corners of the earth. From the beaches of Australia to the cobblestone roads of Italy, BLM has spanned the globe seemingly overnight. This seven year old movement was birthed in 2013 by three black organizers, in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin murder case. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi saw the need to develop a unified effort to bring awareness to the value of black lives in our country. The movement stands for a number of things that I will not address fully in this blog. But I’d like to focus on the words “black lives matter”. Does this statement isolate and minimize the value of other people groups or races? Does it emphasize the value of black lives over the lives of other people? Wouldn’t it be fairer to say, “All Lives Matter?” That way no one feels bad or feels left out. After all God loves us all, right?

Wouldn’t it be fairer to say, “All Lives Matter?” That way no one feels bad or feels left out. After all God loves us all, right?

“All Lives Matter” would be a fair statement to make if the problem were fairly rationed to all people. However, it is not. Very specific problems have found their way exclusively into the black community with great consistency. Police brutality is just one example, but it’s an example that has made international headlines recently at the expense of George Floyd’s life. So, you may be asking, is there something inherently wrong with saying “All Lives Matter?” Absolutely not, because all lives do matter. However, in the current racial climate of our country it is necessary to defend the value of the lives that seem to be in jeopardy. Therefore, acknowledging black lives matter, does not minimize the value of other lives, it rather directs attention toward the lives that are in most dire need. 

The sheep’s highest probability of survival was when it was unified back with the ninety-nine. The same is true with us, our highest probability of overcoming the evils of police brutality in our country is when we unify ourselves against it.

The bible has something to say about this concept. Jesus says in a parable, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4 ESV) The beginning of this parable shows us three things very clearly—the compassionate heart of the shepherd, the value of the sheep and that the sheep shouldn’t be alone. So why wasn’t it good for the sheep to be alone? Also why did the shepherd leave the ninety-nine to go after the one? The reason is simple, the sheep’s highest probability of survival was when it was unified back with the ninety-nine. The same is true with us, our highest probability of overcoming evil such as police brutality in our country is when we unify ourselves against it. I Corinthians 1:10 says this, “Finally I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” Having “no divisions among” us is a strong implication that all lives matter, but if all lives truly matter then let’s ALL go after the “one”—because black lives really do matter. 

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6 Responses

  1. Amen, Amen and Amen 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 This is wisdom and could not be said better. If one would sit and ponder over your words with the Word of God, they would understand why it had to be said that Black Lives Matter and are just as important as other lives.

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