Grace & Race Statement - May 2020

Concerning the Killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd

Spanish Translation Korean Translation

As of May 27, 2020

Once again our hearts are broken and our souls irate as the blood of yet another person of color cries out to God from the ground. The vile brutality of racism in America has been unmistakable in recent weeks as the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have each been brought to light.

As Christians and as the Grace and Race Ministry of Redeemer Churches & Ministries:

We lament the deaths of these beloved Image Bearers and weep with those who will forever miss their son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, cousin, or friend.

We remember that throughout Scripture, God shows particular care for those who are most vulnerable, he commands authorities to be characterized by righteousness and justice, and he holds nations accountable for how they treat the least powerful groups and persons in their societies.

We recognize the pervasiveness of sin, we acknowledge that the bloody history of racially motivated violence in the United States continues to this day, we denounce any doctrine of racial superiority, and we join the many calls for systemic change in a nation that has often failed to uphold God’s vision of justice and has persistently worked against people of color. We pray that local officials will exercise their authority to pursue justice for Mr. Arbery, Ms. Taylor, Mr. Floyd, and countless others whose stories have been neglected.

We repent of the ways that we as Christians have far too often failed to adequately stand against the evil of racism and violence: diminishing its severity, averting our gazes, and even perpetuating such injustice deliberately or complicitly.

We realize that for many of our brothers and sisters, the revelation of these deaths is but another reminder of an everyday reality, and that even now as we lament the loss of these lives, many others are overlooked while being subjected to cruelty and death due to the color of their skin. Even still, we remember that ​“nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.¹”

We cry out to the God of peace and justice, asking together with the psalmist: How long, O Lord? How long must our black and brown brothers and sisters be killed without consequence? How long must fathers and mothers weep over their dead children? How long will racial violence persist in this nation? How long until your true justice reigns?

And yet we resolutely hope in Jesus, the Prince of Peace who suffered and died at the hands of both mob and state-sanctioned violence and who ultimately conquered evil and death itself. We long for the day when his perfect justice will roll down like waters,² when his power will bring utter darkness into the light,³ and when his love will forever join together every race and tongue within the family of God.⁴ Until that day, we will continually commit ourselves to the furthering of Christ’s kingdom here on earth.

¹ Luke 12:2
² Amos 5:24
³ Job 12:22
⁴ Revelation 7:9

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Grace & Race is a ministry of the Redeemer Family of Churches