Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
Racism and the Trap of the Social Justice Movement

Racism and the Trap of the Social Justice Movement

The topic of racism has persistently percolated beneath the collective conscience of American culture, but today it seems to have boiled over again and is threatening to worsen societal divisions that will not be easily healed — especially if Christ’s people on earth get caught up in the firestorm.

Of course, racism is sinful. The Bible says that we’re all one human race — so to separate ourselves based on the color of skin is one of the great tragedies of a fallen world. It is just and appropriate to oppose racism and promote equality of all peoples.

But I am now concerned about a new kind of social justice being advanced today, one that utilizes the principles and methods of this world — and, further, I’m especially concerned about certain groups in the Christian church that seem to be embracing this agenda. It won’t help end the scourge of racism or any other societal ill.

Every day, my heart aches over the hatred I see in the world — the violence, bigotry, racism, and sexism. I am reminded of Genesis chapter 6, which describes a society that is violent all the time. Where is the love, the grace, the kindness, and the concern for our fellow human beings? I cried out to God, “Where is the justice?”

And I was struck with a thought:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8, 9 NIV84).

Human justice is based on imposed laws and imposed punishments, but God’s justice is based on His design law — the law upon which reality is built to operate (like the laws of health and gravity). Doctors don’t diagnose healthy people as sick and sick people as healthy — that would be unjust. Doctors don’t hold children in quarantine for the sickness of their parents — that would be unjust.

Likewise, God doesn’t hold children accountable for the sins of their parents:

The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him (Ezekiel 18:20 NIV84).

In God’s kingdom, it is about the quality of each person’s heart, mind, and character. This is what really matters: Is a person like Jesus in his or her heart — or not? The color of one’s skin is irrelevant.

Martin Luther King Jr. knew this and famously said,

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Unfortunately, society has lost sight of this reality. Many have forgotten the wisdom that judging people by the color of their skin and not the quality of their character is racism.

And because people have forgotten, they have failed to realize that we can never resolve racism by enacting government policies that are based on the color of a person’s skin, and not by the quality of one’s character or abilities.

Martin Luther King Jr. also said,

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that (Strength to Love, 1963)

We cannot drive out racism using policies that are themselves functionally racist.

Jesus said,

How can Satan enter into a person, and by entering, get rid of Satan? Think about it: It would be like using water to get rid of wetness (Mark 3:23 The Remedy).

How can we resolve racism by using policies that are based on the color of a person’s skin or their race?

Understand this reality: Human governments can never resolve racism, because at its core, racism is a heart problem, not a behavior problem, and no laws imposed by governments can instill love in the heart. Yes — governments can and should remove laws that are racist (Jim Crow Laws, for instance) and ensure that the laws that are passed treat all people equally (all citizens get to vote, for instance). Such laws are just and appropriate; however, such laws do not remove racism from the hearts of people because racism is based upon fear and selfishness in the heart.

Legislation, policies, and rules that give preference — and not mere equal standing — based solely on race in an attempt to repair injustices of the past are another example of the fallacy of trying to achieve a godly goal through flawed methods (and it is godly to treat all human beings equally — to love every person as yourself; it is wrong and sinful to discriminate based on the color of a person’s skin). As I have said on other topics, we can never win God’s cause by using Satan’s methods.

The governments of this sinful world are “beastly” in that they all operate upon human imposed law, which inflicts punishments and seeks to force compliance. God’s government is the government of truth, love, freedom — design law — which is how life functions; we cannot get people to love each other by using force.

God’s government wants to change hearts, remove fear, remove selfishness, and restore love for God and for all peoples into every heart. When this happens, racism evaporates!

The Bible teaches that “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance” (Romans 2:4 NIV84). In God’s kingdom, when we return love for wrongdoing, kindness for cruelty, forgiveness for injury, patience for impatience, the door is opened for genuine transformation and the elimination of inequality.

Jesus said,

I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic (Luke 6:27–29 NIV84).

Paul taught, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:20 NIV84).

God’s kingdom is built on love and truth, and it seeks to heal hearts and minds from the fear and selfishness, which causes racism, to restore in us a love for all human beings. It is only by the advancement of God’s methods — truth, love, and freedom — that we can win hearts!

Today’s Social Justice Movement Will Not Fix Racism

The problem with today’s social justice movement within the church is not its goals, but its methods. The social justice movement seeks to replace God’s principles and methods with the principles and methods of a sinful world. This is a subtle trap, one built upon human law. It attempts to impose rules and seeks to punish and force its way onto others.

However, this approach will always cause more division and more hostility. And it will never bring the unity that we find in Christ, but instead will cause even greater societal division, mistrust, and hostility — especially if the laws being imposed create race-based treatment rather than simply creating an environment of equality.

The church must be steadfast in recognizing the distinction between the state with its human imposed laws and the government of God. The secret to true unity is Jesus Christ — placing Him at the center of our lives and our value system. By beholding Him, we are changed. (This is the design law of worship — we actually change neurobiologically and characterologically to become like what we admire, esteem, worship, and spend time focusing upon.) And as we come closer to Christ, we unavoidably come closer to each other regardless of one another’s skin color.

While racial equality is a godly goal, the church must resist calls to join with human governments to achieve such goals. Why? Because it is a trap; it corrupts the church to practice worldly methods even if its goal is a godly one. The church must live by a higher standard than human governments. This is why genuine Christians throughout history have always done what is right in the face of governmental opposition. Christians don’t need governmental permission to love all people equally.

So, yes — of course! — let’s move forward to eliminate racism, to have genuine equality, and to love and value all people as the children of God that they are. But let the church do so only by advancing Jesus Christ and His plan to renew the heart to love God with our entire being and every human being as ourselves.

I want to see Jesus come and the earth made new, to live in our heavenly home in which there is no sin, disease, death, and no racism — but we will not finish our work as God’s agents on earth if we allow ourselves to be diverted from the mission of spreading the gospel and focus instead on working to reform human governments and enact culture change using imposed laws.

Some may be asking, “Are you saying we should ignore social injustice — that in a democratic society, we shouldn’t try to have more equitable and just laws?” I am saying that we need to recognize that no matter what equitable and just laws we pass, evil and racism will not be eliminated by passing those laws; society will continue to decay. And I am also saying that the only genuine way to eliminate racism is for Christ to dwell in the hearts of people — that is the true mission of the church: to bring people to Christ for genuine renewal of heart! The further we move away from Christ and His methods, the more we embrace the corruption of the world — meaning the more laws we will seek to pass.

Law reflects but in no sense determines the moral worth of a society. The values of a reasonably just society will reflect themselves in a reasonable law. The better the society, the less law there will be. In Heaven there will be no law, and the lion will lie down with the lamb. The values of an unjust society will reflect themselves in an unjust law. The worse the society, the more laws there will be. In Hell there will be nothing but law, and due process will be meticulously observed (Prof. Grant Gilmore, Yale University, retired 1978).

If the church loses its focus and attempts to resolve the myriad of injustices in the world through legislation, it will be a sure path to ushering in Satan’s kingdom.

Don’t be fooled; our mission as Christians is not reforming human governments — it is advancing the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” because “the kingdom of God is within you” (John 18:36; Luke 17:21).

I invite you to open your heart and invite Jesus in, asking for His kingdom of love, truth, and freedom to be established fully into your heart and mind — then go forward advancing His principles and methods — loving every person equally, shining the light of heavenly truth and love into a world filled with inequality and evil of all kinds.

Email me the blog whenever a new one is published.

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 10

I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 38

Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

Helen D., London, England

 

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 22

I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA