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 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 44

We were given a gift of the DVD set, “God and Your Brain,” and we just finished watching it. The truths in this are so powerful and truly an answer to a prayer. We’re seeing hope where once we thought God wasn’t answering our prayers to be free of certain mindsets. He answered with these DVDs and we are hungry for more. Thank you!

Daniel T., Easley, SC, USA

 

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 12

I have been really blessed reading your response to the various questions on your site.

K.C., OH, USA

 

Testimony 63

I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

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 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, 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 66

I am incredibly grateful for the transformative impact you’ve had on my life, and words cannot fully express my appreciation. Over the years, I have been an avid listener and follower of C&R and extend my heartfelt thanks for creating the C&R mobile app. It has allowed me to immerse myself in your lessons repeatedly, enabling me to grasp the profound significance about the Character of God, Design Law, the protocols for life, the reasons behind the current chaos, and Christ’s mission to restore everything. They have deeply touched me. Having studied with various churches, I came away with the perception that God is no different from the deities of ancient Greek or Roman mythology—demanding sacrifices and taking pleasure in bloodshed. Thanks to your transformative teachings, I have experienced a profound awakening to the true nature of God and the immense power of His love. It is truly a remarkable and liberating sensation to finally grasp the truth and embrace the empowering nature of God’s laws. My self-perception has become brighter and more infused with love. My journey of growth continues on a daily basis.

Chris P., Lake Mary, FL, USA