Read Time: 4 minutes
In the span of just a few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic was suddenly overshadowed, and our nation’s attention shifted to an issue all too familiar in our country: racism.
Whether you look at slavery at the time of the original colonies, the Civil War of the 1860’s, or the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, racism has been a consistent struggle throughout American history.
Unfortunately, our nation continues to struggle with it today. Following the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta only a few days ago, racial unrest has boiled over across America with protest and riots in major cities. We have seen resignations and indictments of local law enforcement officers. There is even movement in Washington, where our nation’s leaders are wrestling with policy solutions and searching for common ground.
I believe that real social change can happen when our society recognizes what is at the core of the issue – human dignity. And a proper view of human dignity can only be found in the Gospel and in God.
Every human being is made in the image of God, and therefore, has extraordinary intrinsic dignity – or worth and value – that comes from God. Every human has this intrinsic dignity, regardless of born or preborn, race, color, creed, religion, background, occupation, socio-economic status, or age. Genuine human dignity can’t be given by any individual or group of people, and it can’t be taken away by any individual or group of people.
Despite this, many in our culture fail to recognize or acknowledge the dignity of some groups of human beings. This failure plays out in the form of persistent injustices in our society, such as racism, hate, discrimination and, in its most fatal form, abortion.
That’s why, amid the constant headlines and national conversation, we must ask ourselves: how should we, as life-affirming, committed Christians, appropriately respond to injustice and violations of human dignity? How should the church and society productively address these issues, and how can we move forward?
First and foremost, we must turn to Biblical truths as a guide in our actions.
The Bible makes it clear that God’s Kingdom is not reserved for only certain populations of people. In the book of Revelation, John sees the Kingdom as “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9).
Furthermore, Proverbs 24:11, says “rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”
Our calling in this verse is clear. We have a responsibility to rescue all human life.
As such, we cannot stand by and ignore injustices like racism against African Americans. We need to speak out against violations of human dignity and stand with those who are peacefully calling for justice. We need to recognize that, at particular points in history, certain people groups suffer more than others, and we should pay particular attention to assist and elevate those groups. We must work in all spheres of influence to not only speak the love of God, but to show the love of God.
In addition to adhering to Biblical guidance, we also must actively participate and lead in the national conversation taking place on racism, and direct this conversation to the underlying issue of human dignity.
Recently, Dean Nelson, the Executive Director of Human Coalition Action, had this opportunity in a meeting at the White House with Vice President Mike Pence on race and inequality. Vice President Pence affirmed our belief that racism is an assault against human dignity, and that we must move forward in a productive manner together.
But it’s not just the conversations with elected officials that can make a difference. The conversations we have in our communities, churches, and homes are vital. Social change can only occur in the heart, one person at a time. And so, it can happen through simple conversations around the kitchen table, in the workplace, or in the church. It can happen through seeing one another as human beings and treating everyone with dignity and respect. Let’s recognize that every human being is a divine work of art, worthy of respect, honor, and esteem.
Over the coming weeks and months, the conversations will and must continue, and Human Coalition is committed to leading in the communities we serve.
Most importantly, we are committed to standing for the dignity of all human life for all generations. It is our honor in Christ to do so.
Thanks for standing with us –
Brian Fisher
We are all discriminated against at different times; whether familial status, tatooes, crooked teeth, etc. Perhaps if, during this time of introspection, the issue of reverse discrimination could also be addressed, then other people groups would be more inclined to participate in the redress of the black citizens. I purposely… Read more »
Why do you allow someone to make vulgar comments on this page?
Dee – which comment are you referring to?
Why do you allow someone like the person calling themselves “Get Over Yourself” to make nasty vulgar comments concerning pro-life issues etc.?
Human dignity as fellow human beings to all being valued as we are valued by our Creator.
Great article. If I can help change the heart of just one individual at a time, where they can feel dignity towards their neighbors, friends, family and even those they do not like, I will feel, that I have made a difference in the world.
BLM = Black Liberation Movement. It is a self-proclaimed racist, Marxist, and Antisemitic organization. Don’t believe me? Look it up; there’s a YouTube video of the leader of BLM saying these very things. Its goal – to destroy our constitutional republic, kill the Jews, and kill the whites. So, how… Read more »
I liked your statement and I agree but, until we have God in our lives I don’t think much will change. I Iive in Minneapolis and I have never seen people bend to the demands of BLM like they have this year. In this town if you are a white… Read more »
Sorry it’s so difficult there, Laurie. And I agree – human beings don’t acknowledge and repent of their sins outside of an understanding of what sin is. And that only comes from an understanding of and a relationship with God.
Who sponsors your organization other than member donations?
Amen. One heart at a time. God will take us there.
I guess we aren’t listening to the Blesses Mother! Let’s get our rosaries out.
Amen
Slavery is abhorrent no matter where it occurs or who is being enslaved. That being said, I feel compelled to point out two facts: 1) BLM does not stand for what everyone thinks it does; in fact a video just came out of the BLM leader stating ‘BLM stands for… Read more »
Amen.
I totally agree with everything you said Katherine. I’m glad some one is finally speaking out against what is going on. There is no systemic racism in the United States this is a coup to take over our government and to start a race war. It is disgusting. No one… Read more »
Dignity should be for police officers also. Should police officers be assaulted, cursed at, spit upon, abused( mentally and physically) , shot and murdered, EVERYDAY! families of police officers mourn everyday because they lose their lovrd ones all the time from brutal criminals who shoot them with NO MERCY. SO… Read more »
Oh, have a minister friend that works in a large hospital in Dallas. He said you hear about all the lives being taken by the police, but 90% of black deaths here are black on blacks. Gangs, drugs, domestic violence, just pure evil and depraved hearts. Like the young black… Read more »
You sound ignorant!
I was raised in the deep south back in the early 50’s and on into the 60’s. I went to segregated schools, the black in our community had designated restrooms, water fountains and had to sit in the back of the bus even if there were empty seats a few… Read more »
The issue currently in America is racial injustice and police brutality! No one cares about the unborn babies lady! Stay focused or get your head out of your privilege keister and go learn about how you can effect change. You are apart of the problem
Thank you so much for sharing. You have a historical and personal perspective that people need to hear (even if they don’t want to hear it, like the individual who answered “Get Over Yourself.”) It’s like that person didn’t even read what you said. Your boldness when you saw racial… Read more »
I saw nothing in either incident that points to racism. The response from the policemen involved is being used daily in apprehensions involving all races. Look at live PD and the show Cops, you will see it. Making this a racial issue instead of a police brutality issue benefits those… Read more »
Dale, Clearly you don’t understand how police brutality is also a racial issue. Remember the white kids Dylan Roof who shot up fellow Christians in Charleston?!? I’m sure you do. He was escorted out of the church and given food. The scene is much different for a black person. I’m… Read more »
Dale, like me, does not see a racial issue in these specific two incidents. In fact, the first one looks manufactured to me, with at least a couple of takes to get it “right.” I’ve been staring at the footage over and over and there are a number of things… Read more »
Our nation doesn’t struggle with racism at all. It is a guilt trip that has been thrust upon us by the radical socialist fascist left, the Democrats, the establishment and the media. Don’t fall for it. Ours is a loving country if it weren’t for these divisive maurauders trying to… Read more »
Clearly David you are uneducated and live in a bubble! Our country has had an issue with Racist since you peach colored people decided that you all were a superior group and deemed it necessary to enslave groups and steal land. This was further perpetuated by not allowing slaves to… Read more »
Get over yourself, clearly you have been educated by the professors who went into academia after leaving their terrorist positions with the Weather Underground. Their goal was to continue to make you feel like a victim so that there would be perpetual unrest in the land, one of the destabilization… Read more »
I agree that the cops did wrong but the rioting and looting is just an excuse to destroy stuff and get free stuff but yet they wonder why some people think the way they do about them including cops men they want to cry afterwards that there are no jobs… Read more »
Hey Raymond, Did you know that the looting and rioting really start with White people! Let’s go back to Tulsa’s Black Wall Street. Every read or heard of it? I’m sure not, well let me educate you. Tulsa was the home of a very successful group of black residents, business… Read more »
I stand for Human Dignity, social injustice is a human fault, of all races, not just black. Too many of us have suffered at the hands of vilonce just because we are different from those that have their own anger inside and deal with this anger in violent ways. I… Read more »
well said
All humans, at any stage of life, deserve to be treated with dignity. This includes people who have no regard for the lives of others and have done things that have threatened, endangered, hurt, or killed others. This must include ALL people, not just one group. Those who have violated… Read more »
Hi Brian, I understand the Biblical call to stand for the dignity of all human life. What seems to be missing from the discussion is other groups of people who suffer discriminatory practices from others. The Jewish community, the developmentally disabled, the mentally handicapped, in many cases those who are… Read more »
Thanks, Janice, I understand your point. Christians should esteem all human life. The point I’m trying to make is that we need to consider the degrees of discrimination and the threats associated with that. Human Coalition rescues babies, for example, because the threat to them is death. That has tremendous… Read more »
Janice! Stay focused! The topic at hand is racial injustice against African Americans.
While I agree with most of what is being said I fear the healing of race relations and understanding will be difficult to attain while there are those who actively seek to promote racial tensions even violence and these people are both white and black and there are politicians who… Read more »
Right at this moment, if you want freedom, work for justice. If you’re afraid ‘the black community’ will follow the ‘heavily left leaning media’ and vote for left-leaning politicians who ‘believe these tensions are beneficial,’ be equally afraid that white conservatives are going to forget that they’re supposed to be… Read more »
The race designations that separate us are man made. The only solution is people finding their dignity and wholeness in the love written in the blood of Jesus. The cross is the only place where there is equality. Trying to fix the situation by making reparations, kneeling and apologizing will… Read more »
While I agree with you are trying to say, our country is not systemically racists. There are instances of racism towards everyone. We must be careful when we talk about this topic and be aware of so called peaceful groups that are anything but. Iam at the kitchen table not… Read more »
Very good point, Pat. And thank you for talking about it with your family.
Racism is very much systemic 🙂 Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely than White Americans to be killed by police. In spite of whites and blacks using drugs at similar rates, Black Americans are imprisoned at rates 6 times that of whites. Black Americans are incarcerated at more than… Read more »
Thank you Lindsey for your fact
Checked words! This group of people
That follow HuCo clearly are living in a bubble.
Continue to educate them
What bubble exactly?
Lindsay, you have your facts wrong, you better go back to the drawing board. Also, Get Over Yourself needs to get over yourself and start listening to others. As Human Coalition has noted, this issue is bigger than your small world. IF you are Christian, you may try asking Jesus… Read more »
We are told to love God with all our hearts our souls and our minds and love our brothers as ourselves. What part of that is unclear?
human life
I’d like to know your position on illegal immigration in light of Leviticus 19:34 The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your… Read more »
I agree. We need to find how to promote dignity, understanding and friendship between races; and dignity in dealing with human life. But we will have to be careful with words, because some people talk about dignity in death to promote euthanasia.
Excellent perspective, Brian! Thank you to Human Coalition for upholding the dignity of all human life, before and after birth. I think abortion is an example of systemic racism as more children of color are aborted, percentage wise.
We aren’t called to stand for one particular group in exclusion to all others. What are you preaching here? We are called to stand for all peoples and against everything that seeks to raise its name above Christ – so let us not be distracted from that and particularly to… Read more »
Hi there – I didn’t say we should stand for one group to the exclusion of others. We are called to pay particular attention to those groups, at points in history, who are suffering more than others. Meaning we need to discern the times and culture, and work to restore… Read more »
WOW! How words set people off on tangents. I totally believe Dignity is given, in Love, from God.
We are all the ‘Body of Christ’ and each of us has our part, given to us as a gift from God. Thank you Brian for your gift. God will certainly say ‘well done, good and faithful servant’. Garth, what piece of the pie did God give you?
Thank you Garth. Much of what is happening is setting the African American situation back a long time, in the long run. And what is taking place, all in the name of helping the situation, is robbing them, and any other racial group of individual and group self esteem and… Read more »
We are called to love God and one another. We are also called to obey laws.
Love it. I wrote something that reflected this sentiment recently regarding a FB post my brother had of a video by a Jason Baldoni. Below was my reply after watching it.: Ok I went big on this one: 6/15/2020 A very emotional piece. I recommend watching it. I found Trevor… Read more »
I thought that was very nicely stated Brian. It went directly to the core of the matter and pointed us to human beings as the pinnacle of God’s creation. Just as an artist uses a broad palette to put brush to, our Creator produced mankind with artistic creativity. Jesus died… Read more »
Brian, as you are one of the main leaders of defending human life at conception, I am so grateful to hear you speaking out about the value of every life and it’s worth of defense. I think this is extremely important and timely for the pro-life community to show that… Read more »
Thanks Rebekah, LOL. Sorry the blog comments got you riled up 🙂
You are so right, respect for everyone starts at home with every single person at the youngest age of understanding. There needs to be a decisive change in what parents teach their children daily by what they say and how they act. Your actions often speak louder than your words.… Read more »
Amen – thanks for the comment Roxetta.
I took a free class from Hillsdale College last year. It was on Aristotle’s Ethics. One point that stands out in my mind is that everyone does some thing for some good. And, as a history teacher, I once asked my class to consider what was good about slavery (I… Read more »
Great insight – and very important question. Thanks!
We are NOT a racist nation, nor does “systemic racism” exist in our country. To falsely accuse good and decent people of being racists is an assault on THEIR dignity. I, for one, will not countenance it nor will I stand for it.
Call it residual racism, if you like. The effects of slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, and so forth are still felt, economically, by many African Americans today. There are instances in our history of thriving Black communities being destroyed by white rioters, Klansmen, insurgents, what have you, with various levels of… Read more »
It is sad that rioting, looting, burning, steeling and general lawlessness is tolerated in the name of race intolerance. How is it that abortions are performed daily. Over a million and a half babies are killed each year. Shame on the people of America. Shame on everyone of us. Many… Read more »
Below the obvious (to us) dignity of human “life”, there will still be the on-going discussion/complaint of what defines dignity or as some will “push”, “equality”, which in its truest sense is a misnomer, because at the heart, soul, mind, and body, NONE of us are “equal”, so our “treatment”… Read more »
As we stand for dignity I implore you to understand what BLM stands for. It is a Marxist organization that uses race as a catalyst to usher in a Marxist Revolution and ultimately a Marxist agenda. The universal reaction to George Floyd’s murder was one of outrage, revealing that while… Read more »
Thank you so much for this comment – I couldn’t agree more. We need so much discernment in these times. BLM is definitely pushing a dangerous & destructive narrative & we need to be careful of aligning ourselves with ungodly agendas in the name of compassion or in the face… Read more »
I didn’t read any encouragement to align ourselves with any organization-rather, simply a call to see the value of every life. A call to compassion. If we can’t agree with that (especially as pro-life Christians!!!) what can we agree on?
Maybe start with the issue of why hundreds of mourners were allowed to attend the Funeral of a Convicted Wife Beater BUT, People with Loved ones passing in Convalescent Facilities are forbidden from being with them? The Loved ones are left to Pass alone. I repeat ALONE! The hypocrisy is… Read more »
I have been misunderstood by some of my American Black and African friends for not condoning the picturing of violence against Blacks, because it creates more distance and not better community. I think these talks are necessary, and I hope you all can go about this in a way that… Read more »
Well spoken – Thanks!