Friday Five

Today is June 19th otherwise known as Juneteenth. It is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those that were enslaved in the United States. It is fitting that today is Juneteenth for this week's Friday five.

My heart has felt very heavy and grieved for the United States these past two weeks. I feel grieved for my black brothers and sisters and for the instances of hatred that they experience from others. I feel grieved for the American Church that is wrestling with how to be a light in an evil age. I feel grieved for the ways that the American Church has failed our black and brown brothers and sisters in Christ. I feel grieved that so many believers look to political leaders over the Scriptures and negate the suffering of others. I feel grieved, but I'm grieving with hope.

I know that God is in control. I know that he is still at work reconciling and redeeming. I know that he is doing something that we cannot see, and that his Word is clear that he works all things out for the good of those that love him (Romans 8:28). I know that God draws near to those who draw near to him (James 4:8). I know that God will thwart the wicked (Proverbs 10:3), and protect the righteous (Proverbs 2:8). There is much hope in the Lord, and I'm trying to remember that when there is so much evil and the world feels hopeless.

I don't know how your heart is currently, but I pray that we would put our hope in the Lord, that we would look to him for wisdom, and that we would love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves.

One way I've been trying to love my neighbor is by listening, learning, and advocating. This work began before the past three weeks. It's a work that God has been doing in my heart over the past three years as I've sought to better love my black and brown brothers and sisters.

I wanted to share a few resources that have been formative for me in learning to better love my neighbor. I hope they help you on the journey as well.
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1. Black Lives Do Matter: Understanding Racism Biblically, Historically, & Personally 
(Podcast from DiscipleMakers)
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2. ​Dr. Scott Hancock & Peter Krol | A Conversation about the Bible & Racial Justice 
(Podcast from DiscipleMakers)
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3. Structural Racism: The Child of Structural Pride
(Article by John Piper)
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4. Racism and Corporate Evil
(Message from Timothy Keller)
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5. The Sin of Racism
​(Article by Timothy Keller)