Responding to Racial Injustice

The gospel is word and power. That means we speak gospel truths and perform gospel deeds. That’s why James said, faith without works is dead.

As racism persists in our country we want to be a church that speaks with authority and clarity. What we have witnessed in these past weeks, though shamefully not new, is evil, it’s wrong, and it needs to end. Racism is a direct violation of the will, heart, and kingdom of Jesus. As a church we must not be silent. However we must not simply talk. 

It’s good to share in solidarity with the suffering and marginalized, but Jesus taught us to go beyond words. After all Jesus is the Word made flesh. Jesus is the one who entered our suffering willingly and died for our sake. Therefore as followers of Jesus we also take action in response to suffering and injustice. For many of us knowing what actions to take is obvious and natural. For others of us we need help. 

In seeking the kingdom’s fullest expression in our church and community the elder team at Church in the Square has put together the following action steps. This is certainly not an exhaustive list but we trust will be helpful. Some of these good works we’ve already begun as a church family, others we want to implement soon. Some we can do individually, others we’ll need to do together. This is not the solution, these are steps; small steps which we hope will  help us as a church learn more about what it means to walk in a manner worthy of the calling for which we’ve been called and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

May the Lord guide and transform us.

AS A CHURCH FAMILY

1. Financially support our most vulnerable neighbors. From the first month of the COVID-19 restrictions the obedience and generosity of our church family has been used by God to help support families who lost their jobs, are unable to receive federal funding, and whose needs have increased through this pandemic.

2. Partnering with Armitage Baptist Church’s Spanish-speaking congregation. Through extending care during the stay-at-home orders we’ve seen that those most affected have been families of color. In our immediate neighborhoods that means many Spanish-speaking families. Though we have many Spanish-speaking members at Church in the Square the need for immediate and extended care rose beyond our ability. And so we’ve been working with the Spanish-speaking congregation at Armitage Baptist Church to ensure physical and spiritual care is as helpful as possible.

3. Providing laptops for families at Monroe Elementary. This is particularly helpful to see and help alleviate the technology gap in our city that often plagues families of color on the northwest side. 

4. Looking for more. Our elder team will be reaching out to more organizations on the northwest side who are working directly with people of color and their communities to ensure they have what they need through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, especially as it relates to medical and basic needs.

INDIVIDUALLY

1. Follow diverse voices online. A lot of times our social media intact is a cul de sac of culture. We only see pictures and hear voices like ours. Having diverse expressions and perspectives regularly show up in our social media feeds helps us to see a fuller picture of God’s kingdom as well as stories happening in our world. 

   • The And Campaign

   • The Witness

   • The Jude Project

2. Read diverse literature and enjoy diverse art. From children’s books to documentaries we ought to be a people who expose our children and ourselves to experiences and stories which expose us to the fullness of those who bear God’s image. 

   • Books for Adults

     • The Color of Compromise

     • Divided By Faith

     • Manana

   • Books for Kids

     • The Gospel in Full Color

     • God’s Very Good Idea

     • God Made Me and You

3. Give financial to organizations that are doing justice. There are many initiatives dedicated to various causes, from raising support for the unjustly incarcerated to enriching the health and well-being of our friends and neighbors on the south and west sides of Chicago. 

   • Healthy Hood Chi

   • The And Campaign

   • Give to CITS COVID-19 Relief

4. Support businesses owned by people of color. Many of us make multiple decisions weekly (and daily!) about where we spend money on a meal. While all restaurants and small businesses need our support, businesses on the northwest side owned by people of color are most vulnerable, especially now. 

5. Know the candidates this election cycle. Yes the national races matter, but many of the direct implications and disparities in our community are determined by local aldermanic as well as judicial elected officials.

6. Pray, actually pray, that the Lord would give you wisdom. As you talk with your immediate friends and neighbors, ask God’s Spirit to give you guidance about what other action to take.