This is the first talk in a series on race and social justice given at First Baptist Church of Durham to the college ministry Sunday school class (BFL). This talk covers an introduction to the whole series before then covering the first prominent answer given to the cause of racial disparities: Individualism, which includes personal responsibility, colorblindness, assimilation, and culture.
You can listen by using the link above or download the file below.
Overview of the Series
Few people will push back against the fact that racial disparities exist currently in America. The crucial question is why. What is the cause? The reason people splinter into various beliefs about race and social justice in America is because of how they answer the question why. How you answer the why question completely dictates what you believe is the cause and therefore the solution. If we get the why question wrong we will get wrong solutions and the problem won’t get better. In fact, it will make the situation worse.
The argument of these talks is that the cause of the current disparities is multifaceted involving both white and minority responsibility. Throughout the talks I’ll examine the most popular answers to the why question and their correlating solutions. It’s my hope to point out how certain philosophies and solutions about race are out of step with Scripture, while also showing how certain solutions, even secular, have much basis in Scripture. In the end, I hope to give listeners confidence about what we can and cannot affirm about racism and social justice as Christians, while charting a path forward for racial reconciliation, helping the poor, and talking about race with others.
First, we are going to look at the four most prominent answers to the why question of racial disparities. Then we will look at who is to blame where we will consider topics like white guilt and critical race theory. Then we’ll conclude with 12 applications in light of what we’ve learned about race and injustice.
This is a complex issue. People can disagree on the cause of racial disparities and both still be Christians. Even some Christian minorities disagree on the why question when it comes to racism and social justice. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t advocate – even passionately – for certain answers to the cause of racial disparities, but it does mean we should be slow to anger and abounding in grace toward others who care about racial reconciliation but see things different.
Mike McGregor
Mike McGregor (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is Director of College Ministry at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. You can follow him on Twitter at @m5mcgregor.
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