Thread by @da_horton

Since the move on Social Media among Jesus followers is a struggle to parse out the phrase #BlackLivesMatter from the BLM movement; there's a few nuances to consider lest we force an unnecessary binary in our dialogue.

#1 - Is the phrase "Black Lives Matter" true?

Even the "All Lives Matter"/ "Blue Lives Matter" crowds say yes its true because of the imago dei. Since it's a truthful statement, there's a freedom to say it, and equally freedom to not say it.

If one says it, this does not mean they categorically embrace the BLM mvmt. And

If one does not say it, this does not mean they're "racist" or reject the imago dei. With this matter, we must fight off forcing a binary where nuance is not only permissible but necessary.

#2. Regarding #BlackLivesMatter, we must ask the question "why, do Black Lives Matter?".

For historic framing for this consideration

see here - bit.ly/36VzkIT

and a missiological assessment of BLM (the statement & movement)

here - bit.ly/2W7BoJW
here - bit.ly/3b8rR9N
here - bit.ly/2zfyXMq
here - bit.ly/3dnrWYS

#3. If the truthful statement #BlackLivesMatter is troubling because it was not coined by believers, & it's association with the movement...

are you equally having trouble with the term "gospel"; that was (A) not coined by believers & (B) was connected to an Imperial cult?

εὐαγγέλιον (the etymological root of "gospel") was a highly politicized word during Jesus' incarnational ministry. Most often it was attributing "good news" of the Emperor and associated with calling Caesar "lord". It was common speech with non-Christian framing.

Yet, it was leveraged by NT writers and Jesus followers through our current era as a platform for announcing the 'good news' of the legit Messiah and King Immortal Jesus, who is the main-Character of God's Story.

All this to say, for years I've expressed to people why I

engage the term BLM, with a clear conscious, because of its truthful affirmation of the imago dei, its missiological implications for evangelism to the lost, affirmation of ethnicity in discipleship, and still give freedom for others to follow the Holy Spirit for them.