Thread by @vhobbs5

Tonight's final session of the @CSBibleViolence conference we hear from Prof Robert Chao Romero and Prof Malcolm Foley on the topic of Institutional Justice: Learning from the Christian Faith. #CSBVcon22

csbvbristol.org.uk/conference-202…

@CSBibleViolence First we will hear from Rev Dr. Malcolm Foley who begins by considering the difficulty/poignance about the recent white supremacist violence and the slaughter of almost 20 schoolchildren. #CSBVcon22

Rev. Foley begins by getting to the heart of it:
"Where can I locate Black Protestants who affirm their dignity in a society that sought their death?"

racism, economic exploitation and militarism: you cannot get rid of one without getting rid of another.
Foley citing MLK Jr. #CSBVcon22

King's diagnosis is an institutional one, a systemic one
The enemy can be named and its name is racial capitalism. It is a particular political economy, a way of life that does not bring life. Ultimately it kills. #CSBVcon22

What is racial capitalism?
Racialisation has economic roots, the roots of violent domination for financial and political gain. "The capitalism we know has never not been racial"
It's a cycle, a feedback loop. The use-identity justification loop. #CSBVcon22

Foley: "It's in everyone's best interests to construct narratives about ourselves that obscure the ways we dominate and exploit others." #CSBVcon22

What Rev Foley is really teasing out for us is of course what the Bible teaches: The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.

So much of the financial systems in place are dependent not on love but on exploitation of neighbour.
#CSBVcon22

Foley: "Jesus tells the rich that their riches are bad for them.
We are in a political economy where accumulation necessitates exploitation." #CSBVcon22

"The Gospel is an alternative political economy, claiming a commitment to a different way of valuing people, nature, the world." #CSBVcon22

Our approach to dismantling unjust systems must look for resistance in terms of these 4 things:
policies, processes, practices, people

Rev. Foley's every word is so powerful, I'm hanging on every utterance. And he just keeps going. If you're not here, you're missing it.

"Our first commitment is not to profit nor to the protection of the rich, it is to act in the interests of the poor and the marginalised, to seek their good according to the justice of the kingdom of God ... We are aligning ourselves with Jesus Christ." #CSBVcon22

Foley: We are seek to render to one another even MORE than they can be due. Love one another as Christ has loved us. So there's a deeper level of commitment.

Foley wrestles with the tension between particular people being the problem AND the fact that institutions are also more broadly participating in and construction injustice.
"Sometimes the rot is such that your reforming work is the act of putting lipstick on a pig." #CSBVcon22

Is this an institution that I should seek to reform or in which I should seek to surive?
Foley goes for it now:
"It is impossible to be a head of state and to be committed to the kingdom of God."

The stakes of this conversation are life and death. As they were for Jesus. But then we are also talking about another kind of life and death. #CSBVcon22

We now turn to Dr. Romero, whose talk is Called from a future hope: Institutional injustice, racial violence and the multicultural beloved community of God (Rev 21:26-27) #CSBVcon22

Dr. Romero begins by situating his work within his personal history.
Then says, "Scripture is clear: We are called to a multicultural Beloved Community of hope comprised of people from every nation, trible, people and language ..."

Romero refers to scholarly speculation that writer of Revelation, John, was an immigration. "The book of Revelation is one of the greatest multicultural community forming documents ever written." #CSBVcon22

Romero focuses in on Rev 21:26-27, the glory and honour of the nations
One of my FAVOURITE PASSAGES - Riveted

"Our various ethnic cultures are viewed by God as 'treasure' which will last forever!"
#CSBVcon22

Romero speaks of the complexity that diversity brings, where there is no superiority or inferiority but the multitude of voices that need one another.
Likewise, we all have distinct cultural sin, for "nothing impure will enter enter it" (v. 27)

Romero offers an example from Latino culture, its glory and honor, its family bond but also its cultural sins: machismo and patriarchy.
"That's the sin that's not gonna make it in.
#CSBVcon22

The family of God vs. ethnic nationalism
Every person holistically reflects God's image in terms of his/her individual personality, gifts, talents, cultural heritages and gender. Together, we are the Familiar of God.

Romero: "Prejudice says my glory and honor is better than yours and my people reflect the image of God more than your people." #CSBVcon22

"Racial violence = Because my people have a monopoly on cultural value and treasure you are a threat to me and my country. You will not replace me or my people with your cultural inferiority. I have the right to harm and kill you." #CSBVcon22

Romero presents us with a map of redlining in the archives of California's exclusionary spaces to bring this all to life. The systemic racism that led to segregation of churches, which persisted.
#CSBVcon22

Romero closes with this:
"We are called from a future hope. May Jesus give us eyes to see God's heavenly vision for the multicultural Kingdom of God, and may the Holy Spirit empower us to live from this future hope."
#CSBVcon22

Q&A Time
Rev. Foley: The stakes are too high for us to play games.

"No country has done more harm to Christianity through its policies than the United States." Powerful statement from the audience
#CSBVcon22

Foley: The gospel of the slaveholder is not just a gospel that's too small. It is a fundamental corruption of the gospel.

Question:
How can we help disciples rightly distinguish between the pursuit of institutional justice as you both have described it & the popular versions of theonomy/reconstructionism / "Christianized" politics of power they may be either tempted by / reacting against?

Foley:
God's reign and the end of empires: lifechanging book
"All alignment between the church and empire is BAD."
"You're using the tools of the state to push forward the desires of the kingdom ... NO, the tools of the state are directly contrary to Jesus's mode of operation.

Foley:
"There is no such thing as a comprehensive political victory in the kingdom of this world." #CSBVcon22

This is just what we needed at the end of the conference. In so many ways. A fitting glory at the close. Seriously, if you're not here, you're MISSING.IT

Remember: What we need is a recentring of our ethic on the KINGDOM OF GOD #CSBVcon22

Dr. Romero recommends this book:
Subversive Witness
Gilliard
Helps us to develop a spiritual radar to identify those who want to learn and when it's beneath your dignity.

Foley: The only reason that the Lord has given you privilege is specifically because you have unique opportunities to serve the marginalised in that space. The entire purpose of your position is to do that.

Foley: "Your needs are my needs. Your suffering is my suffering. If someone in the body, if they narrate to you a need, your first response is: What can I do to fill it?"

How do we speak to children of ours raised in privilege, to be those who have an eye to wise use of privilege to serve (see last tweet):
Romero recommends:
The Race Wise Family
Michelle Reyes

Foley reminds us that accumulation of privilege comes with a strong warning, "that we are not to look to our own interests but the interests of others."

Foley again, reminding us of the freedom of operating with open hands, what God gives you he will bless your giving when it arises from a deep commitment to the service of others. #CSBVcon22

And that's the end. What a day, what a week. Thank you, @MalcolmBFoley and @ProfeChaoRomero for so powerfully pointing us towards where we need to go. #CSBVcon22

*immigrant

*Familia!