- You can’t discover lands that are already inhabited. We tend to dehumanize those who were already here.
- The Declaration of Independence calls Native Americans savages. The Constitution also degrades women, natives and blacks. It assumes the majority has the right to say who is human.
- What does justice look like when everything you have is stolen and your system is corrupt?
- Check out the book, Prophetic Lament.
- “If you have a conversation about justice, you must be prepared to be uncomfortable.”
- You don’t change things with laws and policies. You must change the narrative.
- When you benefit from oppression, you are responsible for changing it.
- Starting Hope Mob to support African American biz owners. Not a charity, an investment.
- 7% of nonprofits are led by people of color
- 52% of nonprofits work in areas of people of color
- 3% of funds go to areas of color
- 6% of Beverly Hills kids are in poverty, 82% of Compton kids are in poverty, and they’re only 20 minutes apart
- Amos 5:21 (Amos means “burden”)
- What happens when what bothers you doesn’t bother anyone else?
- Low income areas always have a beauty supply, liquor store, fast food and a church.
- Quite over-analyzing and just do something.
- God honors one’s acceptance of their burdens.
- Justice is not a project. It is the heart of God for equity.
- “God has put some super in my natural.”
- The Creation Story is a story of ordering and abundance.
- Authority + Vulnerability = Flourishing
- The destruction of evil happens when image bearers show mercy, compassion and justice to the disenfranchised.
- The goodness of God is in the margins, and that’s where change will come from.
- The reality of history is that it is never over.
- God sides with the poor; He doesn’t stand on the sidelines. He enters the world from the margins.
- Love, honor and respect those who are different from you.
- There are 60 million displaced people, refugees.
- The refugee crisis is about the one who is seeking refuge in another country.
- The US paid attention because it now affects us. Fear has driven our response.
- Compassion doesn’t have to come at the expense of security.
- The Middle East church is carrying the brunt of the refugee crisis.
- 67% of US churches haven’t discussed refugees.
- We are followers of a Middle Eastern refugee. If Jesus was born today, would we let Him in our borders?
- The largest social network is the Church.
- There’s a difference in caring about something, and caring about someone.
- Fear will cripple us from completing the mission of God.
- Comfort and security have become our idols.
- Story of the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 16)
- Lazarus would’ve been invisible to this guy.
- Who is invisible in your life?
- Our political beliefs should not come before our Christian beliefs. Jesus was unashamed in His words.
- We can not be people who are concerned about justice if we are embarrassed about the doctrine of Hell.
- We must be concerned not only about the oppressed, but about the Oppressor.
- Are we a people of justice, or just a people who protect our platforms?
- Are we a people of justice or justification? We must carry the full weight of the Gospel, not just the parts our political party allows.
Michael Flegar and Charlie Date
- We can end violence, that’s not the issue, but we don’t have the will. – MF
- There is too much silence in the Church. – MF
- The reason we don’t talk about community violence is because it’s a black/brown issue. New Hope church changed that. People need to see themselves in every life, though.
- The Church becomes irrelevant when it doesn’t act as the conscience of the neighborhood.
- The guilt factor makes us silent, when it should move us to do more.
- We can’t just tell people to do better, we must give them alternatives.
- We can’t talk to kids in churches about God-given dreams and visions, and not dismantle the systems that help kids from achieving them.
- Make us restless until we find out rest with You. – CD
Lisa Sharon Harper
- Genesis 1
- The first book of the Bible was written by a group of priests coming out of exile.
- We are created in the image of God so we can become a marker of Him wherever we go.
- Like Caesar was on coins
- Subversive statement to make when the early rules were supposed to be appointed by God.
- “Dominion” is more akin to “steward.” And we are to serve and protect whatever we are stewards of.
- The derivation of “perfection” is actually the breathe between things. It is the connector, and it is “very good.”
- Genesis 14 is the first mention of both “king” and “war.”
- Think of each person as an image-bearer of God in order not to oppress them.
- “It is the best of times. It is the worst of times.”
- We hear so much bad news, but the Good News always reigns.
- The Church is doing great things all over the world.
- Free trade should be replaced with fair trade.
- Do you love Jesus? Take Him seriously.
- “In the poor and the oppressed is the essence of Jesus.” – St. Francis of Assisi
- You must do whatever you can on both a micro and macro level.
- There is a big difference between being a disciple and a believer.
Rev. Tracy Blackmon
- Joshua 6:22-23
- A holy obligation to take someone with you when you get free.
- Did the sisters get left out? No, Rahab made sure they were included.
- It’s easy to silence those with the least power.
- The Boko Haram story – It’s been two years and only 50 girls have been located out of the 200.
- Whenever the marginalized are not met with the grace of God, the covenant is broken.
- We must see ourselves in not only the eyes of the Conquerer, but the casualties.
- We’ve been arrogant at denying others that are different a seat at God’s table.
- We must not separate our freedom from those who are bound.