Confessional Approach to Skin Colour and the Cross
Acts 29
Article 5 (Lausanne Covenant)
CHRISTIAN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
We affirm that God is both the Creator and the Judge of all men. We therefore should share his concern for justice and reconciliation throughout human society and for the liberation of men and women from every kind of oppression. Because men and women are made in the image of God, every person, regardless of race, religion, colour, culture, class, sex or age, has an intrinsic dignity because of which he or she should be respected and served, not exploited. Here too we express penitence both for our neglect and for having sometimes regarded evangelism and social concern as mutually exclusive. Although reconciliation with other people is not reconciliation with God, nor is social action evangelism, nor is political liberation salvation, nevertheless we affirm that evangelism and socio-political involvement are both part of our Christian duty. For both are necessary expressions of our doctrines of God and Man, our love for our neighbour and our obedience to Jesus Christ. The message of salvation implies also a message of judgment upon every form of alienation, oppression and discrimination, and we should not be afraid to denounce evil and injustice wherever they exist. When people receive Christ they are born again into his kingdom and must seek not only to exhibit but also to spread its righteousness in the midst of an unrighteous world. The salvation we claim should be transforming us in the totality of our personal and social responsibilities. Faith without works is dead.
Centre for Baptist Renewal
EVANGELICAL BAPTIST CATHOLICITY: A MANIFESTO
Article 6
We affirm that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender, are created in God's image and, if they have repented and believed in Christ, are brothers and sisters together in the one body of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Because of this shared imago dei and because of Christ's saving work among all nations, peoples, and tongues, we believe that one major task of Baptist catholicity is to promote racial unity, especially within the body of Christ.
Why Black Lives Matter: A Theological and Confessional Account
This is a very helpful and declarative document that acknowledges a true sentiment that the world at large gets very wrong.
In our South African context it would be helpful to see this kind of concept expounded upon alongside of Biko’s “Black Consciousness” and his definition of a “Black Life“.
I. Black lives matter because black lives inhabit a world that belongs to the Triune God alone.[1]
II. Black lives matter because they are created by God and belong to God.[2]
III. Black lives matter because of the Word of God exists for their flourishing.[3]
IV. Black lives matter because God calls black lives to himself through his Son. [4]
V. Black lives matter because Christ died and was resurrected for black lives united to Him whereby they receive eternal forgiveness and victory over sin, death, and the devil.[5]
VI. Black lives matter because the social and political structures that govern black life belong to God and matter to God.[6]
VII. Black lives matter in the church because God’s people are called to care about the social and economic status of human persons, especially those united to Him.[7]
VIII. Black lives matter in the church because all people who have received the sacrament of holy baptism belong to God and his church. [8]
IX. Blacks lives matter in the church because the spiritual nourishment that comes through the Lord’s Supper is for black lives united to Christ.[9]
X. Black lives matter in the church because, for those united to Christ, the Resurrection of the dead and eternal life with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit awaits them.[10]
Editors
Westminster Confession of Faith—Dr. Anthony B. Bradley, Professor of Religious Studies, The King’s College (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary; MA, Fordham University; MDiv, Covenant Theological Seminary); Theologian-In-Residence, Redeemer Presbyterian Church—Lincoln Square, New York, NY
The Book of Concord—The Rev Dr John Arthur Nunes, President, Concordia College, Bronxville, New York (PhD, ThM, The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; MDiv Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St Catharines, Ontario, Canada; BA, Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Endnote Scripture References
[1] Heb. 1:2; John 1:2, 3; Gen. 1:2; Job. 26:13; Job. 33:4; Rom. 1:20; Jer. 10:12; Ps. 104:24; Ps. 33:5, 6; Gen. 1 chap.; Heb. 11:3; Col. 1:16; Acts 17:24.
[2] Gen. 1:27; Gen. 2:7; Eccles. 12:7 & Luke 23:43 and Matt. 10:28; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24; Rom. 2:14, 15; Eccles. 7:29; Gen. 3:6; Eccles. 7:29; Gen. 2:17; Gen. 3:8, 9, 10, 11, 23; Gen. 1:26, 28.
[3] II Tim. 3:15, 16, 17; Gal. 1:8, 9; II Thess. 2:2; John 6:45; I Cor. 2:9 to 12; I Cor. 11:13, 14; I Cor. 14:26, 40.
[4] I Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1:4, 5; Eph. 2:10; II Thess. 2:13; I Thess. 5:9, 10; Titus 2:14; Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:5; II Thess. 2:13; I Pet. 1:5; John 17:9; Rom. 8:28 to the end; John 6:64, 65; John 10:26; John 8:47; I John 2:19.
[5] Ps. 40:7, 8 with Heb. 10:5 to 10; John 10:18; Phil. 2:8; Gal. 4:4; Matt. 3:15; Matt. 5:17; Matt. 26:37, 38; Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46; Matt. 26, 27; Phil. 2:8;Acts. 2:23, 24, 27; Acts 13:37; Rom. 6:9; I Cor. 15:3, 4; John 20:25, 27; Mark 16:19; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; Heb. 7:25; Rom. 14:9, 10; Acts 1:11; Acts 10:42; Matt. 13:40, 41, 42; Jude ver. 6; II Pet. 2:4.
[6] Rom. 13:1, 2, 3, 4; I Pet. 2:13, 14.
[7] Rom. 4:11; Gen 17:7, 10; Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 11.23; 1 Cor 10:16; 1 Cor 11:25-26; Gal 3:27; Gal 3:17
[8] Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 12:13; Rom. 4:11 with Col. 2:11, 12; Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:5; Tit. 3:5; Mark 1:4; Rom. 6:3, 4; Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16; Acts 8:37, 38; Gen. 17:7, 9, 10 with Gal. 3:9, 14 and Col. 2:11, 12; Acts 2:38, 39; Rom. 4:11, 12; I Cor. 7:14; Matt. 28:19; Mark 10:13, 14, 15, 16; Luke 18:15.
[9] I Cor. 11:23, 24, 25, 26; I Cor. 10:16, 17, 21; I Cor. 12:13.
[10] John 1:3; Eph. 3:16, 17, 18, 19; John 1:16; Eph. 2:5, 6; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5, 6; II Tim. 2:12; Eph. 4:15, 16; I Cor. 12:7; I Cor. 3:21, 22, 23; Col. 2:19; I Thess. 5:11, 14; Rom. 1:11, 12, 14; I John 3:16, 17, 18; Gal. 6:10; Gen. 3:19; Acts 13:36; Luke 23:43; Eccles. 12:7.