“I think Christians and conservatives are in a well-placed position to properly subvert and co-opt this movement for the benefit of those who truly need help. The superficial symbolism — combined with the theatrics of anger and a resurgent militancy that currently characterizes the ‘black lives matter’ movement — is a clear reflection — and projection — of impotence.”

Can Christians and conservatives co-opt the ‘black lives matter’ movement to make it one of integrity and worthy of respect? Is it even worth it for Christians and conservatives to try and do so?

I think so.

In my opinion the only way for the ‘black lives matter’ movement to gain moral credibility is if Christians and conservatives actively become part of the movement. Progressive Christians — clergy and lay people alike that self-identify with and participate in this campaign, by definition, reinforce the movement’s inherent moral hypocrisy and myopia. As it stands, very few people of importance — if any at all — take the words and actions of this movement with any seriousness. Frankly, no one should, because members and supporters of this movement repeatedly prove that they’re not serious about confronting what actually cheapens black lives.

By now, most people are familiar with the ‘black lives matter’ movement and its petulant, recycled, and sanctimonious remonstrations that channels black rage and assertiveness in their off-putting attempts to raise awareness about police brutality toward blacks. To see the most recent example of such belligerent behavior, Google ‘black lives mater’ and Bernie Sanders to see the shenanigans ‘black lives matter’ uses to deliver their message.

Further, ‘black lives matter’ also claims to be a slogan under which “Black people can unite to end state sanctioned violence… across the United States of America, aspiring to, “end the insidious and widespread assault on Black life that pervades every stage of law enforcement interactions; be it in custody or in our communities.”

Because members and supporters of the ‘black lives matter’ movement intentionally diminish and ignore the self-destructive behaviors that actually do dishonor black lives — such as high abortion rates and black criminality — the campaign lacks the moral seriousness and credibility it requires to be effective. For many people, this proves that these so-called activists aren’t really concerned with preserving and redeeming black lives: they’re simply concerned with advancing a cynical political narrative of black victimology coming from the boogeyman of white supremacy.

By ignoring what truly degrades black lives it’s impossible for ‘black lives matter’ to be a socially credible, moral movement. That is to say, this movement can’t demand mainstream America hold black lives in high esteem when the social behaviors of many blacks reveal that blacks don’t either. Blacks aren’t in a position to demand the kind of love and respect from others that they don’t have for themselves. As such, a movement nourished with (self) righteous anger fixated on “racist” white cops — a proxy for a perpetual and irredeemably racist America — strikes many as disingenuous distraction at best, immoral at worst. This becomes even clearer when blacks themselves perpetrate the real reasons black lives appear not to matter.

With all this in mind, I think Christians and conservatives are in a well-placed position to properly subvert and co-opt this movement for the benefit of those who truly need help. The superficial symbolism — combined with the theatrics of anger and a resurgent militancy that currently characterizes the ‘black lives matter’ movement — is a clear reflection — and projection — of impotence. Sincerity, humility and pragmatic solutions are needed to help the people who need it most- in this case, those blacks who need and want help overcoming the calamities that are ruining their quality of life.

The first way Christians and conservatives can prove that black lives matter is to stop the habit of lying to — and about — blacks, especially when it comes to the kinds of behavior that diminishes black lives in the eyes of so many.

If black lives matter — so should the truth. Police brutality isn’t the problem; spiritual immorality that cultivates self-destructive behaviors is the problem.

To begin, when the issue of ‘black lives matter’ is raised, Christians and conservatives can and should say that black lives matter — not because of the color of their skin, but because blacks are created in God’s image. The color of one’s skin holds no currency; it’s one’s character — or lack thereof — that determines whether or not they “matter.” To be more direct, Christians — regardless of color — must courageously tell blacks, particularly black Christians, that it’s past time to end the idolatrous worship of race. Race worship by blacks is every bit as problematic as race worship by whites. Period.

Christians and conservatives can say that black lives matter, which is why the traditional black family needs to be redeemed. Christians and conservatives desire to see more babies born in wedlock, with fathers around, with their families, to raise their children. Not only is this a moral issue, it’s a socio-economic one as well. More fathers in the home raising their children means that the chances of said children abusing drugs and alcohol, engaging in gang activity, and interactions with the criminal justice system will be significantly reduced. The consequences of a seventy-three percent illegitimacy rate have been morally and socio-economically disastrous for black Americans.

This is a sad and inarguable reality.

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