Stephen J. Matlock's Blog, page 27

You know, if black people would just…

Saw this today, even though it happened three years ago. https://www.stevelocke.com/blog/i-fit... Gist is, a man was getting his lunch from a burrito place. The police stopped him and considered him a suspect. The entire time the police were careful and … Continue reading →

What Is the Place of Jonathan Edwards As an Example to the Church?

I’m in an interesting discussion in a book group, in which we’re reading Jemar Tisby’s book “The Color of Compromise” (https://amzn.to/2UrMEOm). We’re looking at two men who tower above others in the early Colonial days: Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. These men are well-known in Evangelical circles. They preached a redeeming Gospel, they brought many … Continue reading "What Is the Place of Jonathan Edwards As an Example to the Church?"

For I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel—Except the Hard Parts

I saw this on the NPR website this morning, and it sparked a reaction in me. https://www.npr.org/2018/12/09/674995... On display now at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., is a special exhibit centered on a rare Bible from the 1800s that was used by British missionaries to convert and educate slaves. What’s notable about … Continue reading "For I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel—Except the Hard Parts"

Who Then Is My Neighbor?

(ETA: A much better response can be found here: https://mereorthodoxy.com/and-who-is-...) If you’ve been around the New Testament to any great length, you are probably familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:25-37 is brief. A man tried to challenge Jesus about what it mean to love God and love your neighbor by trying … Continue reading "Who Then Is My Neighbor?"

An Open Letter to White Christians Who Now Think They May Have Treated Black People Unfairly and Would Like to Be Forgiven Without Much Repentance

This is in response to an article in Christianity Today, which purports to be the respectable voice of the American White Evangelical Church. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/... I have no beef with the magazine, and for a few years I was a subscriber because I found it contained useful and even helpful information. This article was written as … Continue reading "An Open Letter to White Christians Who Now Think They May Have Treated Black People Unfairly and Would Like to Be Forgiven Without Much Repentance"

The Color of Compromise—A Review

This is perhaps one of the most accessible, clear, and gentle book you might read about the history of, and acceptance of, white supremacy and black abasement of the American nation and in the American church. Tisby is an historian and does not shave meaning or impact by using soft words. When you read this, … Continue reading "The Color of Compromise—A Review"

Thus Far Has the LORD Helped Us: A Retrospective of a Decade

Think of a moment in time, a dot, a pivot. You put a stake in the ground, marking the place you have come to thus far. You look back and you see all the rocks and pits and even chasms you crossed. And here you are, now, at the end of the journey, a period … Continue reading "Thus Far Has the LORD Helped Us: A Retrospective of a Decade"

Why It Matters: For you I was born, for you I live, and for you I give my last breath

I am involved in two streams right now that are greatly affecting me on how I see myself and what I consider my values. And in one of those streams the topic came up about why people do what they do. For me, the question is really “Why pursue racial conciliation?”, which was prompted by … Continue reading "Why It Matters: For you I was born, for you I live, and for you I give my last breath"

I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living

The prophet Amos cried out (in 5:24) the desire of God for righteousness to be the ocean we swim in, a sea of support and sustaining, a place of healing and recovery. But this is America 2018, and in America justice is far off. In this America of 2018, we have Jemel Roberson. A father, … Continue reading "I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living"

Unwanted Subject: When You Have No Space in America

This came across my newsfeed this morning, and it involves a somewhat-local yogurt shop calling the police on a black man in their store where he was not wanted: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-... The gist is that Byron Ragland, a court-appointed special advocate and visitation supervisor, was overseeing an outing between a mother and her son. The family … Continue reading "Unwanted Subject: When You Have No Space in America"