Curated topics for a disillusioned church
Our favorite resources that are not to be missed.
Over hundreds of years and the entanglement of church and state American Christians have lost their prophetic and Biblical voice when it comes to justice and punishment. Pastor Dominque DuBoise Gilliard tells the history of incarceration and the churches role and theological posture - both good and bad - with incarceration in the United States before tracing the history of Christian's views on criminals and crime to retributive justice that is at odds with the Bible.
An intimate, engaging eight part series focusing on the Flint Police Department (Michigan) that shows the policing from all sides, the police, the public that supports them, the public that doesn't support them, the politicians that support them and don't support them, and everyone in-between. Flint Town shows the complexity of working for a police department in neighborhoods that are at high stress levels because of poverty, race, and, in Flint's case, water issues. It also shows the differences in officer's approaches to policing based on their ethnicity and where/how they grew up. This series is highly recommended.
Occasionally you think a documentary is going to be about one thing, but it completely surprises you. Sometimes that is good thing and sometimes it completely fails. In the case of J.E.S.U.S.A. it is the former. While the trailer, the marketing material, and the first 13 minutes of the film all point to exploring the conflation of American nationalism and Christianity the core question that the film truly attempts to answer is whether Christians should engage or abstain from violence.
A fantastic, thorough read penned with humility, nuance and honesty. If you are looking for an extensive resource on your journey towards racial reconciliation or are wondering what that process entails this is the book for you.
In less than 70 pages Chris Marshall, with plenty of scriptural evidence, says that justice is a central theme of the Bible and it is how God relates to the world.
Professor Tim Mackie of Western Seminary narrates a quick sub-6 minute visually appealing video detailing the origin and nuances of justice according to the Bible.
Baylor University professor George Yancey says that the white fragility term has some truths, but there is a better way to engage in dialogue and come up with solutions between people of different colors.
Even though the audio is poor at times, this is one of the best discussions on race we have heard. The participants, who have lived and are living through this seemingly ever changing situation, challenge the listener to educate one's self, lament and then take action. When you are done make sure to check out part 2.
A raw, openhearted reply by an Black American man after he is asked how he is doing after seeing another Black American man killed at the hands of a cop.
In part 1 and clocking in at just under 18 minutes VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer discusses some of the systems that were put in place by the American government to harm the black community. In part 2 Vischer answers the four questions he was asked the most. Accessible, easy to follow and highly recommended.
Sunday to Saturday 
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