The soon to be Rev. Dr. Malcolm Foley was on the podcast and I can honestly say it was one of my favorite conversations to date! Malcolm is a PhD candidate at Baylor University and his dissertation research asks the question, how Black Protestants affirmed their own dignity in the late 19th and early 20th century when lynching so customarily threatened them with death. Malcolm recently tweeted that he didn’t realize when he began his research, he would actually be living it.
This conversation is important, not only to understand the historical significance of lynching and the Church, but also to recognize how that understanding plays a huge role in how we function in relationship to the injustice we see today. One of my favorite quotes from Malcolm in this episode is, “Jesus does not play games with injustice!” To that I raise an AMEN! And if Jesus didn’t mess around when it came to injustice, His Church shouldn’t either.
Here are a couple of things to note regarding this conversation: First, it was recorded on May 31, 2020 when the first officer, Derek Chauvin, was arrested in the case of the murder of George Floyd. Since this recording, the other three officers have been arrested and the charges against Derek Chauvin have been increased from third degree murder and second degree manslaughter to second degree murder and his bail is set at $1.25 million. Second, I misspoke regarding Jesus’ Revelation appearance. I said He would have a sword strapped to His thigh, which is not correct. The Scripture says the sword will come from His mouth and His Name will be tattooed on His thigh.
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords. Revelation 19:11-16 NIV
Praise God He’s coming again!
Mentioned in this episode:
Christianity Today’s Quick to Listen podcast with Malcolm Foley
David Walker’s Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World
Popular Justice: A History of Lynching in America by Manfred Berg
Stamped From the Beginning by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
The Locust Effect: Why the End of Poverty Requires the End of Violence by Gary Haugen and Victor Boutros
Episode 042 That Makes Total Sense! with Gary Wardlaw of The Relationship Clinic of Waco