Christ Affirms: Black Lives Matter
Highlight: Does Black Lives Matter to God?
John 16:33:
“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The European exploration of Africa in the 15th century marked the beginning of a long and painful chapter for Black people, one that unfolded over centuries. The 19th century deepened these wounds as European powers intensified their exploitation across the continent, impacting nations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Niger, Egypt, Mali, Guinea, South Africa, Madagascar, Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mauritania, Nigeria, Gambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Ghana, Namibia, Morocco, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Eritrea, Eswatini, Tanzania, Libya, Somalia, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Mauritius, Comoros, Sudan, and Sierra Leone.
The consequences of this exploitation are still visible today. Across the world, Black communities continue to grapple with challenges to identity, dignity, and collective power. Many African nations remain underdeveloped and struggle with extreme poverty and hunger, while Black communities in wealthier nations, such as the United States, experience disproportionately high levels of economic hardship.
Although there is much to celebrate in the resilience, achievements, and cultural richness of Black people throughout history, it is impossible to ignore the lasting scars of this past. Its residue lingers in global consciousness and inevitably leads many to ask a profound and painful question: Does God care about Black people?
Do Black Lives Truly Matter to God?
Yes! Scripture makes it unmistakably clear that God’s love extends to every person. One of the most well-known passages, John 3:16, declares, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 5:8 echoes this truth: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Yet these truths lead to a difficult and honest question: If God loves all people, why has the Black community endured centuries of slavery, colonization, systemic injustice, and generational poverty?
While Scripture does not provide a single direct answer, it does reveal that suffering is a reality for all people and that those who follow Christ will face trials (John 16:33). Still, the Bible also gives us stories that mirror the pain, resilience, and endurance of Black communities today, and offer insight into God’s heart in the midst of suffering.
Joseph: Sold, Slandered, and Still Sustained by God
Beginning in Genesis 37, Joseph’s story unfolds as that of a young man favored by his father Jacob (Genesis 37:3). His brothers, filled with jealousy, sold him to Midianite traders for twenty shekels of silver (Genesis 37:28).
In a painful parallel, many Africans who were enslaved during the transatlantic slave trade were also betrayed and sold by their own people.
Joseph was later falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned, yet God remained with him (Genesis 39). His God-given gift of interpreting dreams eventually positioned him to save Egypt from famine and to preserve the future of Israel (Genesis 41–50).
Likewise, despite the horrific brutality experienced by enslaved Africans in the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean, Black people demonstrated extraordinary resilience. Victories emerged through the rise of the Black church, the independence movements of the 20th century, and the civil rights era, each marking a new chapter of hope and liberation.
The Israelites in Egypt: Multiplying Under Oppression
After Joseph’s generation passed, the Israelites fell under harsh Egyptian oppression (Exodus 1:8–11). Even so, they continued to multiply and were blessed by God (Exodus 1:12).
Similarly, throughout slavery, colonization, apartheid, and present-day injustices, Black communities around the world have persisted, grown, and flourished in profound ways.
God raised Moses as a leader to deliver Israel from suffering (Exodus 3).
In the same way, history shows that God has raised influential leaders to guide, defend, and inspire Black communities—such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Patrice Lumumba, Samori Touré, Frederick Douglass, Ahmed Sékou Touré, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and Marcus Garvey.
After Israel’s escape and Pharaoh’s defeat at the Red Sea (Exodus 14), the people still had a long journey of testing and obedience before entering the promised land (Exodus 15-40).
The Black experience today mirrors this: although the wounds of slavery and colonialism remain, the challenges of the present can serve as tests of faith, opportunities to trust God as He leads communities toward the victories already secured in Christ.
How Can Black People Trust God Today?
For many Black Christians, trusting God can feel difficult when history and current struggles seem overwhelming. Yet Scripture continually offers hope. The Bible is filled with real people who endured suffering, injustice, exile, and oppression, and still found God faithful.
Even if some may not witness the full restoration of their nations or communities in their lifetime, remaining faithful to God and investing in the next generation carries eternal value. Jesus reminds believers to store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), where acts of faithfulness are never forgotten.
Daniel: Faithful in a Foreign Land
Daniel exemplifies steadfast faith under hostile circumstances. Taken into exile, he excelled under King Darius to the point where the king planned to place him over the entire kingdom (Daniel 6:3). Out of jealousy, officials sought grounds to accuse him but found none, until they targeted his devotion to prayer (Daniel 6:10–11).
Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, yet God protected him because he remained faithful (Daniel 6:16–22).
This is a powerful model for Black believers today. When facing oppression, injustice, or mistreatment, God calls His people to remain steadfast. Jesus Himself gave this promise in John 16:33:
“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
