Below is a letter written by a collection of the pastors from the Bryan College Station area representing a variety of denominations. I chose to sign it and encourage our CBBA pastors to do so because I think it reflects Biblical truth and is a step in the right direction toward healing some long-standing wounds. It is not a perfect statement, but it is a good one. The only perfect word in racial reconciliation is the Word of God. In this cultural moment, it is important to be clear that the church has the only true solution for reconciliation, namely the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is imperative, therefore, that while seeking justice and reconciliation, while binding up wounds and caring for the vulnerable, that we also preach the unashamed gospel of Jesus Christ. For, it is only when man has made peace with God that he can have peace with his fellow man and ultimately peace within his own heart.
June 8, 2020
If one member suffers, all suffer together.... 1 Corinthians 12:26
We, as pastors of Bryan and College Station, stand united. We grieve together as we have witnessed the unnecessary death of George Floyd, along with the ensuing turmoil in people’s hearts and in our streets. We grieve the long history of prejudice and racism experienced by people of color in our nation. We grieve that the Church has not done more to heal the divisions in the name of Christ.
We denounce racism and racial injustice in all of its forms. This includes the sin of partiality that affects our hearts individually, as well as all of the various ways that racism manifests itself socially and culturally. Racism is evil and is an affront to our Creator who made each of us -- from every ethnic background, female and male, young and old, rich and poor, weak and strong -- in His image.
Because we are all equal in the eyes of our Creator (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 5:1-2; Galatians 3:28), we are committed to treat one another with dignity and respect (Romans 13:8-10); we are committed to speak up and protect the vulnerable among us (Proverbs 31:8-9); we are committed to provide for the needy among us (James 1:27); we are committed to live righteous lives (Proverbs 14:34); we are committed to stand for truth and justice (Psalm 82:3,4); and we are committed to love and to forgive (Ephesians 4:32-5:2).
Fulfilling these commitments with diligence reflects the heart of our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, to a broken and hurting world (Matthew 5:16). We are praying for wisdom and courage as we seek to bring the light of Jesus into the darkness and division of our world.
Grace and Peace,
Pastors of Bryan and College Station