Shannon Aaron Stephens's Blog

​Mr. Balshan, I appreciate you sharing part of your story and your insight. I will look into Monique Dunson. Be well, brother. Cheers!

​Mr. Balshan, I appreciate you sharing part of your story and your insight. I will look into Monique Dunson. Be well, brother. Cheers!

 My friend, I appreciate your response. How about I grant everything you've said? You know what you're talking about. Here is the heart of things for me: There is a big problem in the US. It has its roots in the fact that peoples were enslaved here. I really want healthier relationships to grow. I want to participate in that healing from every angle I can as a Christian. I read a book that seems a helpful place to start. You are good at identifying Marxism and counterfeit gospels. Good, I appreciate your help. Here is the thing, though. However evil Marxism is, it is not the thing to fear. If I, beginning my journey toward how to work toward racial justice, ride the bus of anti-racism; it doesn't mean I'm endorsing everything every one of those writers says or is working toward. I'm not all about the anti-racism movement or method. I just want to do some good to my neighbors. Partiality is a sin, yes. So is sloth. I am not accusing you of this. The outcome you fear from the anti-racist movement is partiality. I contend that merely finding fault with systems that try to solve a problem and then using "there actually isn't a problem" as an expedient or "this method has too many problems", and offering no substitute solution; has at least has as much likelihood as producing sin. Because: there really is a problem. That's where I am with this whole thing. If you have not enough time to respond, I will understand. It's been enjoyable. If I don't hear from you: God bless. Cheers, Shannon

 Mr. Balshan, Thanks for commenting. I watched that Baucham sermon. It is very good. It's true I don't often comment (or tweet, or use bumper stickers, etc.) for the very reason that it is so easy to be misunderstood. I may test the character count limit on this board - haha. Because I want you to understand where I'm coming from. I agree with most of what Baucham says. Foundational matters should be foundational. Our beliefs about Jesus are foundational, so theology is more important than sociology. Very well. I love Jesus. I read the Bible and pray the Bible daily. God and his grace and his forgiveness and his adoption, and Him himself are most important to me. Knowing Christ is of most importance to everyone everywhere always. Yes, true. I am not making the claim that Baucham is combating in this sermon. I do not say that you must read Tisby et al in order to "get it". "It" being racial reconciliation or anything else. "The Color of Compromise" is a fantastic lecture series (and presumably the book is just as good). It is good as a historical survey. You should read it, you love history, judging from your reading habits. It is good in how it is addressed to the church. It is good as a call to action. It is good because racism is still a problem. Racism is a problem that should be addressed by the church. By which I mean both individual Christians and organized congregations. Precisely because I agree with Baucham that "racial reconciliation is not something for us to achieve but is a reality already achieved by Christ. We don't need to achieve it, but we need to believe it." I do not claim that one must read the 'anti-racist' lot in order to be a Christian or the right kind of Christian. I simply assert that racism ought to repented of, reparations should take place. And people who love God ought to participate in that repenting. That is a way to *realize* the already accomplished reconciliation, if you like. Why? Because of the same things you and Baucham and I all believe. Race isn't real. It is arbitrary. Everyone in made in the image of God. We have (and do) mistreat our neighbors because of our own sin. Yes. Why do you present a false dilemma that Tisby et al are somehow not aligning with those truths? Yes, we must all repent to God for reconciliation to him first and foremost, yes. I like this lectures series in part because it has action points. You know well what we all know: repentance requires action. Please let me know who you have in mind when you mention "mature Christians" I should read? If for instance, Tim Keller; I'm working my way through his four part essay series on justice, race and the church. If there are others you had in mind, please let me know. Here is what I mean by anti-racism. It has been posited that there are only two positions one can take on race: racist or anti-racist. There is no neutral ground. To be anti-racist is to be proactive in combating racism in one's self, community, and the systems you can influence. I think we ought to strive to be anti-racist. There is always a problem when people hold any system at the level of religious depth. I mean, of course, when we hold something as foundational when it ought not be. Anti-racism doesn't answer every question. Jesus does. Marxism doesn't answer every question, Jesus does. Fine. But that is true of every system besides Christ himself and the Bible rightly understood. Are there similarities between anti-racism and Marxism? I'm curious what you think they are. Did Marxism birth anti-racism? I'm curious why you think so. But that doesn't really matter. For each of us, what is of chief importance is God and right thinking and right living toward him and our neighbors because of him. The chief danger is unbelief. Marxism isn't synonymous with unbelief. So, therefore, neither are any of its children (whatever they may be) synonymous with unbelief. Is Marxism born of unbelief? Sure, in part. Is Marxism hypocritical in that it claims to aim for classless unity but creates worse division? Yes. You seem to be claiming anti-racism has a similar flaw. Please explain that to me. If a Marxist system is fully realized (if that were possible, but it isn't) that wouldn't be hell. Hell being the reward of ultimate unbelief. Hell being the undiluted presence of God's wrath. If anti-racism is realized (which is a good goal) that won't be hell. I admit it won't be heaven, either. Heaving being the undiluted presence of God himself. The creator, the infinitely beautiful, unbounded joy, the essence and source of ultimate peace. The proper ordering of our affections prevents any syncretism. If anyone is claiming any system can usher heaven, they are wrong. I am not claiming that. Admittedly mine was an excited review, but I'm not claiming this book is necessary or ultimate. I just really think becoming anti-racist is a good goal for every American Christian. I think that it is a great way to love our neighbors. See how much that I've written agrees with Baucham and presumably your theology. I suspect you are throwing out the baby with the bathwater because of some extremists. I appreciate your engagement as you have given me some things to think and talk about. I hope to hear from you soon. Cheers!

​God doesn’t have to see things unfold at 60 seconds per minute. Maybe it looks faster to him. 

As I’m listening to Marilynne Robinson‘s book “Home” she mentioned how God could see an oak tree jump out of the ground. 

I guess that’s right. 

They seem to grow so slowly to us but to God flowers must be like fireworks and trees like children jumping for joy. 

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