What Black Christians Need from White Christians Now

Quick to Listen

Christianity Today

Religion & Spirituality, Religion, Christianity

4.3 • 622 Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2016

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On Tuesday, President Obama honored the lives of the five Dallas police officers shot dead last week by a sniper in Dallas. He also reflected on the deaths of two black men, Philando Castile and Anton Sterling, who were shot dead by police officers last week, and of the suffering he’s witnessed during his time in the White House. “I’ve seen how inadequate words can be in bringing about lasting change,” said Obama. “I’ve seen how inadequate my own words have been. And so, I’m reminded of a passage in John’s Gospel, ‘let us love, not with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.’” (Note: We’re aware that the president actually quoted 1 John.) In the wake of last week’s shootings, Joshua DuBois, the former head of the White House’s Office of Faith Based Partnerships, responded with action, creating a form letter for citizens to send their local police chiefs. As of writing, the tweet has been retweeted nearly 5,000 times. “I live outside of DC and realized I had never had a conversation with my police chief in my town...I wanted to have that dialogue to affirm the hard and difficult work that police officers are engaged in every day, but also to ask questions about how prepared they are to deescalate conflict and address bias,” said DuBois, who now leads Values Partnership, a consulting firm. “What’s fascinating is that people are writing their own chiefs and their chiefs are responding,” DuBois joined Morgan and Katelyn this week to discuss what led him to create this letter, how majority culture Christians can avoid shutting down conversations with those of color, and why anger should not be a deterrent to engagement. (10:10) Joshua, what went into your decision to create this police department form letter? (15:08) In circumstances like last week, what voices should be elevated? How should they be elevated? (20:25) What is a powerful example of what solidarity looks like? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you in part by The Apologetics Guy Show, the podcast that helps
0:07.1	you find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity. Learn to explain your faith with
0:12.5	courage and compassion. Join Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikhail del Rosario at apologeticsky.com.
0:21.9	I think it really is about allowing our hearts to be open and when necessary to break for someone
0:29.2	else, then asking for the Holy Spirit to push us in whatever direction that we are supposed
0:34.3	to go as individuals.
0:35.4	It won't be the same for everyone.
0:38.7	But when we have a new heart, a tender heart, and when we're sensitive to the pain of others, then almost always
0:44.5	we'll find some way to act.
0:51.1	You are listening to Quick to Listen. I'm Morgan Lee. I'm a co-host here at the show and an assistant editor for Christianity Today magazine. And I am joined today by Caitlin Beatty, but also as always, hi Caitlin.
1:04.9	Hey Morgan. How's it going? It's great to have you here. And I'm looking for you telling us all who our guest is this week, who I think is going to be a real treat.
1:14.2	Yeah.
1:14.6	So this week we are joined by a person, leader, that many of our readers and listeners have probably encountered over the last few years.
1:22.9	Joshua Dubois is founder and director of values partnerships, a consulting firm that fosters faith-based
1:29.6	partnerships in the public, private, and neighbor nonprofit sectors. He formerly led the White
1:34.8	House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and was named President Obama's
1:39.3	pastor-in-chief by Time magazine. He was also named one of Christianity Today's 33 under 33 leaders to
1:46.3	watch back in 2014. He wrote a book, The President's Devotional, and lives in Washington, D.C.
1:53.0	with his wife, Michelle, and his son, August. Thanks so much for joining us, Joshua.
1:57.5	Caitlin, Morgan, it's wonderful to be on with you. Thanks for having me on Quick to Listen.
2:01.8	Yeah, it's our pleasure. Joshua, is it true that you just went to work at the White House
2:06.8	for a couple years? Like, that was your office? Yeah, yeah, it was wild. You kind of had to
	...

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