Water Goes Where the Fire Is

When was the last time you heard the phrase "All lives matter?"

My wife and I noticed we don't hear it as much these days, and couldn't remember the last time we'd seen it (although I still see numerous U.S. flag stickers with a blue line).

It was only a few years ago that the phrase "All lives matter" became both a rallying cry and a statement of objection. If you recall, it was created in response to the phrase "Black Lives Matter." I had used this last phrase at the church I was pastoring and was explicitly told that it was not the kind of church where I could say that (a story I tell in my upcoming book).

I remember being asked about why I didn't care about "blue lives" in the same way. I tried my best to explain that nobody was born with a blue life; it was instead a job people could choose to do (or not). For someone born black, this was not a choice. To equate the two together is a massive failure in both logic and compassion.

It seems to me that, although the phrase isn't used as often, this line of thinking is still alive and well. We see it among people who are intentionally unaware of ICE's activities or who are outraged over Bad Bunny's halftime performance. We still want to move the narrative toward the majority and bristle whenever voices challenge it.

The easiest metaphor I know for this dynamic is to imagine one house in a neighborhood on fire. When the fire department arrives, you would hopefully point them to the house that needs the water rather than arguing that all houses deserve water. All houses deserve water, but that does not change the obvious reality that not all houses are currently on fire. In addition, if you own a house in that neighborhood, it is also in your best interest for them to put out the house on fire, as your house and theirs have a shared future if the fire spreads.

Therefore, saying "Black lives matter" acknowledges a reality that should be readily obvious to everyone. We identify the people who need help most because not all houses are equally at risk of fire. This is the nature of justice work. In our current era of ICE terrorization, it may be time to remind people that Latino lives matter.

But let's add a twist to this. While Jesus valued the lives of all people, He consistently acted as though some lives were set apart (and He focused on them). Therefore, I doubt He'd be the one to use the "all lives matter" phrase or ideology as we know it today.

In a recent conversation with a friend of mine, he connected Jesus' use of the Beatitudes to this conversation. That's the passage where Jesus singles out certain people as MORE blessed by God than others. Did you catch that? It's worth a refresher to see how specific Jesus gets in naming people.

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. (Matthew 5:3-12)

So if we are making our own list of whose lives especially matter to Jesus, we would include people who are poor, who mourn, who are humble, people who crave justice to be done, people who are merciful, who have pure hearts, who work for peace, who are persecuted, those who are mocked, and those who are lied about. Which, if we're being honest, is a bit of an odd cultural grouping of people to single out.

But Jesus... what about everyone else? Don't all lives matter?

Jesus doesn't mind taking sides. It's just not usually the side we are expecting. Jesus is always standing with those who are oppressed and marginalized and who become victims of those in power.

Which means we should too. Let's find people whose house is at risk of fire and get them water.

Photo by Daniel Lincoln on Unsplash