Every life matters. Everly life matters because each person is made in the image of God. To disrespect one life is to disrespect all life. After all, Jesus said, “If you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me.” It doesn’t matter what color, race, or nationality someone is. Born or unborn, he or she bears the image of the Creator and therefore that life matters, not only to other human beings, but also to God. Every Black life matters, just as every Asian, Latino, or Caucasian life matters. To discriminate against one race is to discriminate against all, because all of us belong to God. We are his property, and God is the Creator of all, if not Father to all. If we hate others, we hate God, who has made all men and women in His Image. 

But if you hate someone in your heart, Jesus said you are no better than a murderer: 

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is enraged with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. (Matthew 5:21–22)

“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15, ESV)

We are not just to NOT murder, we are also supposed to love our neighbors, and to love even our enemies! If we do not love, we are not walking with God, but walking in anger with Hate as our god. 

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:19–21, ESV)

Racism is an unmitigated evil, just as is hatred of others. One is not more evil than the other. Hate is an intrinsic evil. 

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43–48, ESV) 

If you hate Republicans or Democrats, Conservatives or Socialists, you are not walking in love for your enemies. If you walk in hatred, you are not walking with God. You are libel to His judgment of your life. 

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. (Luke 6:37–38, ESV)

How is your walk? Are you contributing to the hatred and violence of this world or are you healing others by showing them the love of God? You don’t have to agree with them, but you do have to love them. The Jewish sages said love is a commitment, not an emotion. Love is being committed to the welfare of another regardless of what it costs you.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “God did not call us to like our enemies, for that would be impossible; He called us to love them.” By confronting the government and authorities with their racism, the non-violent marches exposed the evil, so that people could see what was really at stake and might repent. Loving your enemies in this case was an act of confrontation without retaliating in kind. It is okay to confront those with whom you disagree. Just don’t let your emotions of hatred and vengeance cause you to become the very thing in you that you protest in others.