In 2017, Ty Gibson (of Lightbearers Ministry) and Michael Nixon (Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion at Andrews University) formed a social justice themed organization to address ‘racism’ in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They called it Against The Wall.
They also (in their own words) had a goal to host events to “move the conversation forward within the church” (whatever that means). They held two Against the Wall rallies since 2017, one at Andrews University and another at Southern Adventist University.
Apparently, they have decided to shut the project down, citing a lack of disposable time to devote to the project.
Their closing statement:
“We are both committed to continuing to speak up and speak out on the important topics that inspired us to create Against the Wall. Saying goodbye to this project is in no way indicative of a lack of commitment to standing against walls of racial injustice and separation. We have both spent much of the past five months in particular raising our voices—both at rallies and in Zoom pulpits—to declare that all Black Lives Matter and that those who have been slain at the hands of law enforcement need [social] justice.
Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, Jacob Blake and countless others have awakened our country and world to the unresolved issues of systemic racism that we face. This is no time to be silent – and we surely will continue raising our voices, especially for those who can no longer do so for themselves.
The passion that led us to create this project will continue to live on in and through us as we commit to the work and ministry that we are doing. We hope that what we have done thus far will inspire others to continue the push for truth telling, racial equity and justice both inside and outside of the Adventist church.”
It is certainly understandable that people might find themselves stretched too thin in our fast-paced culture. We know what that feels like.
Notice that both Michael Nixon and Ty Gibson found the time to weigh in on a Twitter outrage mob (initiated by a black female student) that was attacking an Andrews University Professor (Dr. John Markovic) back in January. Gibson has since apologized for jumping to conclusions against the Professor; no word on whether the Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion likewise apologized.
****
When you insert a qualifier in front of the word justice, it is no longer justice, but an agenda-driven substitute. God’s justice stands on its own merit—referred to repeatedly in the Bible as “Justice.” That’s what we need.