Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Rev. Ben Johnson discusses Black Lives Matter on ‘The Lars Larson Show’
Rev. Ben Johnson discusses Black Lives Matter on ‘The Lars Larson Show’
Dec 29, 2025 2:18 PM

Why would a movement dedicated to black advancement want to dismantle the family, when fatherlessness is associated with every social malady from poverty and crime to delinquency and low self-esteem? Is the racially tinged socialism promoted by Black Lives patible with the U.S. Constitution? And why does BLM demand that America pay reparations to nations where terrorists have attacked U.S. soldiers or civilians?

I had the privilege of discussing these issues and more on Tuesday, August 11, on “The Lars Larson Show.” The nationally syndicated talk radio host graciously called my Acton Powerblog article “one of the best reviews” of Black Lives Matter’s political agenda.

Other topics during the segment included the exploitation of tragedy for political gain, flawed measures of disparate impact, and why BLM’s policies would “strangle the one form of government that has created the most inherently equal, equitable society in human history: the United States of America and our Constitution.”

Larson’s radio program originates from Portland, Oregon – a city with a history as the epicenter of left-wing riots long predating the current outbreak of Black Lives Matter/Antifa violence. This interlocking history of radical violence is perhaps best exemplified by the arrest earlier this week of Demetria Hester at a riot at which “[c]ommercial grade fireworks and a mortar were used against Portland Police Bureau officers.” In May 2017, Hester had been harassed by Jeremy Joseph Christian, a white supremacist Bernie Sanders supporter who went on to murder two men on a Portland train. (This June, a judge sentenced Christian to two consecutive life sentences.)

“Portlanders need to send a strong message that enough is enough. This is not forwarding the goals that are going to lead to better es for people of color,” said Portland Chief of Police Chuck Lovell.

That’s doubly true of an organization dedicated to channeling justifiable anger into promoting a collectivist system of resentment and government-sponsored plunder.

You can listen to Larson and I discuss why people of faith should not support the Black Lives Matter political manifesto below, or listen on the SoundCloud page.

TheLarsLarsonShow · Ben Johnson – If anything, BLM’s “demands” are more expansive and government-expanding

riot in Portland, Oregon, on August 9. bgrocker / . Editorial use only.)

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
AU08 day 3 blogging
We’re wrapping up the final day of classes here at Acton University 2008. Check out some of the initial reactions to Day 3 proceedings below. Fr. Z at WDTPRS,“Acton University: Day 3.”Tex at Mere Orthodoxy,“Uneasy Bedfellows?: Natural Law and Protestant Theology.” To be updated as more final day posts and overall reflections roll in. ...
Confusing capitalism with consumerism
Rebecca Hagelin of the Heritage Foundation picks up on my thoughts on consumerism and capitalism and expands on them helpfully in a column. We should all take her observations about stewardship to heart. I have been a student and a leader of Crown Financial Ministries curriculum, and during my time at Calvin Seminary was even part of a study group to suggest revisions of the curriculum to better reflect Reformed theological sensitivities. I’ve also recently gone through one of Dave...
AU08 day 1 blogging
A number of bloggers have begun posting their summaries, thoughts, and reactions to the first day of sessions at Acton University 2008. Below is a list, which will be updated periodically throughout the day. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf at WDTPRS,“Acton University: Day 1.” As usual there is a very, ah, lively conversation going on in Fr. ment boxes.Tex at Mere Orthodoxy,“Anthropology, the Economists’ Foundation.”“The Economic Way of Thinking.”“Difference: The Opportunity for Love.”“The Danger of Misplaced Pity.” Tex is living up to...
J. K. Rowling’s view of tyranny
Here’s some insight into J. K. Rowling’s perspective on tyranny, in the words of Albus Dumbledore, speaking of the arch-villain of the series: Voldemort himself created his worst enemy, just as tyrants everywhere do! Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many vicitms, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back! Voldemort is no different! Always he was on the lookout...
Victory for government tinkering?
The WSJ reports, to the relief of the White House and Capitol Hill, no doubt: “U.S. retail sales increased in May, rising double the rate expected in a sign consumers were using stimulus payments and that the economy might not be as weak as feared.” Whether or not this is really evidence of the “success” of the government stimulus package, you can be sure that it will be proclaimed as such from on high over the next days and weeks....
AU08 blogger wrap-up
We had a very active week on the blogosphere during this year’s Acton University. The daily round-ups are linked below, as well as updated links to summary and reflective posts written after the pletion. Many of our bloggers have been inspired to produce a series of reactions in the days and weeks following this year’s events. Troy Camplin at Interdisciplinary World,“Acton U. — A Brief Summary (and Table of Future Contents).” Troy concludes, “Even if the sessions weren’t as great...
Catholic NGOs remain silent on world food summit
The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted 183 governments at a three day summit in Rome, from June 3-5. World leaders tried to find possible solutions in order to tackle the recent food crisis which has already caused hunger and civil unrest in several developing countries. Jacques Diouf Director General of FAO asked for $30 billion a year in extra financing to the United Nations needed to address world hunger threatening 862 million people. Despite international efforts and estimates,...
Encouraging a true culture of thrift
Picking up on themes we’ve touched on here, here, and here, last week NYT columnist David Brooks weighed in on the culture of debt in the United States. “The social norms and institutions that encouraged frugality and spending what you earn have been undermined,” he writes. “The institutions that encourage debt and living for the moment have been strengthened.” Brooks has his own proposed solutions for this cultural shift. Elsewhere Richard Posner and Gary Becker debate whether there has been...
AU08 day 2 blogging
Acton University 2008 is in full gear as we proceed with the second full day of classes. Our staff is working hard at capturing audio from the conference, which you can keep abreast of here. And our attendees are continuing their excellent work in mitments to attend each session and bring critically thoughtful engagement with the topics. Highlights of the blogging from Day 2 include: Hunter Baker, blogging at the American Spectator blog and Southern Appeal,“The Next Big Center-Right Think...
Canada’s faltering freedom
The problem is not unique to Canada, nor entirely absent from the US, but our neighbors to the north seem to be doing their best at the moment to lead the so-called free world in denying what Americans call the First Amendment rights (speech, religion, etc.). In fact, the Canadian government’s quashing of the expression of opinion—executed through its “human mission”—is downright frightening. It is trite to describe this kind of thing as Orwellian, but that’s what it is. In...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved