Open letter to the church.

In the midst of all the controversy concerning the death of several african american men at the hands of white Police Officers, I have kept silent. First, because I did not have all the facts and I like to talk about what I know rather than to speculate. Secondly, as the days have passed since the latest incident, the amount of voices that have been speaking on this have been overwhelming. Some are hurting, others are angry. Many feel distraught and sad while others are just fed up with the situation. People are feeling a gamut of emotions and rightly so. A life is valuable, precious, worthy of respect. Not to mention those who have lost their lives were fathers, brothers, sons, cousins, mothers, sisters, daughters and belong to a family who is hurting and in mourning. It is a travesty that needs to be confronted and corrected.

This post is not another post to highlight the injustice and oppression that minorities suffer. I believe that many posts have been written on this subject. This post is, however, is a plead to my brothers and sisters who are suffering, to think about their words and actions in the context of The Kingdom of God and it’s implication to us. To take a moment to truly understand their feelings, their anger and frustration and to channel that in the right way. Many, including Lebron James, have said that violence is not the solution. I agree. I will go further to say that the men and women who wear the blue uniform, Police Officers, are not the problem either. It goes deeper than that. This is a systemic problem that goes beyond a rookie cop being unprepared to deal with a situation. This is deeper than a crooked or dishonest official in the court system. Unfortunately, those who are at the front line of receiving our anger, criticism and hate are the same ones who are used by the system to enforce these injustices.

I do have to state that I believe that this systemic injustice is founded upon sin. Robert C. Linthicum in his book City of God City of Satan states that the ills of the city are not rooted in the city itself but “rather, such are manifestations of the underlying sin of the city’s people”. The question is then — Where is God in our lives? What role does He play in our lives? and Where is God in our cities?

As individuals, we need to take responsibility for what is happening. I have to take responsibility for what has happen and is happening in my city. God has called me to be the light and salt of the earth. Therefore if I am salt, I need to have qualities that preserve my faith despite the pulls of the world around me. I am also charge to bring a different flavor, different from the world. If I am light, I have to shine even brighter in this dark world. I do believe that the church is called to do this and it’s pivotal in becoming an agent of change. Linthicum writes “If the church does not deal with the systems and structures of evil in the city, then it will not effectively transform the lives of the city’s individuals”

What would Jesus do? Yes, I know that this might be cliche, but its something that we should ask ourselves. Would he be leading a march? Would he be disrupting traffic? Would he be in Facebook, Twitter or Instagram bashing police officers, officials and those who have taken the side of the cops? Would he see this a purely political struggle?

I don’t have all the answers. All I know is that Jesus, in Luke 19:41, wept over the city of Jerusalem because it chose to reject him. The city chose to reject his redemptive gift and this rejection is corporate. Does this not echo our city? Whether in New York, Ferguson or Detroit, our cities have for the most part refused to accept Jesus and have turn to other gods and thus cities are guilty of idolatry. Regardless, God’s love and patience for the city is boundless. He longs to see every city as a city that fulfills it’s purpose, to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

As Christians, we should then filter our actions through the Bible. As Linthicum writes,“God’s people were called to be an intentionally godly presence in the city; they were to be a sanctifying force which would bless the city with their living personification of God.” I am not here to say whether going out to peacefully protest is right or not. I am here to plead with you on our responses to these situation. As believers we should not wish no one harm to make them understand that law enforcement is needed. As believers we should not slam someone else’s character because of a decision they made that cause someone’s life. I am not saying that we should ignore it, but we should not justify our words or hate based on how we feel. We should not be control by feelings since we know that feelings can and do deceive us. If we, as believers, cannot come to the table and speak without having our feelings get the best of us then I have to question our maturity in Christ.

These are the times in which the church, the body of Christ can raise up and pray, comfort, love and have compassion for ALL who are hurting. These includes the victims and their families as well as the accused and their families. If we want to see change let’s start with recommitting our lives to Christ, to lifting his name in our cities, to live out his redemptive power in our lives and to share it with those in our city. If we want to see change then we need to have a unify church, we need to work, pray, praise and love our city as one church. If we want to see change we need to leave our tendencies of idolatry and proclaim Jesus our our LORD and savior. It we want to see change it has to start with me, with you, as individuals and soon the system will change. If want to see change go out and vote, know the law and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom. Lastly, if we want to see a change we need to live, speak and give love.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, It is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. I always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”