In Light of Current Events
As a disclaimer… you’ll often hear things from me that fall in one of three categories, as it relates to what I make public… professional, personal, and pensive. And so the following falls in the category of pensive — just thinking and processing out loud, and mainly thinking about those in our faith family. But hopefully it will be helpful for others to think through as well.
I’m praying for our communities and everyone that is being affected by everything that is going on. My heart goes out to the families, both recent and past, who have suffered losses. And my heart grieves for the officers and families that have recently suffered at the hands of people that have acted, not in the name of justice, but further hatred and division. It’s a hard place that I find myself in… being a black pastor that is a part of a truly multi-ethnic and multi-cultural faith family. It’s soil that is fertile for offense, criticism, and lack of understanding to name a few. The past few days have been extremely hard to deal with, as I’m trying to process things myself, and at the same time, speak peace, hope, and encouragement to many in my faith family, and then help others understand and feel they have a safe place to dialogue without having to be defensive. But I am hopeful. Because although there are moments where many will likely be offended, there’s also an opportunity — to speak truth with love, and for the church to be the church that the world needs to see, and yet doesn’t believe exists.
Our nation is absolutely hurting. And we need Jesus. I’m truly thankful for my brothers and sisters who are not the minority, but have sought to understand and just be with those of us who grieve. And for those that may be struggling with this, just know that the worse thing someone can do in moments like these is invalidate the feelings of your brothers and sisters around you. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t other issues that matter, or facts that may be present… but now is just not the time to go there. As a friend of mine mentioned, as one of many illustrations… “It’s like a wife that has communicated to her spouse that she doesn’t feel she gets enough hugs.” And in response, the spouse says, “That’s ridiculous. I hug you everyday. You’re just be being overly sensitive and emotional.” EVEN IF, the hugs come every day, is it really appropriate to respond in this manner, invalidating the feelings of one you claim to care about? Or as a good husband would do… you seek to understand where she’s coming from, what’s making her feel the way she does, and why she feels this way. And maybe you don’t necessarily agree in the end, but you’ve been able to move forward because you sought to step outside of your own reality and seek understanding with love, consideration, and respect for the one you say you care about and love. Or as many others have stated, it's like going to a funeral where someone's son, father, brother, etc. has died, and your only comment, or even first comment, as you stand to give remarks is, "They shouldn't have done 'xyz’” or “You know, you really need to address how blacks are killing each other far more than how he died." It's so insensitive, thoughtless, and hurtful. And again, it doesn’t dismiss or neglect there are many issues that may need to be addressed... but while the body is in the open casket, and before someone has even been laid in the ground to rest, this is not the time.
Side Note: This is also not the time to get super spiritual on us because we are believers. People have not taken Jesus out of the equation... Believe me, if I had, you would get a completely different reaction. But even Jesus, when he came to the place where his friend, Lazarus, had died, and knowing that he would bring life to a dead situation, he STILL wept with those that wept. And they said, "See how He loved him.” So I’m not saying to leave this out, because it’s absolutely needed… but often, when I go on hospital visits or visit grieving families, before I ever go to give them a word, it’s comforting to just sit, listen, and be “with" people as they grieve.
It's hard to effectively articulate the fact that when we see these things happen... It's so much more than an individual issue for many of us. It's pouring salt into an open wound that has never been given a chance to heal from the days of our ancestors. It has always been... "You just need to get over it and move on." In many ways, so many of us have learned to "cope" with it and keep moving. But learning to cope with something, and survive, does not equate to healing. And when I look into eyes of the many black men that have fallen, I don't just see men that I have no connection with... But I see myself. I see how that could easily have been me. Or could be me tomorrow, or the day after. And it scares me, not for me, but for those that I love, support, and am supposed to protect. Being a black male born and raised in New Orleans, LA (and LA being a state where the issues are so systemic I can't even get into all of that here) brings a unique perspective as well. But that's for another time. I do want to acknowledge and say "thank you" to the many officers who put their lives on the line everyday, and have truly worked in the name of justice. I know many… consider many of you friends… and I’m thankful for you.
I also want say how truly thankful I am for those that use their voice for life and encouragement, but also to speak truth. I know there are those who have struggled for the words to say… and I’ve been there myself. But just know that your silence can speak as loud as your words, and often louder than words. This is one of the things that many people with whom I interact, struggle with consistently, especially in the body of Christ — the silence from those that claim to love them.
It wasn't long ago that I mentioned compassion in a sermon, and the fact that compassion, at its core, entails two things: 1. that someone makes a moral judgement about a situation, and 2. that it then moves and motivates you to do something about that situation. If you are not moved to do anything, it does not mean you are a horrible person, but I would not call it compassion, but rather just moral reflection. There is a component of compassion where someone is actually moved to do something -- whether it be using your voice, having a conversation, voting, getting involved, etc.
And this is true for those of us in minority groups as well. There are many posts, tweets, blogs, etc that will go out this week (which are great to help bring awareness and understanding), but please don't let your passion be limited to a Facebook post that will be forgotten just weeks from now. But there are opportunities to vote, mentor, tutor, invest, volunteer, and support our communities. Many are already doing this. Don't stop or grow weary. It does make a difference.
For my brothers and sisters of color... I have cried, I have prayed, I have asked the Lord for a word of love, encouragement, hope, peace, and redemption. I have spoken to so many in the last 48 hours just looking to find peace, looking to find some hope, and feeling as though we are helpless. I am wrestling through many emotions myself. But I want to encourage you, for those of us that are within the body of Christ, that we have to help bridge the gap for many... not by “being calm” or "staying silent”, because we absolutely need to speak, but by giving our other brothers and sisters a safe place to ask questions and seek understanding for those that sincerely want to do so. I have sat across from more than one of my white brothers who have been in tears seeking to understand… being honest about the the fact that they don’t, but when they see the hurt in me, it can’t help but make them want to seek understanding. This is an opportunity! And in those moments, I have to make a conscious decision to speak truth, but do so in love... to give grace, and be willing to let go of some of the offenses I so desperately want to cling to, for the sake of the cross.
But please believe, and be encouraged, that God has not forgotten, and neither has He forsaken. He didn't promise we wouldn't go through trials, but that he would always be with us, even in the midst. Don't be discouraged when the world acts like the world. And neither get discouraged when brothers and sisters in the body of Chirst bring disappointment through words of ignorance or insensitivity. We don't put our hope in people. But there's only one that we can look to in these moments. And this is why the Gospel is necessary.
We have a missions team that will be in Jackson, MS next week, working with Dr. John Perkins, a man who watched his brother die unjustly at the hands of policemen… and who was, himself, imprisoned and beaten. And his words, as stated in our Sr. Pastor’s blog, are those of a man who has continued to keep his eyes on Jesus… "Feel the pain. Be angry. But bring it to Jesus, and let Him make it redemptive. If your eyes move away from Jesus, you won’t see straight. You never beat hate with hate, you beat it looking at the One who took it with whips and thorns and beatings.” It's only when we look to Jesus and realize that he came to save and redeem the very ones that would beat him, mock him, and hang him on a cross, can we even begin to get to a place where we can move forward in the midst of all this insanity.