What is the Church Doing?

It’s been almost 3 months since George Floyd was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since then, we have seen racial unrest like we hadn’t seen since the time of the Civil Rights Movement in the 50s and 60s. 

I haven’t spoken much on the subject in several weeks, because the emotional exhaustion over it, was affecting my mental and physical health, and I needed time to breathe. Please bear with me as I share today.

Because there are facts that remain. I am still black. It is still happening. I am still hurt and affected by the hate continuing to be perpetuated throughout this country. And no matter what your shade of skin. . . you should be too. 

Though many have decided to pretend it’s not happening (I totally get it. It sucks, and I wish I could pretend it didn’t exist), there are still protests, still people being killed because their looks are “unsavory,” and still pain brought on by movement of the enemy. His purpose remains to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

Last week, I listened to Jennie Allen sit down with Kirk and Tammy Franklin as they so eloquently spoke on the struggles Black Christ-followers face during this time of unrest.

The silence of the church.

Now, there are churches who jumped on the issue, speaking out and meeting the needs of their members of color, but overall, the loudest voices of support have not been from the ones Jesus called to be such. Kirk Franklin expressed his feelings about it when he said, “Silence in the church feels like betrayal.” 

Ouch.

Have you ever been betrayed? If so, you know you would almost rather wish for death, than feel that kind of pain. 

How do you think Jesus responded when someone told Him they were hurting? Do you think He told them how they brought on their own pain? Told them they were being overly sensitive? Stop talking about it?

No. I don’t think so.

He found the source of their pain and healed them. 

For those of us who do not have the insight of Jesus, and are still struggling to understand why people feel the way they do, it’s okay to ask. Say to your brother or sister, “I don’t understand. Please help me understand.” What a beautiful step toward reconciliation when it comes to ANY type of human struggle.

So many of us are critical of different groups fighting for justice, and I get it. They don’t always do it right. But you know who has the perfect guidelines for peacemaking and fighting for justice? 

Christ-followers! The church should be leading the way.  

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” -‭‭Micah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭

“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” -‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭7:9‬ ‭

So, instead of sitting back and judging all those doing it wrong, how about we stand up and do it right. Do what we’ve been called to do. We are the church, and it is our responsibility to fight for justice. Each one of us should use the gifts we’ve been given to do it in the way God has equipped us, and do it in love.

“And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke‬ ‭18:6-8‬ 

Today I urge you to reflect on your calling as a follower of Christ. Being in relationship with Christ as well as with others is like marriage.  Each should be working for the betterment of the other.  

Does your relationship look like that?