My daughter was broken, sad. Could not understand why some one could be murdered in cold blood and why some one else would want to kill her grandfather, uncle and aunt because of their profession. And this isn't where I tell you that I said I don't know baby and was just sad with her. I had the hard conversation with her about racism. I had the hard conversation about sin, and its repercussions. I explained times when I myself had experienced racism and some one had judged me solely by the way I look.
I explained the difference between protesters, their right to do so and why that's absolutely good and a right we should protect, and rioters and looters taking and detracting from the good and the change trying to be enacted in this moment. I explained how some officers have valor and honor and some officers need to be censured and reproved, held accountable for their actions and what that looks like. We talked about all of the good men and women behind the badge and why they should be protected. We showed her the image of the officer that was separated from his unit being protected by protesters.
We have a unique position because not only is our very multicultural family believers in Christ but we are police officers and we are lawyers in the justice system. It was easy for us to relate to her what this all looks like in real time and how holding an adult accountable for their actions works.
After a long amount of time talking she said she was still bothered. I sat with her and told her that I was too. I still am.
The part of this conversation I kept to myself was that if my child were in a situation, either unjustly or of their own making where their last moments were crying out for help, for me... and I could not help them I would break beyond measure. I cannot imagine all of the mothers that have laid their babies to rest in that manner. I mourn with you. I shed tears for you and your babies. (Matthew 2:18) I cannot imagine How George Floyds mother felt knowing he called out for her. In the same years ago my father, a police officer responding to a robery sat beside a girl who was shot asking for her mother as she lay dying. The description of this scene has haunted me for years. I still mourn for her family.
Mothers. This is where I call you to arms, in this moment this is where we are the boots on the ground. This is where we start the process of change and the correction of generational sin. Teaching my children how generational sin effects all of us, from addiction to racism to hate and lawlessness. It all has to do with the greater problem of evil.
This is where I may lose some of you. That's ok.
All of these things exist because of our sinful nature as a people. As humans we fail and are broken. We are fallible and have to propensity to be evil when left to our own devices. Racism is evil. Hatred is evil. As believers in Christ we are to rebuke those things and stand arm in arm with our brothers and sisters in Christ for a sin against them is a sin against an image bearer of God. We are all created in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27) we have to acknowledge to one brother or sister in Christ the disparity in their human condition. This doesn't mean that we take the law into our own hands, God has placed all of our government, leaders and structures in their place to work together for his glory. We cannot justify wickedness and condemn the righteous in one blanketed statement (Proverbs 17:15.) We must speak out, righteously and justly when we see that there is a disparity (Proverbs 31:8-9.) We as believers, as mothers, who are gifted with birthing the image bearers in the next generation are implored to teach them to do good, seek justice and correct oppression when it exists (Isaiah 1:17.)
When some one says black lives matter to its genuine purpose what they mean is black lives matter too, and to a Christian that should mean an image bearer of God matters. Period. Because humans reflect the image of God and to take a human life viciously and purposefully is a tragedy and an assault on our entire purpose here, to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28.)
One day we will be called home, guess what? Heaven isn't going to be monotone. In our anthropology we must be comprehensive, we aren't going to heaven to be grey we are going to be of all nations and of all colors and of all tongues united as one. As God intended for us from the beginning. (Revelation 5:8, Matthew 28:19 again in Revelation 7 & Acts 8.)
We cannot purposefully corner off parts of the human experience or condition, hide away in ivory towers or run rampant in the streets. We are called to something beyond all of this. We cannot have a subjective experience with an identity in the world that separates us from our Christian brethren, but we have to now, choose to meet people where they are, finding unity in Christ. If your identity is in anything but Jesus you have built your foundation on sand and it will surely fail. Let me explain...
If you define yourself in anything of this world, politics, color, ethnicity, wealth, career, children, your waistline or accomplishments, the list can go on but I am telling you, you have made an idol of it and you will see ruin come from it. (Leviticus 19:4, Psalm 16:4, Galatians 4:8, 1 Corinthians 10:14, 1John 5:21)
This is where I ask you the hard questions. Are you part of the problem? Are you hiding a prideful nature?(Pride can look like your ways are the only ways and you have all the answers) Are you quick to anger?(This can look like listening to respond not listening to hear) Do you truly believe the gospel?(are we truly living out the great comission?) And the hardest question of all... those of us that believe we are pro life are you truly going to hold that value to all lives?(Do you care for people beyond the innocence of birth?) Will you speak out for these injustices? Will you join me in teaching our next generation to break this chain of bondage?
Now, this isn't where I tell you that I am like this and to be like me. Don't. Be like Christ. Be above reproach. Call out sin when you see it and reprove your brother or sister in Christ with love and honesty. Darkness cannot exist where there is light. You can reprove sin in another and acknowledge that injustice with out seeking vengeance and we can do this with out being offended. This is where we draw on our humility. Pray this prayer with me.
"Heavenly Father be with us in these dark times, seek those who mourn and comfort them, bring us peace in this time of unrest. If we should be callous, if we should be distant, if we should be heinous correct us in our wayward thinking. Shine your light onto our darkness and expose our sin that we may confess and walk with you in the light. Remove the hurt and hatred, anger and vengeance from our hearts and minds. May you empty us of the world and let your heavenly ways flow through us and produce the fruit we should righteously bear - Amen-"
I can close this with saying, I love all of you, in the things that make us diverse and the things that God has made us beautifully unique in. I celebrate you. I see you.
Here are some resources beyond the scripture I have provided you.
Oneness A sermon by Tony Evans
Racial Reconciliation a sermon by Pastor Mike Todd
Become the Bridge with Pastors Steven Furtick and John Gray
Scripture discussion, prayer inspiration and further talking points can be found on IGTV with @jeremy_vuolo and @paulpitts3
