I've resisted commenting. I've fought the feeling of posting out of posting. Today, I'm writing where outrage, freedom, and being a Christian have collided. I'm typically a positive, optimist, thrill seeker. Today, I struggle and am in pain.
Let's start with being a Christian. Like so many others, when the murder of George Floyd happened, I was disappointed, saddened, even angry. Did I say anything? No. Not because I didn't care. It's because I didn't have anything new to add. Protests began, looting and violence started. Partisan politics ramped up. Then, yesterday evening, in a 7-minute video, President Trump walked from the White House to St. John's Episcopal Church--200 year old church which was vandalized and looted in previous nights. Prior to this 7-minute walk, to disburse the crowd for this visit, police used tear gas, rubber bullets to clear the way of a peaceful protests. Literally, priests, pastors, and peaceful protesters were fired upon--to clear the way. Then what happened? President Trump walked up, held a Bible for two photo-ops. As a Christian, this is where I've decided: enough is enough. I admit to you, I'm angry because I'm nostalgic. I spent 3+ years making trips to Washington D.C. and nearly every trip, I stayed 4 blocks away from this church. I was (and am) in awe-of this piece of our nation's history as as Christian, leader, and citizen. The idea that this church was vandalized combined with being used as a photo-op sent me over the edge. Would I feel different if I felt like President Trump actually read the Bible or attended a church service regularly? Maybe. President George W Bush, it has been reported, attended St. John's church nearly every Sunday. I wonder what he thinks about the photo-op? I'm sure he's even more nostalgic of the church than I. However, this act feels cheap. It feels cold. It feels only for political purposes. Outrage. We all should be outraged at what happened to George Floyd. His death is murder. His death shows the biases that still exist in our world. His death showcase the privilege that I have--where I can joke that when I'm going 77 miles per hour on highway 63 to Jefferson City: if most others are going close to the same speed, is a police officer really going to choose to pull over a white dude in a Prius? This, my friends, is privilege. I can joke about it, but I guess it may be to cover the outrage of the situation. I'm outraged that our systems of government cannot pivot to create better accountability systems for the abuses that take place in our justice system. I'm outraged our systems protect the institution instead of promoting transparency, openness, and truth. I'm outraged that a friend of mine couldn't go out for a run at 5:30AM today because curfew ended at 6AM and he is black and was worried. Would I have been worried? Or even given it a second thought? We all should be outraged at these things. I'm outraged for my friends who are law enforcement officers who are Christ-followers, amazing husbands and wives who protect us, are the first to arrive in an emergency to help, or to be a mediator in a time of crisis. We should be outraged. Freedom. Here's where partisanship way too often has come into play. We've all seen it on our social media feeds. It goes like this:
You may be thinking: Craig, get to the point. Here it is: As citizens and for those of us who are Christians---we should use our freedom to exercise our outrage in what's happening to our society. We're being pulled apart at the seams by a President who tear gassed pastors for a photo op and by people taking advantage of protests to cause violence. Policymakers are being pulled in a cultural tug-of-war instead of working to create lasting change that improves our society. It's time to create a plan for solutions to bloom. Christians can love freedom, be outraged, and create change. I believe it. Do you? What can or should we do as Christians? We can pray. We can open our Bibles and read the hope that is seen in the Gospels and in the Early Church. We can use our voice to show solidarity with the injustices of humanity's wrongs. We can be in dialogue with someone who disagrees with us--seeking to understand their perspective and not to just convince them they are wrong. We can use our resources to help those in need. We can be okay with being and doing the uncomfortable things. I submit to you that if Christians do these three things as in Micah 6:8, we can and will create change in our society. We can seek justice. We can love mercy. We can humbly walk with God. Or, if we want a New Testament lesson: One of the beautiful themes of the Apostle Paul's letters to Christians at Corinth, Rome, Galatia, Philippi, and others is one of unity. The collision of outrage, freedom, and Christianity has caused disunity among us. It's time we act, become unified again to refocus on teachings in Scripture, not partisan politics. I'm going to spend the next few days thinking of how I can love my neighbor better, seek justice for the injustices, maintain my humility to God while being a voice for and acting on a call of unity. Will you join me?
4 Comments
Scott
6/2/2020 08:20:43 am
The Park Police are reporting that the protesters were attacking police and that was the reason for the dispersion, not a photo-op. Personally, not sure we can trust any media resource or the media relations portion of our law enforcement. Everyone seems to be driven by an agenda. But to proclaim that we know one thing when it is being legitimately contradicted by other reliable sources is short of intellectual discourse.
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Craig Stevenson
6/2/2020 08:46:30 am
Scott, Thank you for the comment. I was told a short time ago that the Park Police had reported that. I agree with you in that we need to look for possible agendas behind all legitimate reports--including the ones I used. Blessings to you!
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Rev Carolyn S Belshe
6/3/2020 02:22:23 pm
Thanks be to God for Mercy we plead as our Brother Craig pleads in this homily.
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Bryan H
6/5/2020 06:21:09 pm
Craig,
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AuthorHallsville resident. Foster Parent. School board member. Politico. Jesus Follower. Cardinals Fan #MizzouMade Archives
June 2020
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