The following words were written by Mark Labberton, President of my Alma Mater’s, Fuller Theological Seminary. They are strong words. They are words that everyone needs to hear, especially white, evangelical Christians. I share them as a stand alone comment. They do not need my commentary. I will then share some of my own thoughts in response to one more tragic event of violence that has confronted our nation. First, Mr. Labberton.
"Ahmaud Arbery. He was “fearfully and wonderfully make…knit together in his mother’s womb” (Psalm 139). And now—just like that—killed. Not just gone. Not just dead. Killed.
“This murder is a revelation of what brutally and insidiously lives in America, freshly stoked in recent years: life-destroying white-hatred of Blacks. This vile toxicity is continuously present among us. This case can be known with impunity for over two months and only because of technology—and the videographer—does the story become public. Whether the arrests will lead to justice is far from certain.
“White Christians: if again and again we tolerate, suppress, or fail to speak and act against such injustice, any “good news” in us will rightly and surely announce itself as merely self-serving religious illusion. Lord, have mercy.”
Over the past number of years we have been subjected to numerous acts of highly publicized violence within our society. Some of these have been large in scale while others have been the taking of the life of one individual. Some of these acts are race related. Others are police involved. Some stem from drugs and gangs. Other are motivated by religious bigotry. Still others are acts against those of a different sexual orientation. All of them involve someone(s) determining that the other at best is a threat or at worst is evil thus justifying a decision to act violently. Sometimes that decision is spontaneous. Sometimes strategic. Regardless, a weapon has been brought to the scene and a life (lives) has been taken.
I have written, preached, and prayed on such events over the years. Columbine, 9/11, New Town, Orlando, Riverside, and tragically the list goes on. It spans around our nation and around the world. At least 6 of the 7 continents share these stories. These horrific acts are often designed to instill terror or execute some form of justice or retribution.
To be honest, my emotions feel numb. Anytime I hear myself saying, “here we go again,” I am aware of the overload. Anytime I begin to believe I know the scenario that led to the action and who it was that is probably guilty, I know I am becoming numb to the tragedy.
And how does someone respond when the storyline is repeated once again? Most often I feel absolutely helpless. Sometimes I feel my prayers have no power. If I could determine to whom I might write a letter, I believe it would do no good. If I got off my butt and went to the scene of the tragedy, I would have no moral standing to help and might be seen as an encumbrance or a threat. So, I say my prayers and hope that those on the front line are good people who will find the answers and make just decisions.
That having been said, over these years I have learned a few things I want to share. First, as I listen to the news recount the incidents and as I listen to the prognosticators jump the gun in an attempt to “break the news” of who is to blame, I am reminded of how little I actually know. I was not there. I do not have all the data. I have not seen surveillance videos that will ultimately come to light. I do not know the history of the individuals involved. I do not know the adrenaline coursing through the veins as a situation unfolds. This is not an episode of CSI or FBI or…which takes us from event to resolution in less than an hour. Gathering the facts takes time. As a result, I tend to be slow to jump into the discussion, the making of judgments, and when I remember to pray I pray for those who must take those painstaking steps.
Second. I know that when a life is taken (regardless of the circumstances) there will be those who grieve. It may be a mother or a father, husband or wife or children, siblings, friends, a community. The pain of loss because of a violent act tears at the soul at individuals, families, community and at times the nation. Kubler-Ross and subsequent studies on grief are played out in the reactions to these tragedies. Disbelief, bargaining, anger, depression must be worked through before the establishment of a new normal. Under the best of circumstances this is not an easy road. Under circumstances of violence it is extremely difficult. Getting back to “the way it was” is an impossibility.
Third, as I reflect on these events I see two things that stand out for me: Hatred and power.
Hatred. Mark Labberton’s phrase, “life-destroying white-hatred of Blacks,” leapt out at me. It may well be an underlying motivation in the death of Mr. Arbery. It certainly seems to be an undercurrent in other tragedies as well. It certainly is an issue that has not been fully addressed by our nation and it seems to be an issue left unattended by the president. But hatred is larger and more broad than this singular issue. Life-destroying hatred of Muslims or Jews or Christians must certainly be included. Life-destroying hatred of gays or abortionists fit in as well. You may want to reflect upon life-destroying hatreds that you have witnessed.
The core is the word hatred. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said:
Matthew 5:21-22 (NRSV) 21 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.
Jesus affirms the ancient command against murder. But, he expands the command to include the motivation, prejudice, ignorance, judgmentalism behind such behavior. A brief word study of the key words angry, insult, and fool reveal the heart. The Complete Word Study Dictionary provides some helpful insights behind our English translation. (The “G” plus number is a reference to Young’s Analytic Concordance.)
Anger ὀργίζω [See Stg: <G3710>]
orgízō; fut. orgísō, from orgé <G3709>, wrath. To make angry, provoke. In the NT, only in the mid. / pass. orgízomai, aor. orgísthēn, to be or become angry, provoked (Matt. 18:34; 22:7; Luke 14:21; 15:28; Eph. 4:26; Rev. 11:18).
Insult ῥακά [See Stg: <G4469>]
rhaká; indeclinable adj. transliterated from the Aramaic rēqāʾ (not found in OT). A word of contempt meaning empty, worthless, foolish.
Fool μωρός [See Stg: <G3474>]
mōrós; fem. mōrá, neut. mōrón, adj. Silly, stupid, foolish, from which the Eng. word "moron" is derived. Used of persons meaning morally worthless (Matt. 5:22). It is a more serious reproach than raká <G4469>, raca, which scorns a man by calling him stupid, whereas mōrós scorns him concerning his heart and character. Used of things (2 Tim. 2:23 "foolish and ignorant questionings" [a.t.]; Titus 3:9). In Matt. 5:13 and Luke 14:34, it refers to salt that has lost its flavor, become tasteless (mōraínō <G3471>).
What Jesus is saying is that murder begins much sooner than in the violent act. The act is rooted in the attitude toward another that precedes it.
This leads to the other word I have been thinking about: power.
Anytime someone makes a bomb, garnishes a knife, carries a gun, they are making a choice about power. It maybe they have determined that the person best able to take care of and defend them self is them self. They may also have decided that the person best suited to implement justice is “me.” They may believe that their cause is so just that their God will reward them for determining to blow up or massacre the enemy. Whatever the rational, they have determined that it is within their right to implement power…ultimate power this side of eternity.
This is even true when it relates to our police officers and military. They have been given the right to use their weapons to protect and defend the citizens of this country. We the people have given them the right to make God Almighty decisions on our behalf. If you talk to most who carry weapons you will find they understand that awesome responsibility. We who have given them that right need to make sure it is used in justified ways.
Hatred and power mixed is lethal. Power is the implementation tool for hatred. It places the individual or society on the throne of a sovereign God determining the length of an individual’s days. what drives a person or a society to act violently. We need to remember the words of Jesus in response to this lethal mixture in the verses above that “…you will be liable to the hell of fire.”
So, what should our response be? Certainly within a democratic society we need to work for truth (discovering the facts) and justice (response to the facts that have been discovered). As Christians we need to listen to and heed the words of Jesus:
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 (NRSV)
Interestingly, In the past couple of years it is individuals from the black Christian community that I have heard utter these words. We need to listen and follow the brothers and sisters of our faith.
Thank you, Paul!