Friday afternoon, I stared at my phone in disbelief as I read the verdict for the Philando Castile trial. The whole world literally watched in live time through social media, as he was shot dead, for no reason then for the fact that his appearance left the officer frightened for his life. A rush of emotions filled my heart from pain and heartbreak, to anger and wrath, then back to more uncertainty and confusion. I asked myself,” Why does this man’s life matter so little that accurate justice is not awarded?”
Fast-forward two days and I am sitting in a pew seat accompanying my children at the Texas Boy’s Ranch to the Church that was selected for them to attend. A church that was way out of my comfort zone not to mention how much more of a culture shock it would be for these little brown and black children who had been ripped from their immediate families and know very little more than heartbreak and poverty.
I sit rocking one of my precious little girls, as I’m listening to the sermon. Throughout the sermon the pastor time and time again puts the church on a pedestal and talks about how they are in first place and how they should be living lives that match up with this ideology. Although I somewhat understood where he was coming from in how God sees the church as his chosen people, I couldn’t help but question how this message was going to be perceived by this congregation. A congregation that was without a doubt a majority white, straight, and which seemed to be from a high economic status. It made me question how if they see themselves in such high regard then how might they see someone who doesn’t look like them, or come from the same cultural and economic background as them. Is there life not as precious to Jesus as theirs? Did Jesus not die for all lives just the same? I look back on the life of Jesus and how he interacted with so many people from different economic statuses and cultural backgrounds. He shared eternal life with both the Jewish disciples and the Samaritans alike. He shared compassion and love to the rich young man along with the poor and disabled. Not only did he verbally say these things but in action he helped meet the needs of the hungry and deprived. He heard their voices and listened to the cries of their hearts.
In times of turmoil and chaos that seem even more prevalent because of the presence of social media. I question where the church, the supposed “hands and feet of Jesus” are whenever so many are screaming for their pain to be heard and for their needs of equality to be met. It’s like the American church is too high on its pedestal to look down and see the cries of those who are equally as loved by the creator as them.
The God I know and love is compassionate and loving. He demands justice and righteousness. And he believes in the worth of EVERY person. I reckon he would want his people to share these same qualities.To fight for justice in this world. To be compassionate to every souls’ circumstances. And to love with the same fervent love that he bestows upon each of us. Today I challenge you. Yes you, and ask if you’re fighting for the lives that are valued to Jesus? Are compassionately caring about others’ circumstances that you might not understand? And if you’re loving limitlessly every soul, from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
