There’s a lot of pain and anger and hurt in the world right now.
Ferguson police killing an unarmed teen and the resulting chaos. Robin Williams’ depression and suicide. Religious genocide and beheadings—beheadings!—in Iraq. Continuing war in Gaza. Civil war in Syria and millions of displaced refugees. Abducted and forgotten girls in Nigeria. And so many, many more that I’m forgetting or don’t even know about.
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.
How long must we sing this song? How long, Oh Lord?
So Now What?
The question we must ask, as Christians, as church leaders, in the face of all this suffering, is what do we do? How do we communicate the hope and love and grace and mercy and forgiveness and peace the world so desperately needs?
People are hurting this week (like every week). How is your church helping?
The very foundation of our faith, the reason we gather as believers, is that we have hope in the midst of despair. The world is in the midst of despair right now. (The world is always in the midst of despair.) The world, your neighbors, your Facebook friends need to see and hear a message of incredible hope.
They need to see our hearts breaking when their hearts break.
They need to hear our cries for justice when they cry for justice.
They need to feel our love when they feel so unloved.
These are things we must communicate. Again and again. How else will the people hear?
And we need to do so in more than words, but in action. How else will the people believe?
The Church in Action
What gives me great, great hope this day, is that the church is already at work.
In Ferguson…
A Washington Post reporter was arrested and in the midst of his account is this little nugget:
Eventually a police car arrived. A woman — with a collar identifying her as a member of the clergy — sat in the back. Ryan and I crammed in next to her, and we took the three-minute ride to the Ferguson Police Department. The woman sang hymns throughout the ride.
We are also seeing pastors showing that black and white can come together and be unified:
1 of the reasons I lead a multiethnic church (@TC_Transformers) is to show the world Jesus can bring different people together 4 His glory!
— Derwin L. Gray (@DerwinLGray) August 14, 2014
And there are calls to let us grieve together.
In Iraq…
Just two miles from an ISIS battle ground a Christian is spreading a message of forgiveness.
In the aftermath of Robin Williams’ death…
We are breaking the silence on mental illness. Church leaders are urging sensitivity—suicide and depression are difficult issues, much more than a sermon illustration. And we’re hearing stories about the work churches have been doing in their communities.
In Gaza…
A church opened its doors to Muslims fleeing from the fighting and seeking refuge.
Benediction
So let’s pray…
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
…and get to work responding to the many needs.
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Eric Dye
August 15, 2014
This time in history affords the Church the opportunity to step up and shine. #dowork
Kevin D. Hendricks
August 15, 2014
Here’s a great post talking about how the church can respond to Ferguson:
“This is not a black problem it is an American problem and it will take all of us working together to solve it.”
“I asked Rev. Lee what the church should do and he offered some very practical steps, including becoming advocates for police training, holding police departments legally accountable for deaths, and connecting with the efforts at a community level.”
Annette Carr
August 15, 2014
As a former member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal in Ferguson, I feel qualified to say that nothing about this current climate is the norm in this community. I have never witnessed anything but a wonderfully diverse city that has a great quality of life for the majority of citizens of all races and descriptions.
Nothing about that excuses the death of Michael Brown, nor the climate of underlying issues that seem to make the lives of young black men everywhere extremely vulnerable to this type of incident. The local clergy coalition is working hard to give voice opportunities to the young people of our region, that their fears and the reality of what they experience might be heard and lead to better understanding and improved relationships.
Please lift all of our community to God for wisdom, peace and healing. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Kevin D. Hendricks
August 15, 2014
Amen, Annette. Thank you.
Here’s another great story of a pastor working to calm the justifiable anger in Ferguson.