Those of you who read my last post, know that it was a deeply painful one for me. However, I have been doing a great deal of processing, and here is what I came up with.
I had a long talk with a dear Professor friend of mine, this past week. He is a professor of Criminal Justice, and deeply desires policing to be done with justice (the biblical kind) in our neighborhoods. He challenged me to remember that our call to reconciliation isn't just to white and black, but also to situations of community and police. This is not a message I wanted to talk about.
How difficult it is to share the love of Jesus to those who abuse power in our neighborhoods. I want to grow bitter to hate, but assuming that all police are corrupt and racist, is the same as hating my brother because of his skin color. Some police are good, some are bad, some only are functioning out of a world-view in which they only see the painful side of our neighborhood. It's easy to be angry at the injustice the police create in our neighborhood, but it is also easy to begin to hate, to judge categorically. Isn't that what we are fighting against. Doesn't Jesus calls to love our enemies?
Is anyone having success in this area? Anyone know where to begin?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
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6 comments:
It did my heart good to read this post. I have some concerns and really would like to talk with you guys not via comments. Can't wait to see you guys.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
I can relate to your post in theory if not in specifics. :)
I've had hard time loving my mom's fiance. I just don't like him. I don't know where to begin... especially now that they're splitting up....
*sigh*
cwillz...
ain't it funny how it seems so trite to throw scripture at an question, but truly there are no better words for it?
noel, my biggest personal issue that i need to confront daily around this topic is remembering that i am no more loved by God that those cops or the KKK guys that just shot that woman in Louisiana, or ___________ (fill in the blank). i am just as broken, my righteousness is like filthy rags...i am also a mess. only one thing is different. i am compelled to love those people who anger me. commanded even, as cwillz pointed out.
i do try to remember regularly that i am the same as them. otherwise i am easily given over to pride and an idea that i have made myself better.
Dad used to say "but for the grace of God, there go I". This checks me up when I start sliding down the slippery slope of righteous anger toward unrighteous bitterness and judgement. Currently someone I love very much is in a emotionally abusive situation. The perpetrator is someone who was thought to be a trusted friend and fellow Christ-follower. Confrontation hasn't brought change or repentance from the perpetrator, only arrogance. The only recourse I have for my anger is prayer. Confession for my frusteration and rage and prayer for the abuser.
It's not easy but it brings the Holy Spirit's light into a dark place.
Pray for the police in your neighborhood. Be a peacemaker by intercession. A positive relationship between you and the police in your community may give you opportunity to build bridges between those in authority and those they mis-understand.
My thought on this: find some specific people (in this case, police officers) you can know by name.
Starting with their name, and learning some positive things about them...and reminding yourself about that in the person, can help you when negative thoughts come up about that person (assuming they haven't commiteed something truly "bad").
It helps you to forgive when you don't let the heat of the moment/emotion, and instead pull up the bigger picture of the person.
It's helped me in dealing with a previous co-worker...who might have done some questionable things, but helped me to not be overly negative.
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