The Church, Pentecost, and Ferguson, Missouri

I have been watching the news and paying close attention to news reports and social media chatter since the announcement of the decision not to prosecute the officer involved in the shooting of Michael Brown sparked violent protests in Ferguson, Missouri and elsewhere.

Although there is much that is cloudy and chaotic in trying to interpret these kinds of violent tragedies, one thing seems fairly clear. As Robert Jones points out in an article in The Atlantic, the responses to the events in Ferguson fall across lines of race http://m.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/08/self-segregation-why-its-hard-for-whites-to-understand-ferguson/378928/

I was praying early this morning about what my response, as a white evangelical Christian leader should be. My sense from the Spirit was that what is needed most - at least in the immediate - from most white Christians is not so much our mouth as our ears.

The segregation of the church in America has always been a source of sadness for me - and I am sure even more so for Jesus. I understand the history and the reasons why we are divided, but I am still a prisoner of hope that even this side of the eternal kingdom the Body of Christ can find ways of reflecting the unity in diversity that ought to be a primary mark of the Church and a witness to the new creation.

What I love about the Pentecost narrative in Acts 2 is that the multiple languages present in Jerusalem on that day were not eradicated but, by the power of the Spirit, the diverse people present that day understood each other and were baptized into one new and holy nation.

As I often like to point out to people, the real miracle of Pentecost is not that people spoke differently but that people heard differently. Peter preached a sermon and each heard it in their own language. The hope of Pentecost is that God's new creation people would hear and understand one another.

And so my encouragement to the Church this morning is that, especially where the racial issues surrounding Ferguson are involved, believers should be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger" (James 1:9).

This is not a call for Anglo church leadership to stay silent or fail to stand with our brothers and sisters of color in the Body of Christ. But my own sense today is that before I start talking I need to try and listen well to the sufferings, the fears, and the experiences of those in the Body whose experiences are so different than my own.

Comments

[Kevin OConnor]

Is it possible this is all about manipulation by officials, media, and social networks and share we dare say by demonic forces? Was there a decision from the start to use this situation to create civil unrest? The trust factor is broken far beyond the racial issues. We say it about culture and yes that is the playing field if your an unbeliever, but for the Christian our warfare is not against flesh or blood but against the authorities of wickedness. I am mad over the manipulation that is happening on all levels. Someone needs to lead in a kingdom way of life. Where there isn't a black or white, Greek, Jew, or Gentile but citizens of The Kingdom of God. If this becomes the issue then we have evil and good discussions. If not it seems evil gets the only voice.

[phyllis hartwig]

There are so many divisions in the Christian community. I.E. Abortion, social welfare, race divisions, that it really makes my head spin..we say, how can anyone who is a Christian believe in abortion, social welfare, etc. But, you know, Scott, in the end it's God's job to sort it all out..I'm so glad to leave that to Him. (aren't you?)

[Ricky Bobby]

Listening is a good start, but it seems in most cases I hear white leadership say, let's listen and then end there. But it seems that most people want to live as far away as possible from those who need to be he heard the most. Thus mother Theresa, Ghandi, and Jesus moved into the neighborhood and earned their right to speak after having listened. Is it possible to listen from a distance, without true solidarity? Can I love my neighbor as myself only when I decided what kind of neighbors I want to live with? Just some thoughts that I need to chew on.