What a rough week in Baltimore! By now you have heard, read, or seen footage from the riots that broke out. Who would have thought that unrest in Baltimore was such that it would make history by serving as the backdrop for the first Major League Baseball game played without fans? It is often a struggle for us to make sense of the racial tensions that have plagued our country during the last year.
As I listened to various discussions on this topic, I pondered over the reasons things have escalated to the current level. Four significant causes struck me: (1) the perception of police in our country; (2) the perception of black youths in this country; (3) the healthy desire for justice; and (4) the perception of injustice held by certain groups in our society.
Seeking Justice
Deep inside we all want justice. When there is the perception of injustice, there is a cry within all of us which indicates something is wrong. The efforts of state officials, police departments, community leaders, and citizens toward pursuing justice and achieving reconciliation often look like the equivalent of taking one step forward and two steps backward. The media’s emphasis on the negative has made many of us believe all of these efforts are futile — just think of the images of burned buildings which highlight the news.
Look beyond the Problem to the Solution
If we focus only on Baltimore’s problems, then we will blame the majority for the actions of a small minority: All Baltimore police officers have not discredited their badges; the majority of officers are providing a valuable service to their community. Likewise, all of Baltimore’s black youths are not rioters, looters, arsonists, and opportunists who want to rebel against law enforcement; the majority did not participate in the violence and crime. The same is true for groups which find themselves at odds in other cities and communities across the country.
As the Body of Christ, we must focus on the light of Christ even during our darkest days. It is during the darkest moments that light shines the brightest. And what greater motivation do we have than the words of our Lord, who simply said, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:13–14)
The Church’s Role in Racial Healing
The Church must move forward — not as separate-but-equal communities of blacks, whites, or folks of any other color, but as a united body of brothers and sisters in Christ. The hours between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Sundays remain the most segregated period of time during the week. It is ironic that this is the time many of us gather to worship God. Our worship must reach beyond songs and praises and the four walls of our church buildings and extend to our lives and communities. Only as a united body under God can we demonstrate His light and accomplish the task no worldly organization has achieved — forgiveness, reconciliation, and racial healing. Then the world will see through us that Jesus is the Answer!
By Dr. L.W. Edwards
*This article was written in 2015 after rioting and protests following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody in Baltimore, Maryland.
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