Ferguson, MO.

I have yet to "speak out" on this issue in Ferguson for a few reasons- the first being that my heart will not be correctly conveyed on social media. Secondly because even though I live less than 8 miles away- just ten minutes up the road and I can hear helicopters in the night- I still do not feel adequate enough to speak up. I am still far removed from the situation.

I will say this though- as Americans, we must stop assuming and pointing the finger just to have someone to blame. The fact of the matter is, is that this world is a crazy messed up place full of sinners, like myself, like Officer Wilson, and like Michael Brown.

White privilege is real, police brutality is real, racism is real- they all exist today.

There are many people who reject these things... To them I say this:

Come to Ferguson....

Teach at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, VA for a year.

Have a talk with Michael Brown's parents about their little boy.

Become a police officer.

If you're white- be black for a day.

If your black- be white for a day.

Spend a day teaching and playing with children who live in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the US.

Any of those things will change your perspective. 

The bottom line here is that this situation has exposed the sin of this country, and that of humanity. We all want to be right- but we are all wrong.

How do we fix this?

The sad truth is that we can't. A man is dead. Humans cannot fix that.

There are so many arguments coming from all sides of this matter. But take a step back and realize we all have something in common: We all know something about this situation is entirely wrong.

My personal belief is that the church has failed to be a leader in this matter. Christians can be so comfortable- but Jesus has called us to a life of adventure and unknown and to be uncomfortable- to pick up our cross and follow him no matter what. (Matthew 16:5) There is a real problem here. This problem isn't just in Ferguson- this is nationwide. In your city. Go love the people in your city and expect nothing in return.  (I am speaking all of this to myself as well)

If  you are a Christian reading this blog, it is my hope that you would realize the fault in our lives, remember that Jesus bridged all of our shortcomings, and that he calls us to love those in need. Now is our favorable time.

2 Corinthians 6

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

w“In a favorable time I listened to you,

and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

I pray that Ferguson, MO and the rest of Saint Louis and this country can find some peace in the coming days.

For further reading on Ferguson to help form an educated opinion on the matter: 
Listening to Find Our Voice
Thoughts on Ferguson
Mike Higgins: Thoughts on Ferguson

Ferguson, MO.