June 2020 — pg. 35
In the summer of 2016, we experienced several
incidents that sparked a state of racial unrest in our
country, unlike anything we had seen in quite some time.
The idea that racism and racial discord were of the past
was proven to be false. Somewhat like the recent outrage
over the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County,
Georgia, the events of July 2016 ripped the Band-Aid off
the unhealed wounds that we carry in our country still
today. How should the church respond? How do we as
Christians react to the news, the pictures, the nonstop talk,
and the constant blaming?
On Saturday, July 9, 2016, my wife, Andrea, and I
visited with then-Pastor Keith Cowart and his wife, Pam,
to pray and ask the Lord to give us answers to the questions
mentioned above.
How will we lead Christ Community Church in
response? Should we, as leaders of the church, even bring
this up on a Sunday morning? How do we do so in a
challenging yet honoring way to the families of Alton
Sterling and Philando Castile? How do we acknowledge the
horrific and wrongful deaths of the five police officers who
were shot and killed in Dallas, Texas, in alleged retaliation?
I want to share with you the message that God gave to
us that day because I believe it is still applicable today. I
also want to share with you something that only I saw that
Sunday morning and the outcome that I think is vital to
our way forward.
After several hours of praying, crying, and listening to
each other, we had a plan for Sunday morning. The four of
us would share the platform to lead our church in a time
of prayer for the families of the deceased, in the reading of
the Word (James 1:19–20; Micah 6:8; 1 Corinthians 13; 1
John 4:7–12) and in corporate prayer. We would end with
a time of passing the peace. Before I go on, I must say that
I believe this is a crucial step. We should be leading our
people in addressing issues concerning racial unity.
Leading in this manner is especially true in light of our
heritage of being Free Methodist. Our Book of Discipline
states, “We are therefore (because of our commitment to
the dignity and worth of all humans) pledged to active
concern whenever human beings are demeaned, abused,
depersonalized, enslaved or subjected to demonic forces in
the world, whether by individuals or institutions (Galatians
3:28; Mark 2:27; 1 Timothy 1:8–10).”
In my opinion, unless we take the words “active
concern” seriously, this statement in our Book of Discipline
and resulting position paper will be rendered meaningless.
On Sunday, July 10, 2016, we altered our planned service,
and for 23 minutes after opening worship, we ministered in
the manner described above. If you are interested, you can
view it here: https://vimeo.com/174359702. At some point,
I noticed a good friend of mine exiting the sanctuary with
his family. I asked the others after the service if they saw
someone leave, and no one else did. I was hoping that an
emergency had come up, but I suspected otherwise.
I called and made an appointment to meet him at
his home. He confirmed that he left out of anger and
frustration because it seemed that we were always bringing
up “racial stuff” and framing it in a way that cast him and
people who looked like him as villains. He was tired of
it. For hours, we sat in his living room and eventually at
his table (with a good meal). I shared with him that I too
was tired — tired of seeing incidents of violence against
people of color go unaddressed. I was tired of seeing the
oppression and unfair treatment of people who look like
me. I was tired of the deafening silence of the church. We
didn’t leave seeing eye to eye on everything that day, but I
believe that because we sat down at his table and talked to
one another, we remain friends to this day. Both of our lives
have changed as a result of God’s grace. (He permitted me
to share our story with you today.) We remain friends, and
he has remained a committed member.
When we have an active concern, we will make time to
talk with, not at, one another. Our communication is not
just over social media channels, not just in texts and emails,
not in our narrow opinion that we share with only people
that look, think, and act as we do. Instead, we will seek out
opportunities to put our feet under another person’s table
and listen as well as talk (a good meal is a bonus). Even
though we may not be able to have an in-person meeting
due to COVID-19, we can start with virtual meetings.
When was the last time you had someone over to your
home for a meal who didn’t look like you? When was the
last time you asked to come over to the house of someone
who didn’t look like, vote like or think like you? I pray that
you will try it. God desires to pour out His grace, but we
must recognize our identity in Him, humble ourselves,
seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. Then He will
hear from heaven and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). +
Derrick Shields is the lead pastor of
Christ Community Church. He earned
a Master of Arts degree in leadership
from Asbury Theological Seminary, and
he came to the ministry after retiring
from the U.S. Army in 1995.
OUR
ISSUES
UNITY.”
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