May 30, 2020: George Floyd

I once heard someone say, “you can’t fight ignorance with violence.” I believe that. I believe violence, mayhem, and destructive rioting do nothing to make the naïve suddenly aware, voices heard or problems solved.

But how long will the ignorant, the naïve and the unaware hide behind their dominant culture safety? And more importantly, how long will those whose delusions of grandeur which translates into unbridled power feel justified in murdering a restrained, unarmed African American man? We have seen this movie before. So have my grandparents. Has nothing changed?

When I arrived at the Presbytery of Baltimore, I was told that we don’t discuss divisive issues, lest we offend one another. We don’t argue about sexuality, but instead focus on what we have in common like Jesus. And for God’s sake, we do not talk about Donald Trump politics. Let me tell you, Jesus would be sick if he saw that video.

Friends, this is not about conservative or progressive. This is not about white and black. This is not about what Biden asserts or Trump tweets. Simply put, the killing of George Floyd is about right and wrong. The action of Derek Chauvin and the apparent complicity of the other three officers is wrong. It is wrong for Republicans and for Democrats. It is wrong for gay and straight. It is wrong for Baltimore City, Carroll County, Harford County and every county in this Presbytery. And if we can’t talk about right and wrong for fear of offending someone, then the church is in real lasting trouble and is irrelevant in the face of this travesty.

Yes, this is where I stand. But don’t take my word for it. Someone else said: “{God} has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Pray Presbytery, that this is what we have in common and can together, do our part to create a just and fair society of all people. Micah’s words are for us right now.

Go and do likewise and preach it like you mean it.

– Jackie