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Yet, it was no escapist,
apolitical or “pacifist” Jesus who gave the commands.
Although he opposed violence, Jesus’ love and forgiveness
commands were part and parcel of a nonviolent social (and
indirectly political) revolution designed as the supreme
Jewish resistance strategy against violent and oppressive
Roman rule.
I stand in solidarity with
all of those who look with outrage upon last week’s massacre
of unarmed innocents at Emanuel AME Church. I stand in
fellowship with those directly affected by last week’s
despicable act. I also stand in community with those
committed to end the culture of racialized violence and
oppression in our day just as Jesus did for his
social-historical context.
Evil is not threatened
when we use violence to repay violence or respond to
injustice with rioting, burning and looting. According to
the ethics of Jesus, change will only occur where there is
solidarity and commitment to the cause of justice because
the tools of evil do not function to tear down the house of
evil. I applaud Emanuel AME and the city of Charleston, SC
for responding to the tragedy with a dignified resistance in
line with that of the biblical Jesus.
This week I present a personal reflection by Rev. Waltrina
Middleton, who was directly affected by last week’s tragedy.
Her commentary exemplifies the forceful but dignified
response to violence and the unifying call to the social
revolution espoused by Jesus.
Commentary: Charleston Violence, Unspeakable Grief
Written by Waltrina Middleton
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
My heart experienced the unimaginable late last night as the
sun began to set in some places, and before the moon could
peak through weary cloud-cast skies in others.
The very thing I fight and organize against—a deeply masked
and far-reaching culture of violence in our society—has
descended upon the steps of my family and worked its way
into the sanctuary of the church. Last night during Bible
study and prayer service, a gunman entered the historic
Mother Emanuel AME church of Charleston, S.C., and opened
fire on the 12 persons gathered there. There were only three
survivors.
With deep sorrow, I write to share that my beloved first
cousin was among the nine fatalities. Her death was
confirmed this morning, and the unspeakable grief of this
loss has knocked me and my family off-kilter.
C.S. Lewis wrote, "It is easy to say you believe a rope to
be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to
cord a box..." But suppose your life depended on that
invisible rope that is your faith? Today, the weight of that
invisible rope tugs at my trembling heart, and such
invisible faith is tested as we walk through the valleys of
the shadows of death all around us. We are reassured to fear
not evil, but to trust in the rod and the staff for comfort,
protection, guidance and perhaps understanding when the
morning comes.
Please keep my family, Mother Emanuel congregation and all
those impacted by this rampant culture of violence in the
center of your prayers.
Let us come together for such a time as this to the sacred
clearing—no matter our faith or practice—and be of one
accord in the spirit of love, hope, and healing to seek
justice and peace for these and other victims of hatred and
violence.
Let us put our faith to action and be more than empty drums
that have long lost their melodies or arrangements. Let us
remove our instruments from the poplar trees and call the
people, the public officials, and, yes, the church to action
to address the festering sores of racism, classism and
militarism—as they intersect in this culture of violence.
How can we begin to eradicate this evil without
acknowledging the realities of racialized policing, hate
crimes, and the disproportionate acts of violence against
Black and Brown bodies?
Alas, it is morning and tear-filled dewdrops fall fresh upon
my face, with eyes watching God and a soulful lament. Our
hearts are troubled, but our faith remains steadfast,
trusting and believing in the reconciling power of God for
the brokenhearted and the oppressed.
Yours in faith and justice,
The Rev. Waltrina Middleton,
United Church of Christ National Minister for Youth Advocacy
and Leadership
First published by United Church News on Thursday, June 25 @
http://www.ucc.org/news_commentary_unspeakable_grief_charleston_06182015
Reprinted with permission of UCNews, and Rev. Waltrina
Middleton
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at
drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org
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