Thoughts on what is going on now in the USA.
These are from a spiritual perspective, trying to sort out & have a right attitude as a person who answers to God.
I will keep my private thoughts on what should be done with anyone starting fires or looting or attacking innocents or attacking police.
Suffice to say: I have no sympathy.
This article is taken from someone whose books & materials I've read for years: Frank Viola.
From an article that I edited for brevity:
Riots, Race, and the Gospel of the Kingdom
Regarding the riots, the USA has seen this movie before, dating back to 1992 in Los Angeles. No, dating back to 1980 in Miami. No wait, dating back to 1965 in Watts. And even before that.
All of these riots were spawned by the same tragedies. Police brutality and/or gross injustice in the American legal system.
Just like you, it was extremely difficult for me to watch a man die mercilessly on live video at the hands of a police officer, even as the man was begging for mercy.
Thoughts and feelings flashed across my being toward that officer that no Jesus-follower should have.
When major riots erupted in Ferguson in 2014 and Baltimore in 2015, Derwin Gray and I co-wrote an article together to address God’s people in light of the civil unrest.
The kingdom of God knows no injustice, no racism, no inequality, and no cruelty.
And the gospel of the kingdom produces a community of people who PUT ON DISPLAY what it looks like when God is in charge.
This is one of the many things that (my edit: God's Kingdom) has to offer this broken, lost, hostile world.
During this difficult time in history (with the virus crisis, the economic crisis, and now civil unrest), this is a time for EMPATHY.
Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in another’s shoes and feel their distress.
Empathy requires careful thought and understanding. It requires listening to others with an open heart.
Jesus Christ is God’s Empathy.
He is a man of empathy and compassion, just as He was when He walked this earth in human flesh.
I encourage you to have empathy for the Floyd family, who lost George in a horrific, needless death.
Empathy for all our black brothers and sisters who have been mistreated and feel anger over a history of oppression.
(As well as all other minorities who feel the sting of prejudice and hatred.)
Empathy for all police officers who genuinely care about people, but who are now blotted by the insensitivity, stupidity, and sinfulness of other officers.
And who are being mistreated as a result.
Empathy for all the young people who are protesting for a good cause, but who haven’t yet been exposed to THE CAUSE for which to live, stand, march, and die – the gospel of the kingdom.
Empathy for those who were injured and/or who lost businesses during the riots.
Empathy for the other police officers who passively watched a man effectively tortured to death.
Unless they are all genuine psychopaths void of a conscience, they will live with agonizing regret, despair and remorse the rest of their lives – which is its own hell.
And empathy for anyone else who is hurting and in pain during this difficult time.
Your brother in mutual empathy,
fv
These are from a spiritual perspective, trying to sort out & have a right attitude as a person who answers to God.
I will keep my private thoughts on what should be done with anyone starting fires or looting or attacking innocents or attacking police.
Suffice to say: I have no sympathy.
This article is taken from someone whose books & materials I've read for years: Frank Viola.
From an article that I edited for brevity:
Riots, Race, and the Gospel of the Kingdom
Regarding the riots, the USA has seen this movie before, dating back to 1992 in Los Angeles. No, dating back to 1980 in Miami. No wait, dating back to 1965 in Watts. And even before that.
All of these riots were spawned by the same tragedies. Police brutality and/or gross injustice in the American legal system.
Just like you, it was extremely difficult for me to watch a man die mercilessly on live video at the hands of a police officer, even as the man was begging for mercy.
Thoughts and feelings flashed across my being toward that officer that no Jesus-follower should have.
When major riots erupted in Ferguson in 2014 and Baltimore in 2015, Derwin Gray and I co-wrote an article together to address God’s people in light of the civil unrest.
The kingdom of God knows no injustice, no racism, no inequality, and no cruelty.
And the gospel of the kingdom produces a community of people who PUT ON DISPLAY what it looks like when God is in charge.
This is one of the many things that (my edit: God's Kingdom) has to offer this broken, lost, hostile world.
During this difficult time in history (with the virus crisis, the economic crisis, and now civil unrest), this is a time for EMPATHY.
Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in another’s shoes and feel their distress.
Empathy requires careful thought and understanding. It requires listening to others with an open heart.
Jesus Christ is God’s Empathy.
He is a man of empathy and compassion, just as He was when He walked this earth in human flesh.
I encourage you to have empathy for the Floyd family, who lost George in a horrific, needless death.
Empathy for all our black brothers and sisters who have been mistreated and feel anger over a history of oppression.
(As well as all other minorities who feel the sting of prejudice and hatred.)
Empathy for all police officers who genuinely care about people, but who are now blotted by the insensitivity, stupidity, and sinfulness of other officers.
And who are being mistreated as a result.
Empathy for all the young people who are protesting for a good cause, but who haven’t yet been exposed to THE CAUSE for which to live, stand, march, and die – the gospel of the kingdom.
Empathy for those who were injured and/or who lost businesses during the riots.
Empathy for the other police officers who passively watched a man effectively tortured to death.
Unless they are all genuine psychopaths void of a conscience, they will live with agonizing regret, despair and remorse the rest of their lives – which is its own hell.
And empathy for anyone else who is hurting and in pain during this difficult time.
Your brother in mutual empathy,
fv
