1/4/15

Ministry Matters

 by Dr. Mapson 

Although we are still exchanging with one another the traditional greeting, “Happy New Year,” we also bring with us into the new year the pain and unrest of last year.  Think Ferguson, New York, Cleveland, as well as other cities across America where frustration has boiled over regarding the killing of black men by white police officers.  Even though the new year has dawned, troubling issues from last year and decade upon decade of frustration by African-Americans remain.

Adding to the tensions was the recent slaying of two police officers in Brooklyn, NY by a disturbed man who first shot his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore, took a bus to Brooklyn where he, with premeditation, gunned down the two officers as they sat in their patrol car, then took his own life.  This cowardly and gutless act only added fuel to the fires already burning across America, and has worsened the already fragile relationship between law enforcement officers and the people they have pledged to protect and serve.  When will the hostile and hurtful rhetoric between the two sides cease?  

The two slain police officers (who were themselves minorities) did not deserve to die, even though their assassin claimed retribution for the killings of Michael Brown and Eric Gardner.  In the first place, the slain officers had nothing to do with the incidents in Ferguson, New York, and Cleveland.  In the second place, one has no right to take a life for a life, since no human being is the giver of life.  God is the giver of life.  How dare anyone ‘play’ God?  In the third place, the officers were simply doing their jobs, patrolling the mean streets, standing between order and chaos, which is necessary in order to maintain a society of law and order, although historically the application of ‘law and order’ has seldom been just and fair when applied to black people.  Fourth, and of foremost importance, those officers had families who loved them as Michael Brown and Eric Gardner were loved by their families.  One officer had been married only two months.  The other, married and the father of two sons, was active in his church, was referred to as “God-loving,” and was studying for ministry.   Don’t we need more “God-fearing” police officers?  

If we are God’s people we will show the same compassion and sense of outrage regarding the killing of the officers, for they too were human beings who had a right to live.  Will those who demonstrate for justice also demonstrate against the violence and hatred that took their lives?  What we have now in America are demonstrations against the police, as well as demonstrations for the police, with each side against the other.  Now law enforcement is on even higher alert and more defensive, which only adds to the tensions.  As people of God do we think this situation is good for the country and pleasing to God?

Let’s keep in mind the real issue, which is not just the killing of black men by white police officers.  The deeper issue is that police officers are not held accountable by grand juries for taking a life, and an unjust justice system that permits grand juries to make decisions not to indict police officers, rather than at least allowing a trial to determine their guilt or innocence.  

As we begin this new year of Grace let us be prayerful for our nation during these troubling times.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Mapson