Dear church family,
Who could have predicted the trials we’ve seen in 2020? We’re facing a global pandemic that has claimed many lives. Unemployment has skyrocketed, and millions of people are facing severe economic hardships, including food insecurity.
And now, our country has been torn by the tragic death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of a white police officer. There aren’t words that can adequately express the grief, anger, and heartache many feel. Old wounds that have never fully healed have been ripped open again. How should we respond?
Like many of you, this has led me to reflect. There are at least three ways I’m currently responding, or learning to respond.
First, I’m mourning over the suffering many are experiencing. Romans 12:15 tells us to “weep with those who weep.” Many of our fellow Americans, including brothers and sisters in Christ, are grieving and hurting. It’s appropriate to grieve with them. I should grieve with them.
Second, I’m seeking to listen to the African American community. I need to hear the pain and perspective of my black brothers and sisters. Not only pain from the wrongs committed in recent days, but a long history of injustices, including silent indifference. I need to listen so I can be better equipped to love and pursue justice.
Third, I need to pray more. It’s tempting to grow discouraged in the face of ongoing divisions. But Jesus encourages us “always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). I must also remember that God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). In light of this hope, I invite all of us to pray fervently for our nation.
Pastor Dan will be preaching a sermon this week which further explores how the gospel equips us to respond as Christians to the current racial tensions. I’m looking forward to exploring this together as a church on Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Steve Brown