The death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police officers has shocked the nation. Incidents like that have occurred too many times before, but this time the response by the public has been different. Pent up indignation and rage is now venting across the country and across the world.
The question is, what should Christians do? What should United Methodists do? What should Oak Hill United Methodist Church do?
Our best example must be Jesus. How did he respond to people of different races, different backgrounds, different nationalities? How would he respond to the "Black Lives Matter" cry we hear and see in the streets nearly every day?
When one of my kids got hurt, it didn't seem to make sense to say to them, 'All my kids matter.' In that moment, I embraced them and said, 'You matter. Your pain matters.' Jesus did the same thing in his ministry. He went to those who were hurting and said, 'You Matter.'
Yes, all lives matter, but we are called to first take care of those who are hurting right now. And right now, in this country, people of color are hurting. Recall the words of John Wesley to do no harm, do good, and to stay in love with God.
We must look around at our neighbors and learn how they see us and how they see the world around them. Most of us have grown up in a society that has favored us as middle-class white Americans. Some of our neighbors have not and as a result have had a difficult time finding success.
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. (Matthew 9:35–38 ESV)
We are called to act like that shepherd. When we leave the parking lot at Oak Hill UMC a sign reminds us that we are now "entering the Mission field." As Pastor Jim reminds us all the time, "go out and be the church."
Written by
Donald Inbody
Author, political scientist, naval historian, and amateur radio operator (ADØK).