Season 37, Episode 86

To Turn the Cheek or Not?

Grief continues to pour out on social media over the horrific events of last week, and there is a strong divide.  

The internet warriors, that no one has appointed, have taken to the blogs, threads, and lives to declare what they believe to be the right way to grieve the death of a man.  

They have argued that harmful and dangerous words spoken during interviews with a targeted view on the marginalized people who inhabit our country cancels out everything else.  

They have stood firm on the belief that two things can’t exist and gave no room for change to occur.  

The hatred that has spewed from both sides of the argument has been tangible in the most painful of ways. 

People have argued and debated that people of color should not mourn the death of someone who allowed his beliefs pertaining towards women of color and minorities to be so vocal and vibrant.

Declaring his death is undeserving of our grief.  

And the weirdness of being black and saved complicates matters even further.  

Because although there are many intersections of being black and saved in various manners of life it still becomes a hard thing to grasp.    

The pull of the beautiful dynamic and powerful culture is not always suited for that of laying down your life to follow Christ.  

The powerful praise with expressive dances battle against the rhythmic beats of popular music that seeks to bury itself in our minds to create a war of beliefs and convictions. 

The beautifully intricate and awe-inspiring beauty of confidence and innovation does not lend itself to being situated perfectly for humility and laying down our pride. 

 The trauma of years of imprisonment, degradation, and dehumanizing treatment has not created a harmonious life of freedom to love, speak, and excel.

But one thing about our faith and consistent persecution, it has allowed us to experience the pain of the injustices of others deeply.

Although doing so comes at the risk of not acknowledging what we experience often and for some of us daily.

You see, the trauma never goes away regardless of how much we believe, surrender, and cry out for protection.

 Because the instances of hatred and slander have not disappeared or diminished.

But our humanity intertwined with our painful experiences should not create a hardened heart within our faith regardless of beliefs and trials experienced.

Any death that occurs at the hands of another deserves to be grieved regardless of the persons beliefs. 

Because death creates families and communities with painfully noticeable gaps. 

When parents are missing ,often so is the deep sense of belonging and confidence of purposeful living.

When siblings vanish the built-in protection and the ability to live the most goofy and silliest versions of us starts to dim.

When the family reunion begins to grow smaller and smaller the legacy of greatness and depth of belonging feels incomplete. 

Death is universal and cares none of who we are and what we believe. 

We should never shrink or diminish our grief and suffering for an active participant of our oppression.

But, if we claim Christ, then we need to love like Him regardless.

And that plain and simple is being saddened for a woman who has tragically become a widow and children who are now fatherless.

We don’t lose any portion of our story, legacy, or pursuit of justice by mourning a fellow believer, but can honor a fallen believer none the less.

I pray that you find peace, comfort, and a place to rest wherever you stand on this topic.