I know that many view the church as being milk toast and quiet when it comes to standing up to the injustices in the world. Often Christians get involved after something horrible has happened. I truly believe that from the Genesis 1-3 account that we have a spiritually obligation to live out the cultural mandate (intersect our culture and influence it) and stand up for Biblical justice. I think having lived in the suburbs most of my life has shielded me to a large extend from the senseless violence that happens in the city. None of this really matters until something happens on your doorstep.
About six months ago we had a drive by happen over a drug deal gone south in our neighborhood. A large area was blocked off and a close friend was at home without her husband. We watched and waited to see what happened. The police patiently waited for the individual inside the drug house to come out. There were a few other drug thugs who had escaped. After waiting for hours they finally sent in the police dogs that got the guy to come out. The following morning the other two bad guys were arrested literally on our driveway as my wife was backing out the car to go shopping. She exclaimed in her usually witty fashion that it was a good thing that the drug guys were obese guys who couldn’t run because the police had them cuffed and in the car before she backed out.
This last week we painted a house in our painting neighborhood. We had painted the house across the street five months before. Someone from that house who is helping the older gentleman came over to say hi and volunteer. She ended up coming to church that same Sunday for a dinner and the service. It was a totally shock to get a phone call from her friend saying she had been seriously beaten up by someone at the care center where she works. She was in the hospital in the ICU. The injury had required her to get her jaw wired shut and have numerous plates put in for her to be able to recover. I couldn’t understand how this could happen especially in a care center where someone is helping someone who is ill.
We went and visited this lady after she was released from the hospital. It was truly saddening to see what had been a beautiful face and smile now covered with bandages, stitches and totally swollen. How could someone do this to another human being? She had asked for us to come over and pray with her. It will be months before she is able to eat and who knows how long before her face recovers from the trauma.
Yeah, you could say I was ticked and upset about this whole thing. Why does violence continue in our world and it always seem to impact the lives of those who are outside of the problem. I know that God’s heart is for the orphan, widow and abused. How is it possible so often for Christians to walk away and ignore or choose not to get involved? I am starting to learn that it is my responsibility to stand up against the evil that is in our neighborhood. I see God’s heart to reach back to those who have been hurt and forgotten because of their injuries. I know that being an agent of reconciliation means I have to get in the way at times of those who get high off hurting someone or taking advantage of them.
I will never forget a meeting at a church close to our house. It was called because of a young teenage girl who had been murdered in that neighborhood. It is this type of incident that brings everyone out to ask the why question and want to know what the police are going to do about it. My wife even ended up on the evening news stating, edited version, that she hoped someone would find these guys that did this and get them. Ultimately all of us want justice to happen. The difficulty is understanding how this can happen in a fallen world where judgment may not happen until the last day.
Pray for our new friend who was seriously injured. Pray for me that I would learn to stand up against the evil in our neighborhood and seek the help and direction of the police and those that live here.
Dave
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