After the Verdict - Prayer, Peace, and Proclamation

In Galatians 3, the apostle Paul illustrates for us the unity that we can have in the Spirit of God.   In times where even we disagree about various topics, we recognize that we are called into the body of Christ and we maintain our sense of agreement and our common bond in Christ:
26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
I think if many of us of a variety cultural and racial backgrounds were to have a discussion today, we might come to some different conclusions on the events over the weekend in Sanford, Florida, where a jury found a man "not guilty" in the death of another.   The trial has set off a wave of emotions across the country, and I believe there are some practical things we all can do, whether or not we believe justice was served.   Number 1, we can pray - pray for the victim's family, for they continue to grieve the loss of his life, and pray for the defendant, as well; he will not have an easy road ahead.  Pray that God would be glorified and people would come to know Him.   Number 2, we can be keepers of the peace - exhibiting Christlike compassion and charity even when emotions are raw.  And, number 3, we can speak out on important issues like race and justice, realizing that the truth of the Bible is applicable to these big-picture topics.
God calls us to be people of healing and restoration, as we pursue His peace, that's the reminder from Hebrews chapter 12, as we seek to minister grace and truth in difficult times:12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.14Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

The headlines over the weekend dealt not only with the jury decision of "not guilty" in the trial of George Zimmerman in the death of teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, but the reaction to that verdict by people all across the country.  And, no surprise, as polarizing as this case has been, the response was swift and passionate.   Some thought justice was done, that Zimmerman felt threatened and had a right under the law to stand his ground, others thought it was a grave injustice that an innocent boy walking back from a convenience store would lose his life at the hands of an overzealous neighborhood watch volunteer.

A life has been lost - a life that was created in the image of God.   That's important to keep in mind.  And, issues of race and justice have come to the forefront, and these are definitely issues where the Church can be and, I submit to you, should be a leading voice.

And, people of faith are speaking out.   The Gospel Coalition website published a piece from Trillia Newbell, an African-American freelance writer from Tennessee.   She writes regarding Trayvon's family:

The deep pain and sorrow can never be fully expressed. As Christians we respond not according to media manipulation but by Scripture, and God's Word encourages us to mourn with Martin's family.

She writes on the gravity of the loss of this young man's life:

A real boy had a mother and father...he was made in the image of God.  He played like other little boys, became a teenager, and then, at the age of 17, died at the hands of another man. It's a tragedy. We weep for their loss and pain. We cry out to God for comfort and faith for this family.

Regarding Zimmerman, she points out:

George Zimmerman's life will never be the same. The jury has declared him not guilty, but for many observers he will forever be a cold-blooded murderer. His name is ruined. He killed an unarmed teenager. It must haunt him at times to remember the moment that he can never take back. Zimmerman needs Jesus...We don't know if he is a Christian, but we should be praying for his salvation and his safety. The trial may have ended, but we pray that if for any reason he lied about what happened that day, he would confess and seek forgiveness. In light of the jury's decision, if it is correct, we should pray that Zimmerman finds peace.

And, on the racial issues that have stemmed from this case, she states:

This case has already reopened important discussions about race relations in America. We should, therefore, also pray for our nation as we continue to pursue racial reconciliation and harmony. As old hurts have resurfaced, we must seek to understand if we want to be understood. Let's pray for just laws and more than surface change. We ask God for gospel transformation that leads us to accept and love one another regardless of ethnicity. With this posture of prayer, our ongoing discussions of race and culture will assume a posture of humility and grace.

Ed Stetzer put together an insightful assortment of panelists for a piece on ChristianityToday.com.  Here are some brief excerpts...

From Dr. Christina Cleveland, a social psychologist:

As America grows increasingly diverse, the realities of America are becoming more diverse. No longer can pastors and leaders assume that the people in their communities share their unique cultural experiences. In order to minister effectively, in order to be neighborly, in order to love across differences well, privileged Christians need to practice standing in solidarity with diverse people.

Pastor Victor Montalvo is the lead pastor at Reality Community Church in Sanford, the closest church to the site where Trayvon Martin was killed.  He writes on how everyone from the families, to the police, to the media was looking for someone to blame. He says:

It's only when our brothers and sisters of differing races sense true love and acceptance that we begin to truly trust one another. The distrust we experience is because of fear and ignorance. We immediately look to blame others for the pain in this world. So we must also pray for ourselves, that we would recognize the cause of the pain of this world and deal with the sin of our hearts that so deeply distorts everything it encounters.

He also quoted from the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, Gregory Brewer, who is described by Stetzer as an evangelical with a passion for justice.  He had marched in Sanford as part of a crowd that was demanding justice.   And, this quote reminds us that we as Christians should be the leading purveyors of justice in our society:

The issue is justice, not merely race . . . Christians should see what can be gleaned from tragedies such as this, particularly when issues like justice and fairness are concerned. While the incident was horrible, there is much we can learn from it.

As followers of Christ, we need a deep understanding that in God's eyes everybody matters—regardless of race, age, education or economics. The compassion that God has for the whole world should be extended through Christians to people around us, not just those we like, or who are like us.

There are some big issues that have been raised here, and because the narrative has emerged in that way that it has, then we recognize that we have a chance to respond, with compassion and truth, to people who are uncertain today about the state of race relations in America and the importance of justice.  

The churches in the Sanford area have been actively involved in keeping the peace, which is definitely a role of the body of Christ. Yesterday, the Christian Post reported that a group of churches from Florida's Seminole County called Sanford Pastors Connecting announced noon prayers on today in response to the verdict, according to USA Today.

"Our call is to pray for our community for the long-term unity, peace and strength of relationships," the Rev. Charlie Holt of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Lake Mary, Fla., was quoted as saying. "Our churches welcome any and all to come and offer prayer to the Lord for ourselves, for all involved and for our community."

So, we as Christians have some great open doors - to lead the way in prayer in a divisive situation, to keep the peace, and to think and speak more deeply on issues of race and injustice in America.   As the body of Christ, we can also demonstrate to the world how we relate to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of the color of our skin and the cultural background in which we were raised.