14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking 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...
We are called as Christ's ambassadors to be people of peace, who promote harmony among individuals, who could even be used of God to navigate difficult situations in a spirit of reconciliation. Our personal challenge is whether or not we are following a path that ultimately leads to peace. God sent Jesus to remove the separation between our Heavenly Father and humanity, and we have been dispatched to this earth to reflect and to promote His principles to His glory.
The Bible offers direction regarding living peacefully with one another, even in the midst of troubled
times that would diminish or even shatter a posture of peace. Romans 12 says:
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
The city of Montgomery is reeling from an incident that took place last week during the early morning hours in the Mobile Heights area, in which a 59-year-old man was shot to death by a 23-year-old Montgomery police officer. Mayor Todd Strange and Police Chief Ernest Finley held a press conference Monday to answer questions about the shooting,
According to a report about the conference by WSFA, the police chief said that the officer noticed something "suspicious" about the man, Kenneth Gunn. The officer got out of his patrol car, approached Gunn, and there was a struggle that lasted for a block. In the end, the policeman fired his weapon and hit Gunn, who died on the scene.
Mayor Strange said there have been 23 burglaries in the Mobile Heights area, the neighborhood where the shooting happened, this year, and there had been special patrols in the area. That special detail had already ended, but, according to the mayor, everyone knew the burglaries had happened in the early morning hours.
This incident only perpetuates that tension between law enforcement and the Black community, and where there are ways that each of us can step in an be emissaries of peace, it's important that we are sensitive to the direction of the Spirit.
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The Bible offers direction regarding living peacefully with one another, even in the midst of troubled
times that would diminish or even shatter a posture of peace. Romans 12 says:
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
The city of Montgomery is reeling from an incident that took place last week during the early morning hours in the Mobile Heights area, in which a 59-year-old man was shot to death by a 23-year-old Montgomery police officer. Mayor Todd Strange and Police Chief Ernest Finley held a press conference Monday to answer questions about the shooting,
According to a report about the conference by WSFA, the police chief said that the officer noticed something "suspicious" about the man, Kenneth Gunn. The officer got out of his patrol car, approached Gunn, and there was a struggle that lasted for a block. In the end, the policeman fired his weapon and hit Gunn, who died on the scene.
Mayor Strange said there have been 23 burglaries in the Mobile Heights area, the neighborhood where the shooting happened, this year, and there had been special patrols in the area. That special detail had already ended, but, according to the mayor, everyone knew the burglaries had happened in the early morning hours.
The investigation is now in the hands of the State Bureau of Investigation. The mayor urged patience at the news conference and asked for patience and calm. Last night at the Montgomery City Council meeting, WSFA reports that protesters interrupted the proceedings.
This situation has been heightened by the fact that the victim was African-American and the policeman was white, which lines up with a narrative that has become all-too-disturbing for many these days; a narrative that has brought intensified tensions, protests, and in some cities, violence. I trust that Montgomery citizens will be prudent and peaceful, even though the anger over the incident is perfectly understandable.
And, this provides the body of Christ in the River Region and throughout our nation the opportunity to pray for peace.
In a post on the Desiring God website, Phillip Holmes wrote this concerning the Ferguson tragedy, and I think it is adaptable to our situation in Montgomery today:
...I encourage every Christian that encounters tragedies and injustices like this to pray. Pray for Ferguson, Missouri. Pray for peace to be restored in this city. Pray for Michael Brown’s family as they mourn the loss of their loved one. Pray that if they don’t know our Lord Jesus, that they would come to know him through this tragedy. And pray that if they do know Jesus, he would give them peace that surpasses all understanding.
Pray for the officer involved in this shooting. Pray for honesty and justice. Pray that if he doesn’t know Jesus as Lord that God would use this tragedy to save him. Pray that if he is a Christian that the Lord would grant him wisdom as he navigates this process. Pray that God would protect him and his loved ones.
Pray for the church in Ferguson. Pray that they would be a true city on a hill. Pray that they would point the world to the One who, one day soon, will restore justice and peace for all time. Pray that they would be quick to mourn with those mourning and eager to share the reason for our hope.
Pray. This is our calling in Christ, and our great privilege and opportunity.So, we can pray. We can also practice - we as the Church, the body of Christ, His ambassadors in the city of Montgomery and on the earth, can be a model of peace. The way that this tragedy is handled in the community can show that we can be a city of peace. Even amidst struggle and violence, we can depend on the Lord to give us His supernatural peace - in our dialogue with one another and our understanding and sympathy for the family and friends of the victim.
This incident only perpetuates that tension between law enforcement and the Black community, and where there are ways that each of us can step in an be emissaries of peace, it's important that we are sensitive to the direction of the Spirit.
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