In the days following May 25, the world witnessed the horror and injustice of George Floyd’s death, face down on the ground with Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s knee on his neck. In killing Floyd, Chauvin demonstrated a complete disregard for Floyd’s value and dignity as one of God’s image-bearers. It was a violation of the 5th Commandment, and those of us who are pro-life should be as outraged and grieved by Floyd’s murder as we are by abortion. In both cases, the destruction of human life is a grievous sin and a crime.
God hates injustice, and George Floyd’s death should grieve and anger us because it grieves and angers God. All earthly injustice finds its final, eternal end in the justice of God. This is a source of hope in the midst of evil; ultimately, justice will prevail. It is also the reason that we love and pursue justice now. We seek earthly justice because we love the God who is just and because earthly justice points people to who God is.
Right now Minnesota is facing tragedy upon tragedy and injustice upon injustice. In the time since George Floyd was killed, we have watched as our cities have erupted in flames and rioters and looters have exploited the situation, drowning out the voices of peaceful protestors, endangering people, destroying homes, and robbing people of their livelihoods. The actions of the rioters display a disregard for human life and dignity as they wreak havoc and desolation on communities that are already struggling from the economic implications of COVID-19. What we are witnessing in our cities right now is the devastation that human sinfulness unleashes on fellow image-bearers.
Even as the Twin Cities face this devastation, we have also seen the church at work, meeting needs and speaking truth and praying for healing in our communities. Gospel opportunities arise out of human brokenness, and as our cities, our state, and our nation continue to mourn the awful tragedy of George Floyd’s death and the senseless destruction that has followed, the church must continue to meet those opportunities.
The tragedy and devastation that has hit Minnesota in the past week in the form of George Floyd’s death and the riots that have broken out since then can only be truly answered with the gospel. In the face of injustice and tragedy, we must point people to the hope of God’s justice and mercy by our words as well as our actions. Reconciliation is found at the cross, and without the cross, we would have no hope of being reconciled with God or with one another. As the blood-bought people of God we should pursue truth, justice, mercy, and reconciliation in our communities because doing so displays God’s glory. It is only through God’s grace that we are able to do this. Apart from Christ, we are dead in our sins and unable to offer true reconciliation to the people around us.
It will take time for our communities to heal from the pain, anger, and destruction that has been unleashed. God is the great healer and we, his church, are his hands and feet. Helping our communities heal will require us to meet the immediate needs arising right now, as well as committing for the long haul to help our communities rebuild, to offer hope and healing, and to point people to the truth that racism dies at the foot of the cross.
We should also commit to prayer for our state and our nation right now, especially Minneapolis. Please pray for grace and stamina for the pastors and churches serving in areas that are deeply affected by George Floyd’s killing as well as the rioting, and wisdom for pastors as they shepherd their churches during this time. Pray for wisdom for local authorities as they pursue justice, order, and peace. And pray especially for George Floyd’s family and for those who were close to him as they mourn. Pray that God would comfort the brokenhearted and bring the guilty to justice.
It is in the gospel that we find an answer to the injustices of the world around us because it is in the gospel that we find true justice, mercy and reconciliation. And it is we, the church, because we have been transformed by the gospel who must proclaim truth, showing people the gospel hope of justice, mercy, and reconciliation by our words and actions.
(Image: Flickr, Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 2.0)
