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Post by Benjamin Hobbs on Oct 6, 2017 9:01:28 GMT -5
Why does this continue unabated? Why isn't the entire nation furious over the this newest "justified shooting"?
I just don't get it. I don't understand how the church sits back and devalues life so casually.
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Jim Bentley
New Member
Posts: 37
CotN Connection: Elder / Senior Pastor
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Post by Jim Bentley on Oct 6, 2017 11:52:05 GMT -5
Why does this continue unabated? Why isn't the entire nation furious over the this newest "justified shooting"? I just don't get it. I don't understand how the church sits back and devalues life so casually. Benjamin.....I am in full agreement on the part that this should not in any way be called a "justified shooting." There should be consequences for the officer who shot a man in the back while he was running away. My question to you though (and a legit question because I don't have the answer) is - What do you have in mind that the church should be doing? Where does the thought come from that the church is "devaluing life so casually"? I guarantee you that if I showed the video of this shooting to my congregation, they would be appalled......and this is much older, 95% white congregation from South/Central Texas. Thoughts?
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Post by Benjamin Hobbs on Oct 7, 2017 23:04:50 GMT -5
My question to you though (and a legit question because I don't have the answer) is - What do you have in mind that the church should be doing? Where does the thought come from that the church is "devaluing life so casually"? I guarantee you that if I showed the video of this shooting to my congregation, they would be appalled......and this is much older, 95% white congregation from South/Central Texas. Thoughts? I'm encouraged to hear that your congregation would be appalled. What I meant was that the majority of the voice of the church in the US is either found to be silent, joining in solidarity with the police (i.e. Blue Lives Matter) or outright condemning the victims of police shootings ("he was a criminal probably"). I've heard plenty of calls to label Black Lives Matter as a racist group or a cop killing group, but only rarely do I hear a voice of someone asking to understand the issues. Honestly I don't think anyone in any church I've heard from is intentionally and knowingly a racist, but in their inaction and sometimes opposition they are complacent in their racism. I wish that the church would stand united and at least say something is wrong, that this type of thing shouldn't be happening. I don't see it happening as we can't be bothered to help those in need without judging whether they deserve the aid or not, we can't be bothered to stand against abortion while also standing with the mothers and doctors who have found it necessary to be involved in one. The rampant pattern of police shooting unarmed black men is just another stain on the garment of Christ. I imagined the other day with a friend of mine what it might look like if the churches of an entire city stood in protest against the lack of prosecution of not only the police officer but the system that enabled him? I'm talking families, entire congregations marching in protest. No violence, just presence. I know its not the only way to get something done, but could you imagine what that would look like? The entire Christian population in a city standing against a violent injustice? I'd imagine that people would flip their lids. The powers at be might take notice, and surely non-believers would notice. Wow, Christians standing up against the power for those who have been harmed by it? The conversation progressed and beyond the logistics hurdles and scheduling issues that would arise in even a small town trying something like this we realized there is a bigger issue. Most Christians would rather be viewed as respectable citizens, protesting is somewhat shameful. Sure we can attend a pro life march yearly, or prayer at the pole, but that's it. Challenging the status quo and speaking against the government, against those who enforce the law.. that's just too risky for many reputations. I wish we weren't so concerned sometimes with our respectable images. Anyway, that's enough for now.
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Post by Gina Stevenson on Oct 8, 2017 14:51:34 GMT -5
And those who aren't worrying about their "respectable reputation" could conceivably be afraid of what could happen if they do try to peaceably protest. After all, there's been more than one "peaceable" demonstration that's been changed by someone showing up with a gun or guns. Sad to say, it's hard to keep a peaceful demonstration peaceful these days.
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