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<\/span><\/a>R3 Editor<\/span><\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
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<\/span><\/a><\/div>\nThis desire for escape, vindication and the intervention of God is also central to modern Christian theology. Most of the churches that I know adhere to some form of the Apostles\u2019 Creed which offers the claim that Jesus will someday \u201ccome again to judge the living and the dead.\u201d\u00a0 A common belief spans across denominational identities and philosophical leanings that at some point, \u201cGod\u2019s people\u201d will be removed (or \u201craptured\u201d) from their existence in the world so that God can judge and ultimately deal with \u201cwicked\u201d people, and that at that time, those who have suffered oppression and\/or persecution will finally witness God\u2019s justice. This time of intervention\u2013 the \u201cend times,\u201d if you will\u2013 is understood as the time in history when God will finally balance the scales\u2026 a time for which many Christians wait with anticipation.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/span><\/div>\nHowever, rejecting a desire to escape Lewis grounds her reflection in the need to be present in the now<\/span><\/span><\/div>\nIn that moment, I understood the desire to escape, but reminded myself of my responsibility to remain as present as possible. I understood the desire for God\u2019s intervention, but also understood that it is my responsibility to intervene constructively. I reminded myself that the intervention of God requires the cooperation of humans\u2026 I remembered that the tools for changing the world have been entrusted to me. I fought the urge to escape our society and the urge to wait patiently for divine intervention.<\/i><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/span><\/a>Earle Fisher<\/a> took another route. He grounded his reflection in a critique of the \u201c<\/span>too-little-too-late responses from ministerial leaders.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
In all honesty, I must say that I\u2019m not necessarily \u201cmoved\u201d by the Monday morning quarterbacks for social justice who swim to the surface at every sign of social acceptance.\u00a0 We need our ministerial communities to have a revolution of values.\u00a0 It\u2019s repugnant how much blood is on the contemporary Church\u2019s hands.\u00a0 We\u2019ve sat idly by while injustice has been gaining traction and recovering ground lost during the Civil Rights Movement (and other progressive efforts for equality, justice and peace).\u00a0 We\u2019ve perpetuated our own evil as we were singing radically individualistic and hedonistic renditions of \u201cBless ME Indeed\u201d and \u201cEnlarge MY Territory\u201d and \u201cGo Get YOUR Blessing\u201d.\u00a0 By the way, how\u2019s that \u201cwalking into MY season\u201d thing working out for us right now?<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/span><\/div>\nFisher closes his appeal by announcing the \u201cguilty\u201d verdict on churches and its leaders. He then challenges us churches to participate in social justice.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\nThe harsh truth is that this verdict (and the countless number of similar instances akin to it all over the country) are merely reminders that the Church and its constituents are in denial that our work is a constant struggle and not a fly-by-public-tragedy, opportunistic and momentary instance.\u00a0 Social Justice is a MOVEMENT not a moment we use for photo-ops and pamphlet productions.\u00a0 I recommend that anyone who\u2019s ministe
\nr merely suggested that we \u201cfast and pray\u201d in response to this verdict, needs to \u201cpack up and leave\u201d and find a better church and a more engaged minister.<\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
Brian Foulks<\/a> started his reflection on a personal note.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\nWords escape my very sense of being civil. Civility awakes to embedded anger that is ready to engage any and all who make comical commentary about the death of Trayvon Martin. For me this extends past Trayvon\u2019s death into my own personal world and the world of many fathers with teenage sons. The reality is that this is and could have been the very same verdict that can so easily have befalling my 17 year son.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Foulks ends his reflection in the hope that something could come from this tragedy.<\/span><\/p>\n
My hope is that the kid that donned the hoodie, Trayvon Benjamin Martin, when he went to the store will be a symbol of change for young boys. The tragedy that happened to Trayvon happens weekly around the country but this time it was highlighted. \u00a0We stand once again asking, \u201cIs there value for the young black male.\u201d I answer unequivocally, Yes.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/span><\/div>\nKimberly Peeler-Ringer<\/a> in her reflection on the verdict noted the \u201cpersistent devaluation of black bodies.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/div>\nThe name of Trayvon Martin becomes the latest one etched upon a monument of Black lives ended because they were perceived as dangerous\u2026.There are countless Black men, women and children who were removed from this earth because of the fear of and de-valuation of Black bodies. Black lives ended because of the need to control, regulate and act upon Black bodies. Black lives ended because of the erroneous perception that the actions of\u00a0a<\/b>\u00a0Black person are indicative of the behavior of\u00a0all<\/b>\u00a0Black persons. This is not the first time we\u2019ve encountered the trope of the angry, bestial, menacing Black man. It\u2019s been used to feed\u00a0<\/span>fantasies<\/span><\/a>, reinforce sexual\u00a0<\/span>stereotypes<\/span><\/a>, sway\u00a0<\/span>voters<\/span><\/a><\/i>, sway potential jurors, and sway public opinion.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Peeler-Ringer She also focused her analysis on receiving \u201cthe talk\u201d that many young black boys and girls get from their parents.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\nThe shooting of Trayvon Martin caused many a parent of color to once again have \u201cthe talk\u201d with their children.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>That\u00a0talk, the talk when Black parents have to interrupt their children\u2019s innocence with cold hard facts about what little value some people will place on their lives. When you are a Black teenager, learning to drive takes on an entirely new context.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/span><\/div>\nAs these reflections acknowledge, many church leaders are wrestling with the meaning of this verdict. By offering these reflections, I submit that these writers are engaging in a public theology\u2014a theology not done in the halls of academia or wading through the volumes of systematic theological treatises\u2014but a theology, in this case, done in the context of pain and suffering. It is a theology done verbally\u2014or what I have called a <\/span>rhetorical theology<\/a>, one that intends persuasively to engage its aud
\nience while at the same time not afraid to wrestle with the question or stay in the tension of stuff that does not make any sense. Is reflective type of theology does not pretend to have all the answers\u2014matter of fact, it sometimes celebrates not having any answers at all, but invites all to come and reason together. It is out of this\u00a0<\/span>reasoning<\/span>\u00a0that a hopeful outcome comes, where we all listen, discern what the spirit is saying, and then as Crystal Lewis <\/a>reminds us, \u201c<\/span><\/span>pray for clarity on what I might do to help change the world.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n