Dameon E. Madison<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nFor some weeks now, I have been struggling, attempting to organize my thoughts enough to be able to write. \u00a0\u00a0I confess, that I have suffered from sensory overload here of late. \u00a0There has been so much I have read, observed, conversed about \u2013 things that just seem nonsensical. \u00a0\u00a0I\u2019m sure you are wondering what has me in such a mental muddle. \u00a0Well, all I can say is I\u2019m weary of the \u201cisms\u201d of our society, especially racism and oppression. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAs I think on recent events it seems that our society has become desensitized to the reality of their existence. \u00a0Moment to moment conversation to conversation it seems we tuck our heads to truth turning a blind eye to what is real. \u00a0Racism, oppression, \u201cisms\u201d still exists. \u00a0\u00a0Admittedly, I am frustrated, saddened even, at the extent many go to decry a reality they know nothing about. \u00a0Conversely, I find myself befuddled at those who have completely embraced capitalism and are willing to ignore truth for the sake of a dollar. \u00a0\u00a0The avoidance, the apathy, and the ignorance \u2013 all have me in an emotional and intellectual quagmire.<\/span><\/p>\nMore than that, theologically I wrestle with the lengths \u201cChristiandom\u201d goes, to rush past issues yet to be confronted and reconciled. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is here where much of my emotional tension rests. \u00a0\u00a0How is the church so silent on oppressive issues? \u00a0How do we continue to worship a God of justice and reconciliation and do nothing? Why do we want to rush to fix something we will not face?<\/span><\/p>\nI am concerned the church has lost it compassion and Christ centered worship. To study the life of Christ is to behold a life of One who had compassion and concern for all \u2013 including the <\/span>Least of These<\/span><\/i>. \u00a0To study the Bible is to see where we are commanded to embrace not only righteousness but also justice. \u00a0To adequately \u201clove our neighbor as ourselves\u201d is to be concerned about the needs and conditions of others. \u00a0To worship Christ is to have compassion for His people. \u00a0\u00a0But, to truly animate these sentiments poses an Inconvenient Truth. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI wonder if we want to rush past conversations about our \u201cisms\u201d and move to hurried reconciliation to avoid the inconvenience latent within veracity. \u00a0\u00a0Maybe, it\u2019s too inconvenient to admit the sociological or economic privilege from which you benefit. Maybe, it\u2019s inconvenient to confront the reality that this same privilege may have given way to oppressive behavior \u2013 even if not born out of hatred. \u00a0Maybe it\u2019s inconvenient to accept that silence is often complicity. \u00a0Maybe it\u2019s inconvenient to admit that we have become more concerned with a Sunday event than the \u201cLife Between Sunday\u2019s\u201d reality of those we are called to shepherd. Maybe it\u2019s inconvenient to admit that we have become apathetic and have bowed to the very oppression God has called us to stand against. \u00a0\u00a0Maybe, just maybe, we are suffering from theological selective amnesia.<\/span><\/p>\nYes, reconciliation must be an objective, intertwined with an open conversation geared toward healing, repentance and restoration. \u00a0\u00a0Yet, it is impossible to reconcile when there is no admission of the need to. \u00a0\u00a0We cannot fix what we will not face. We must be willing to deal with the uncomfortable realities of our world.<\/span><\/p>\nThe same energy we invest in \u201cpopular topics\u201d we must also place toward racism, sexism, economic disenfranchisement, equal opportunity in education, access to clean water, redlining, drug and gun infiltration, police brutality, mass incarceration . . . Truthfully, we must have compassion toward the oppression of God\u2019s people in any form. \u00a0\u00a0This too is inconvenient, as we have to be willing to stretch beyond our comfort and love beyond ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/p>
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<\/a>by Dameon E. Madison<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n