Brokenness. Some days we see subtle hints of it. On other days its intensity grips a country.
The horrific event in Charleston at “Mother Emanuel” AME Church June 17 was one of those moments. A young man filled with hate toward a people whose skin color is the only thing he knew walked in to a prayer gathering and killed nine of them.
It didn’t surprise many of us. We have seen evil like this before. Just as we were about to change the channel, something different happened that caught the attention of the world. One by one, each family member walked into a courtroom where the gunman was being arraigned, stared evil in the eye, and said something that didn’t make sense: “I forgive you. Confess Jesus as your Lord and be forgiven.”
The statements from the families were more shocking than the breaking news of the event. Throughout history, all great preachers have come to Charleston in hopes of igniting a revival. The sermon preached by the family members in the courtroom rang out louder than the preaching of Wesley, Whitefield and Graham. It is just like God to ignite an awakening through a small prayer service.
The Church rose to her feet and began to push back darkness with love. An act that was intended to divide people brought them together instead. Prayer gatherings across denominational and racial lines unified a city around the Gospel. Even the chants of the Black Panthers were drowned out by the singing of “Amazing Grace” in the streets, and the Church in Charleston united.
But time moves on, and CNN has transitioned to another story. Fox News is focusing on another problem. The attention of the world has been distracted by other things for now.
In order to capture their attention again, the Church must rise up in love. It must continue to offer forgiveness and life found in the Gospel. The Church must unify beyond the walls in the city and love black as well as white, poor as well as rich, Democrat as well as Republican. South Carolina was the leader in secession; let the Church in South Carolina be remembered for how we led the nation in unification.
I stood at the front steps of Mother Emanuel Church a week after the tragedy in silence as I heard the Gospel being shared with those who were asking questions. Others quietly wept around me.
And then I heard a voice: “Lee?” I turned around, and it was my next-door neighbor from my home. God sent me 120 miles to share with my next-door neighbor. We talked about the tragedy, flags coming down, and gun control.
Then I said, “In the midst of brokenness, we always try to find an answer to fix it. Lowering a flag will not fix our brokenness. Controlling guns is not the answer. The only answer to restoration is the Gospel of Jesus. He is the only one who restores life to the broken and transforms us from the inside out, which will lead to flags coming down and guns being controlled.” She agreed.
Don’t let their lives be lost in vain. Pray for your neighbor. Love the unloved. Forgive the unforgiven. Share the Gospel. Be united.
— Do you struggle with sharing Jesus with someone close to you? Consider reading “Close Encounters” by Lee Clamp, available at CourierPublishing.com.