The Gospels of Jesus Christ,
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are four different accounts of the same Person.
Although the accounts are different, they are truthful. The results of these
accounts brought closure, peace, and even, comfort. Why?
Each account shows a different view
somehow of our Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew’s account was told to show the people
that He did fulfill the prophecies to be the Messiah. The account begins with
His genealogy and continues with events surrounding His death and resurrection.
In the Gospel of Mark’s account
Jesus is shown as One to serve and not to be served; a servant. Also, the
audience to which the author wrote to was a Roman audience, unlike Matthew’s
whose audience was Hebrew.
Luke’s account is different because
of the writer’s background and profession. Luke was the only Gentile writer,
meaning he was the only non-Jew. Writing from this point of view created a
point of view of an adoptive child who would inherit a kingdom. Most Jews
believed they were the chosen people of God.
Luke practiced medicine. This would
allow him to look upon people, not only from a medical point of view, but see
them in their true self. Most doctors attract a comfort of honesty from their
patients, and even strangers.
The Gospel of Luke was written
showing the humanity of Jesus Christ and His life in a chronological fashion.
The first three Gospels, Matthew,
Mark, and Luke are often referred to as the synoptic Gospels, as they are very
similar. The Gospel of John was different from the others not only in style,
but also content. John’s purpose was to show the deity of Jesus Christ. Again,
all these books were written by different people to different audiences with
different purposes and from different views, yet all these were truthful and
brought closure and comfort.
Recently, an incident has resulted
in chaos, violence, arrests, and injuries even though the account was told
factually based on eye-witness accounts and concrete evidence. The result
became so hated that some witnesses surfaced conveying a different account,
even though the evidence could not uphold their account. Why?
The purpose of this article is to
show how truth will always bring peace, comfort, and closure, even when told in
different perspectives with different backgrounds to different audiences while
sin, unjustness, prejudice, and hate will seep out of an incident, even when a
story is told correctly. The latter will always propel anger, confusion, and
acts of violence.
The case of the fatal shooting in
Ferguson, Missouri of a young black man, Michael Brown, age 18, by a police
officer, Darren Wilson, white, 28, is a prime example. First, let’s view the
incident.
At 11:54 am, August 9th,
2014, Michael Brown was shown on surveillance video stealing some cigarillos
from the Ferguson Market and Liquor store with his friend Dorian Johnson. At
12:01 pm, Officer Darren Wilson arrives on the scene. Still sitting in his
police vehicle, Officer Wilson tells the two men to move to the sidewalk. An
altercation occurs, as Brown strikes Officer Wilson and tries to take his
weapon away from him. Officer Wilson fires twice, hitting Brown once in the
thumb while the other shot misses. Only wounded, Brown flees. Brown runs only a
little way when he stops, realizing he cannot elude Officer Wilson. With his
back turned and his hands raised, Brown turns around, drops his arms by his
side, makes a grunting sound, and begins to run towards Officer Wilson. Officer
Wilson fires, wounding Brown. Brown is not detoured as he keeps running towards
Officer Wilson. Officer Wilson continues to fire until Brown is fatally
wounded.
Riots and looting of local
businesses follow the next few days, as well as peaceful demonstrations and
vigils. Local police assemble 150 officers in riot gear, prepared with tear
gas, rubber bullets, bean bags, and even a helicopter. Cars were vandalized and
officers were confronted.
On November 22, a grand jury
consisting of nine white and 3 black jurors, came to the conclusion that there
was not enough evidence to indict Officer Wilson of any wrong doing. Further
riots, looting, and vandalizing began.
In the accounts of Jesus, many
stories were told of the same Person. Although Jesus died at the end, comfort
was found in His story. With Michael Brown’s story which also resulted in
death, only frustration, anger and violence resulted. What’s the difference?
Although the evidence in Michael
Brown’s incident seems straight forward and confirmed, with over 44 witnesses
and well-documented evidence, the incident is viewed as just another case of
police brutality and bigotry of the black race. The Michael Brown case is
obviously a story that must be read between the lines and viewed more closely.
Was there anything that happened before the incident that could have helped to
create the present feelings?
Between the years of 2003 and 2012,
there have been 39 people fatally shot by St. Louis police officers. Only one
of those was indicted, but he was later acquitted. Also, there is a statute in
Missouri backing up police departments that may cause fear in some communities.
The statute states that the police can shoot to kill if they reasonably believe
that their suspect has committed or attempted to commit a felony.
Another aspect would be to check
the attitude of the police. Here are some incidents that happened connected to
the incident. First, there was a report of a police officer allowing his police
dog to urinate on a memorial of flowers that was set up for Michael Brown.
Another was the destruction of that flower memorial by police vehicles.
Some officers were relieved of duty
or suspended because of duty unfit for a police officer connected with
incident. One was a St. Ann’s officer who was suspended for pointing his rifle
at peaceful demonstrators. He not only pointed his rifle at the peaceful
demonstrators, but also used profanity and threatened to kill them. This
officer eventually resigned.
Another officer was filmed pushing
a journalist and making violent-provoking speeches to an advocacy group who
promotes protecting the Constitution. This officer later retired.
One officer was suspended after
comments he made on Facebook. These comments included “these protesters should
have been put down like a rapid dog the first night,” and “where is a Muslim
with a backpack when you need him?” This officer also threatened many
journalists. This officer was fired after internal investigation.
Two officers shot a young African
man, after they said he was 3-4 feet close with a knife in an overhand grip.
The police released a video taken by a bystander with a cell phone that shows
the young African man was further away and had his hands down. The man was
advancing towards the cops with the knife asking them to shoot him. A lawsuit
has been filed against the police department and the government.
A federal lawsuit has been filed by
many protestors connected with the Michael Brown incident listing many officers
and officials of government.
Another involved an off-duty police
officer shooting a man who he testified had a gun. Family members and others
said he was holding a sandwich. Gunshot residue was found on the victim’s
hands, but the different versions of guns reported by the police and the
results of the locations of some of the wounds being in the back of the
victim’s body throws hesitation on this case.
And last, is a happening on
Christmas Eve when an 18-year old black male was shot by police saying he had a
gun at the time. This incident is still being investigated.
During the demonstrations there
have been 205 arrests, seven members of the public injured among with four police
officers injured.
Along with the attitude of the
police, let us investigate the attitude and demographics of the Ferguson
community. Although, St. Louis is predominantly white, the suburb of Ferguson’s
population is mostly black. The community as a whole has a low crime rate, but
does contain areas of high risk. The town has a population of 21,000 and
consists mostly of hardworking, stable middle income residents. Ferguson’s
police department of 53 officers has only four African-American’s.
The incident of Michael Brown is
not a story of wrong doing, but one of public outcry. This is not a story of
how a young black man was killed by police without cause, but how the attitudes
of each of us needs to change. But where does that change start? Do the police
become more lax, possibly endangering their lives? Or does the change begin
with the black community and its representatives?
Maybe we can look to the account of
Jesus for an answer. In His story, Jesus was wrongly accused and wrongly
sentenced for a crime He never committed. His agenda wasn’t about His ethnicity
or the rights of a statute or even to justify Himself. Jesus’ sole purpose was
for love. Jesus died for His Father asked Him. Jesus loved the Father with all
His heart. Jesus died for God so loved the world, He was willing to give His
only Son.
The answer begins with all of us.
Allow this incident be an opportunity, first, for the local churches. Allow the
pastors to be like Jesus, and be messengers of peace and comfort, not catalysts
of people’s fears and hatred.
Comfort the Brown family promoting
love and compassion. Of course, if the church is not already involved with the
community, use this incident to become involved. Help those looking for work to
find work; train others to become better qualified. Create opportunities for
young men and women to be involved from basketball tournaments to teaching
classes of skills. Create food pantries and clothes closets that promote self
help, instead of a place to receive free stuff.
The church also needs a
relationship with the police department. They can create funds for different
equipment needed to Bible studies during breaks to providing meals. Also, if
there are any jails, is to have times of worship and Bible studies for the
prisoners and the officers.
The black community representatives
(I do not call them leaders as each home should lead) should be concerned about
resolving the problem instead of being re-elected. This means their job is to
try and get both sides to talk in a peaceful manner and denounce any riots and
vandalizing.
The media needs to report on the
events with the agenda of reporting the events, and not trying to
sensationalize an event to sell their product. The media needs to be
responsible.
Outsiders need to view the
incidents with caution. Don’t pick sides because of what may be depicted, but
research for all the facts. Hold the incident in your heart with prayer. Allow
God to direct you in your understanding and direction.
Our first concern should be for the
grieving family and their needs. Let us be a solution instead of being a
problem. If churches are helping the families, let us help the churches help
the families.
Our next concern should be in
helping the officer involved. Let us reach out to him with the same peace and
comfort of the grieving family.
When we do these things we fulfill
Jesus’ teaching when He said, “"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU
SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of
your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the
good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.…
May He be allowed to heal and
reign!
By Matt Gwinn
