My brother pictured above

I am thankful for our justice system. It’s flawed and imperfect, just like us, but it exists and I am thankful for that. I am thankful there’s an objective measure by which possible guilt is assessed. Sometimes though there are things you’d just rather not talk about, and often those are the things that must be.

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17

When we look at Ferguson it could be easy to just see a whole bunch of people spinning wild in emotionalism. No doubt there are those taking deliberate advantage of a sensitive situation. Nonetheless, there is an uncomfortable fact that remains it’s the wrestling we don’t want to participate in. It’s the struggle of the oppressed our flesh seeks to dismiss because no one wants to really think about it. I am not debating Michael Brown’s guilt or innocence, and I am not debating Officer Wilson’s guilt or innocence either. The “why” behind explosive response to this situation is the thing that needs to be acknowledged.

There will be those mommas of black boys whose shoulders shake uncontrollably today because they fear their son may suffer for the shade of his skin. Their fear is founded. Not on the basis of Ferguson alone, but on the basis on our nation’s history, a history that will not just fade away. When cases like this go untried (right or not) it feels as though the next time it happens (and it will likely happen without all the headlines) there will be no fairness. It’s only a feeling, and we cannot live by feelings, of course, but they must be acknowledged. This is too deep to dismiss… Our justice system has no ability to scrutinize the motives of men. Our justice system provides no balm for the hurting in every camp in Ferguson, and it is more than ok to admit it. My heart aches for Michael Brown’s mom. My heart also aches for Officer Wilson’s family. No one wants all this. Thank the Lord Jesus Christ who saves us from ourselves most of all.

 The wise will pray for those who hurt, for those whose day to day reality reminds them of the perpetual lie that they are not equal.

This goes beyond Ferguson and those who experience little to no hostility based factors of physical appearance would do well to try to understand and even affect that reality for others by the way they live life, remembering the plight of those whose lives will meet prejudice again and again, even if that prejudice is only issued out quietly in the hearts and minds of those who give it.

It is inestimable the ramifications of racism hidden below the surface of the hearts of men.

Officer Wilson may not have held a single hidden fear or prejudice against black men, but we all know if we do and that’s something that can be repented of today. And by all means, pray for Ferguson.