The Shooting Of Alex Pretti
My heart was disturbed when I heard about the violent death of Alex Pretti. I then watched a video I did not want to watch, maybe you did the same. If you haven’t heard about the story, you can learn more here. My challenge to every follower of Christ is to think theologically when the tension is high, the emotions strong, and the people in the Facebook comment section seem to have collectively lost their moral compass.
Christian tradition offers lament as a way to name our sorrows to God. We lament the escalating tension in the city of Minneapolis. We lament partisan responses to this tragedy that seem to divide us more deeply. We lament that 10 gun shots were fired into the back of a person made in the image of God. We lament the disconnect between what certain leaders are saying and what we are seeing with our eyes. We lament some protestors have been throwing objects at officers. We lament the lack of trust in the follow up investigation when state investigators were physically blocked from collecting evidence at the scene. We lament accusations without evidence that dehumanizes a person or implies someone was a deserving recipient of violence. What are you lamenting? There is much to lament.
King David lamented in Psalm 13:1-2, "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?" Maybe you are praying a similar prayer today. How long oh Lord will our country be so divided? How long oh Lord will violence be so prevalent?
Many Psalms of lament pray in a raw and vulnerable way to God and yet surprisingly they end on a tone of hope. David ends Psalm 13 that way. “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.” David just spent most of the chapter shaking his fist at God and then he ends like this! How is it possible?
As followers of Jesus, we are able to lament with faith. We look the brokenness of sin and death straight in the face then we courageously believe a new future is possible by the power of Jesus Christ. I believe that in my heart, so I pray. I’m praying for peace with justice. I’m praying for healing in Minnesota and healing for our nation. I’m praying for wisdom for leaders, wisdom for officers engaging in immigration enforcement, and wisdom for peaceful protestors. I’m praying for justice and accountability for anyone who violates the law. I’m praying for Christians to take this opportunity to offer a Christian witness. Yes, this is an opportunity for Christ followers to show the strength of our faith, our commitment to seek truth, our desire for peace with justice, and our capacity to see the image of God even in people we strongly disagree with. How will you allow your faith to inform your response to this moment?
If you would like to talk further don’t hesitate to email me at PastorMike@SpringChurch.org. I am so grateful we are the type of congregation that can engage in deep and challenging conversations from a place of faith and genuine care.
