This weekend, as we commemorate Father’s Day, it is indeed bittersweet. All week long, our nation has gone through a roller coaster of emotions. From the sound of celebration and frustration during the NBA Finals, to the horror, despair and fear from Charleston, all in less than 48 hours.
We have been through so much in the last year, yet the question remains, “Where do we go from here?”
As I prepare to mount the pulpit tomorrow, my heart is riddled with so much anguish. So many are wounded, afraid and grieved at our current events. Every Friday evening at our church we gather corporately for a time of prayer, exhortation and testimonies. Last night was different. Before we did anything, I opened the floor for anyone who wanted to share about how they’ve felt concerning the tragedy that occurred this week. What began as a small discussion erupted into a flood of heartfelt and raw emotions, indicative that as a people, the wounds of racism, terrorism, and even persecution have resurfaced. In Kenya, we have several pastors connected to us. A few months ago, there was a shooting at a Christian school in Kenya which killed over 150 students. I’ll never forget the day one of the pastors called me crying and I couldn’t help but weep, trying to comfort as best I could.
Little did I know that a crisis was coming so close to home. We have seen a lot in the last year, from Ferguson, to Eric Gardner, to Freddie Gray and countless others but this brings another degree of fear: the church.
As a fifth generation African American preacher, the Church means everything to me. I’ve been in church my entire life, and have been preaching since a toddler, yet the horror of someone coming into a bible study or a prayer meeting with that intention is troubling. Similar to Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, I’ve done everything in ministry at a significantly younger age than most of my peers. This also caused me to be reflective, realizing that life is short, and we are here on assignment. I’m in awe of how God used him so strongly in a short span of 41 years. His legacy speaks a volume of words. In our context, bible study gatherings are significantly smaller than Sunday services and give people a chance to share and bond with each other. This was a time of fellowship, and it was interrupted by a strand of bullets.
Looking ahead, my heart grieves for the Emmanuel AME Church, and the families all affected by this tragedy. There is a spirit of murder, anger, and rage that has escalated in recent times and it has reawakened our nation to the challenges that exist for public safety, prejudice and racism. It is also a clarion call for us to prayer. All week long, Psalm 91:1 has been my comfort and shield. We cannot and must not allow the seeds of hatred to cause us to build walls against each other and not bridges.
In closing, I recently watched a movie in my seminary class called, *“Romero.”* It’s a powerful film chronicling the life of Archbishop Oscar Romero who was killed inside of his cathedral for boldly coming against the government for mass genocide in their nation. It’s been 35 years since his assassination and yet his words speak more relevant today than ever before:
“For the church, the many abuses of human life, liberty, and dignity are a heartfelt suffering. As holy defender of God’s rights and of his images, the church must cry out. It takes as spittle in its face, as lashes on its back, as the cross in its passion, all that human beings suffer, even though they be unbelievers. They suffer as God’s images. There is no dichotomy between man and God’s image. Whoever tortures a human being, whoever abuses a human being, whoever outrages a human being abuses God’s image, and the church takes as its own that cross, that martyrdom.” -Oscar A. Romero, The Violence of Love
May we lift up our Crosses and boldly proclaim the Gospel to a world that is hurting, afraid, and wearied. This is a time for us to **LOVE** boldly, unapologetically, and forcefully.
Tomorrow, I pray that on Fathers Day, we are reminded of the love of our Heavenly Father and how he is with us through it all.
P. S. Last week, I shared a message entitled Unashamed.
Expect Greater!
D. A. Sherron
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