Romans 12:15 says: Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.
For the past few years, I've been a supporter of BLM. Seeing video footage of unarmed Black people being shot and/or killed over and over again has been awful to say the least. I've been attending a multicultural church for the past 10+ years and I feel for my Black brothers and sisters whenever these killings occur. I mourn with them. But to be totally honest, I've never actually had to feel what they feel until the recent attacks on Asians in America. It's especially painful when it's one of the elderly, but it's also painful to see young people attacked, verbally harassed, spit upon, etc... Simply because they look like me, my parents, my brother, my cousins or my kids. Our Black brothers and sisters have had to watch these injustices for centuries and it breaks my heart.
When bad things happen like on 9/11, I go to church, seeking God's answers on why these things happen. I listen for the pastors to give words of wisdom and comfort. And lately, it seems like "bad things" have been happening again and again. And while I know that only God has all the answers, I want my Christian family to mourn with those who mourn. Most churches are great at the rejoicing with those who rejoice, but not all excel at mourning with those who mourn.
I believe that, like the Civil Rights Movement, this is an opportunity for America to grow and combat racism - personal and systemic. And I believe God's church should take the lead on this work... because Jesus asked us to love Him and to love our neighbor. He wants us to take care of those who are oppressed and mistreated with the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer has always been the simplest yet most powerful tool, and that's why I am always praying for justice and peace... for you cannot have one without the other.
Since the pandemic, I've been attending the First Chinese Church of SF and Sunset Ministry (its sister church) virtually - and they are excellent at addressing #BLM in addition to #StopAAPIHate in their prayers and messages. I don't expect them to speak about it every week in their messages, but they DO always include these issues in prayer... They even had a Sunday School (The Gathering) in which a Black and Asian pastor led discussion on the recent attacks on Asians (many by Black people), and discussed how many of us grew up with racist ideas about Black people. It was uncomfortable discussing these things, but many of these things needed to be acknowledged and I'm glad people were able to be honest. After the insurrection, it comforted me to hear the SF pastors pray about White Supremacists who carried "Jesus Saves" banners alongside Confederate flags. How it angered them also that our Lord was being coopted for a racist message just as the Klan burnt crosses in front of Black homes. How dare these people commit atrocities in our Lord's name?
My local church has always excelled at welcoming and growing new believers. When I first started attending, I was basically an agnostic that was trying to find out if I truly believed in Jesus. They helped me build a personal relationship with Christ along with some awesome friends, and for that I'll always be grateful. They continue to do His work in growing new believers and I am reminded that Christ's body has several parts to serve different functions. But as Ecclesiastes 3 says, "There's a time for everything; and a season for everything under the heavens." I believe I'm now in the season where I feel God's calling me back to my SF churches to "mourn with those who mourn." I will still pray for my local church but, for this season, I will be going home to SF.
