Milwaukee, WI (August 28, 2020)—On Sunday, August 23, 2020, our eyes again witnessed the police administer blunt, brute and excessive force on Jacob Blake; an unarmed Black man living in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The shooting was yet another horrific example of injustice—shooting a man in the back at point blank range as his children sat in the car and watched. This came just three months after the horror of George Floyd’s death where an officer of the law kept his knee on the neck of Mr. Floyd for 8:46 seconds. Just as the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and Amaud Arbury were beyond enough, the shooting of Jacob Blake is well beyond the pale; and the subsequent killing of two protestors by a 17-year old vigilante speaks more to the crisis we now find ourselves in.
In Matthew 23, Jesus confronted the power structure of religious elites for their selective observance of sacred duties and civic affairs. In verse 23 He says, “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone.” Christ stressed that justice is not a small matter but a weightier matter. Micah 6:8 says we are to do justice. Jesus in Matthew 23:23 says that the more important matters of justice, mercy and faith we should not neglect. In the abnormality of a pandemic and the searing effects of racism, our nation prioritizes “reopening” and resuming a sense of normalcy over the health and well-being of her citizenry. All the while, a viral contagion and the rage of racism continues to kill and harm the lives of Black folks in our nation in profound ways.
The Lamb of God Church is a community of faith that trusts in the Lord with all our hearts and leads with the love of Christ. We take seriously the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 23:23 and uphold the message of Micah 6:8. We proclaim the importance of genuine faith that’s not just in words but also in our works. We strive for justice for all, especially the least, the lost, the left out and the left behind. We pray for God’s mercy as we all are recipients of His abundant mercies. We walk humbly with the Lord; and those in our church family know that if it had not been for the Lord on our side, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
Any church that ignores the ills and evils of racism in so doing ignore the teaching of Jesus Christ. The Lamb worships Christ and leads with the power of the Holy Spirit for a more peaceful and just society in accordance with scripture. We will continue to labor in the vineyard to do justice. We will increase our partnerships with those who also labor to that end. We lead efforts to register and mobilize our community to vote. We will press for accountability for those who abuse their power and perpetuate injustice. We will take to heart the missional work of justice and addressing the prevailing inequities in our city, state and nation.
Most immediately, we will continue our prayers for Jacob Blake, his family and the city of Kenosha. Most assuredly, we will continue to run this race with redemptive faith and labor for justice.
About Lamb of God Missionary Baptist Church
Lamb of God is a church rooted in Christ and service to community. We endeavor to balance spiritual matters with everyday life which we define as, “living by faith and growing by grace”. As a congregation, emphasis is placed on an increasing relationship with the Savior while creating an atmosphere where people matter.
Under the leadership of Rev. Christopher R. Boston as pastor, The Lamb has many ministries and programs that meet the needs of individuals and families. A dynamic Sunday worship begins at 10:15 am after 9:00 am Sunday School classes. WOW -Word on Wednesday- begins at 6:30 pm. For more information about Lamb of God and/or Rev. Christopher R. Boston call, 414.355.0931 or email, inquire@TheLambMKE.org.