Hope
God has placed us in Cleveland as spiritual parents. This article, "Raising Black Boys with Hope," hits home both figuratively and literally living and ministering just 1.2 miles (a mere 4 minute drive) from where Tamir Rice was tragically shot and killed 5 years ago this month. I mourn because it could still happen today - the issues of racism and prejudice are no closer to being reconciled, "solved' or "taken care of" in Cleveland or in our nation than they were on that heartbreaking day in November 2014. Sin still prevails; Christ-centered reconciliation and God-ordained justice is desperately needed. Our heart must always be like that of God's as shown throughout scripture: "Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow's cause" (Isaiah 1:17, HCSB).
Many nights, I look out at our parking lot at dusk and see young, pre-teen and teenage African American boys playing basketball. I see lives, stories, smiles, people I love, people made in the image of God with value and purpose. Others see threats or future threats. If I dwell on it for even a moment, fear takes over. I must learn with the author to trust in the sovereignty of God while praying ever more fervently for the eternal salvation and earthy safety of our teens.
We recently learned about a phenomenon known as "fourth grade failure syndrome" which is something that predominately impacts boys of color. By the time a boy reaches the fourth grade, his self-image is nearly destroyed and his general outlook on life is poor. Hope is all but gone. These fourth grade boys often grow up to be hopeless and hardened teenagers who grow up to be lost young men. This bleakness is directly challenged and met by the incarnational Christ displayed in and through His church. The gospel means hope not only for our sin, but also our brokenness and hopelessness. Christ can and does transform, and He uses His church to do just that.
My prayer is that the church rises up and challenges the systems and circumstances that causes the innocence of children to be stripped from them. I pray that we, the church, comes alongside our communities with the passion for raising up boys, teens, and young men who understand the hope that is in the gospel because they have seen radical, gospel-centered justice prevail. Let us not forget our call of reconciliation and restoration as we remember our restoring God who reconciled us to Himself.
The podcast "Evangelizing Youth in The Selfie Age" provides insight on the next generation with content addressing how the deep concerns about justice are found in the person and ministry of Christ.
-Julia
Many nights, I look out at our parking lot at dusk and see young, pre-teen and teenage African American boys playing basketball. I see lives, stories, smiles, people I love, people made in the image of God with value and purpose. Others see threats or future threats. If I dwell on it for even a moment, fear takes over. I must learn with the author to trust in the sovereignty of God while praying ever more fervently for the eternal salvation and earthy safety of our teens.
We recently learned about a phenomenon known as "fourth grade failure syndrome" which is something that predominately impacts boys of color. By the time a boy reaches the fourth grade, his self-image is nearly destroyed and his general outlook on life is poor. Hope is all but gone. These fourth grade boys often grow up to be hopeless and hardened teenagers who grow up to be lost young men. This bleakness is directly challenged and met by the incarnational Christ displayed in and through His church. The gospel means hope not only for our sin, but also our brokenness and hopelessness. Christ can and does transform, and He uses His church to do just that.
My prayer is that the church rises up and challenges the systems and circumstances that causes the innocence of children to be stripped from them. I pray that we, the church, comes alongside our communities with the passion for raising up boys, teens, and young men who understand the hope that is in the gospel because they have seen radical, gospel-centered justice prevail. Let us not forget our call of reconciliation and restoration as we remember our restoring God who reconciled us to Himself.
The podcast "Evangelizing Youth in The Selfie Age" provides insight on the next generation with content addressing how the deep concerns about justice are found in the person and ministry of Christ.
-Julia
Comments
Post a Comment