Once again, questions and concerns about the accessibility and the use of guns to respond to perceived threats and grievances arise after yet another shooting. Ralph Yarl, a young black man in Kansas City, made the simple mistake of going to the wrong house to pick up his younger brothers. The shooting has made national news, and it has once again revealed how deeply embedded racism is in our country and how the melanin of one’s skin puts one in greater danger. It calls us to wrestle with what justice looks like, naming this a hate crime. Many conversations are happening in the media as well as in our communities and households. What more is there to say?

As the church, as people of faith, we have something to say – the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news of the gospel proclaims that God so loves the world. Every single person is made in the image of God, and we are all united as God’s beloved. No one should fear getting shot because they knock on the wrong door! Naming and confessing the reality of racism in our country and in our own lives may make us uncomfortable, but how can we renounce the forces that defy and rebel against God – the sin of racism – unless we acknowledge those forces? The gospel calls us to repent and turn back to God, who has made and loves a beautifully diverse creation.

Over and over again, we see the way of violence, particularly gun violence, is used in response to perceived problems. The gospel proclaims that following Jesus is walking alongside one another with forgiveness, mercy, care, and love – not with violence. Jesus told his disciples at his arrest and subsequent crucifixion, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.” Gun violence has no place. We are called to build communities throughout God’s holy creation where we do “not hurt or destroy on all God’s holy mountain.” 

The gospel proclaims and calls us to participate in God’s reign of

 justice, as the body of Christ, as people of faith. This is not an isolated

 event; it is yet another reminder of how pervasive both racism and

 violence are in our society. Ultimately, what we have to say is Christ is

 risen, and we are called to live the truth and hope of the

 resurrection. Faith calls us out of buildings to be the people of God in

 this world, to step into the public arena, speak up and work together

 for justice. As complicated, challenging, and even uncomfortable as it

 may be, the hope of the resurrection continues to fill and empower us,

 and we have work to do!