Christians Leading the Way

I have the privilege of leading a multi-ethnic church in an urban context in Pittsburgh. We are a passionate community of followers of Jesus Christ, and we are committed to building healthy relationships with one another across cultural boundaries. I would like to share some of the language that I've been utilizing publicly during worship services and also privately in individual conversations with church members and community members. I am sharing it with the understanding that it may be helpful for some people who are searching for how to respond to the tension that is currently prevalent in the United States as a result of circumstances in Ferguson and New York. Here's the approach that I've been taking:

It is important for us as a church to acknowledge that there is currently a lot of tension in our country with regard to the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Followers of Jesus Christ must lead the way when it comes to reconciling human beings to one another because we have been reconciled to God. We cannot choose to be silent and disengaged on this subject. We must engage. We can get involved by praying, listening, and engaging in civil dialogue. All of those things are good, but they are not enough in and of themselves. Christians must also act. We can act in a wide variety of different and creative ways. We must each ask the Holy Spirit for discernment with how to act, but we must act. For some, action may include intentionally building relationships with people that are different from us racially and socioeconomically. Invite people to coffee, lunch, or dinner. Ask good questions and listen with an attitude of humility as Christ modeled. Uncivil discourse leads to an attitude of pride which deteriorates into an “us” versus “them” mentality. Civil discourse led by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit unites people together into a “we” mentality where we experience mutual transformation. Some may feel called to act by such things as protesting or writing or mentoring or discipling or worshiping together or advocating, but all actions should stem from healthy, cross-cultural relationships. Christians should be modeling these types of healthy relationships and authentic interactions.