#emmanuelame

I don't want to hear about how yet another senseless destruction of black lives is an isolated incident, because if it's not clear by now -- it's not. This is the face of white privilege that is really white supremacy, folks. And I don't want to hear about how the shooter's mental illness was to blame, because I'm sick and tired of how mental illness is demonized as something deviant and violent, a view that makes the world dangerous for those living with mental illness -- especially people of color who live with mental illness whose lives are doubly endangered because of both of these attitudes. Here's the chilling reality: In a world where we routinely sacrifice black, brown and queer bodies for our own security, comfort and ease of mind, to protect our own privileges and smugness, their deaths are not only a logical outcome, it is a requirement. This is the reality of systemic, stigmatizing shaming that takes the form of routine violence and oppression -- it makes human beings into logical sacrifices. That is what this nation is built on. That is what our theology is built on. That is what our lives our built on. Every death by cop, every shooting, every border patrol that pushes migrants into the desert, every shakedown and stop and frisk, every blind eye to violence, every vote for security rather than justice, feeds that beast. No more no more no more.

God of justice and God of mercy, we confess before you today that we have sinned in your sight. We have worshipped the idols of white supremacy and the might of the gun. We have hardened our hearts to your people, sacrificing them this day and on too many others on an altar of blood and centuries old indifference. We turned away our faces when they cried out How Long O Lord and asked for your justice. God of weary years and silent tears, open us to your prophets who testify to your truth that ‪#‎blacklivesmatter‬, so that we may rebuke the helplessness forged by our guilt and reconcile ourselves with our black sisters and brothers through listening, believing what we hear and asking with humility how we may serve. Cleanse our lips that we may testify to those who still worship these idols about your way of forgiveness and lovingkindness, and ask them to take your better path. Break us open that we may remember that it is your way, found in mutual fellowship with others, and not our own strength, that will reshape the earth to mirror your heaven. Be with us in the stillness that comes when we sit with others in grief, and in our cries when we March with others for change. May it be so. ‪#‎charleston‬ ‪#‎EmmanuelAME‬

https://plus.google.com/+DonInbody/posts/J6B88qq2fTb