From the desk of: Pastor Virgil M. Seaber, FCMI. The following is written by a dear friend Dr. Hugh H. Morgan, Editor of Hughs News. Hugh has put in words well written, better than any article written or reported by the news media. This is well worth taking your time to read and share!. The Tragedy of Ferguson, MO . . . The editor weighs in on this heart-breaking story The saga of the tragic death of Michael Brown, and circumstances that led up to this incidence in Ferguson, MO, are now history. However, the nation continues to suffer along with the family of Michael Brown in their grief and sorrow over the loss of their son. My heart goes out to them. I know what it is like to lose a child. We still grieve over the death of our daughter, Stephanie. We may never get over it; but with the grace of God and the comfort of the Holy Spirit we are working through it. The Brown family needs our prayers. They are hurting. Police officer Darren Wilson and his family are suffering too. They, also, need our understanding and prayers. No doubt Darren Wilson has a target on his back, and he and his family are not safe. He has resigned as a police officer without any severance pay or benefits. The people of Ferguson, MO, need our prayers, too. They will have to work through all that has happened and begin to work on making their city a better place in which to live. The pastors and church leaders of Ferguson, MO, need our prayers as they seek to lead their community in reconciliation and peace. They need the wisdom that only God can give as they minister to the people of this city. When I pastored Good Shepherd Pentecostal Holiness Church in the heart of Birmingham, AL, that was one block west of City Hall, and a few blocks from the Jefferson County Court House, I was president of the Greater Birmingham Ministerial Association when Dr. Richard Arrington was the first black to be elected mayor of Birmingham. Shortly after he was elected, I wrote a letter to congratulate him upon his election and compared him to Joseph in the Book of Genesis. I told him that he had a great opportunity to be like Joseph and treat blacks and whites alike with dignity and respect. When I read my letter to the executive board and the members of the Ministerial Association they voted unanimously for me to send the letter to the editors of the Birmingham News and Post Herald newspapers. My letter was published. Consequently, I got phone calls from people calling me a N Lover, and threats were made to kill my family and me. I was offered city police and Jefferson County Sheriffs protection. In spite of the threats, I never feared to be in downtown Birmingham at any hour of the day or night. The black community knew me as the Rev, and they protected me and my car. I have heard them say many times, Here comes the Rev. I learned that black people revere their pastors or ministers. What a wonderful trait and value system. That is not necessarily true of some of the members of our white community. Some people in Birmingham thought I was a liberal to support a black mayor, and that I would not last long in this southern city. Mind you, I was born and reared in Birmingham in the Heart of Dixie. The color of the mayors skin was not an issue with me, but his character and his calling to serve the people of Birmingham with integrity were of paramount importance with me. I had known him as a City Councilman and I believed he would serve well in his new elected office. One church leader in evaluating the situation in Ferguson when asked for his opinion about this tragedy and the outcome of the Grand Jurys findings and decision not to press any charges against Darren Wilson, he said, It is a matter of perspective. He had insight that enabled him to see this event from two perspectives, first as a black man, and as a former police officer. I would only add one word, balance. So, perspective and balance are twins in beginning the process to dialogue with the community, the authorities, and the police who put their lives on the line every day to protect the people and property. The subsequent reaction of the grand jurys announcement led to peaceful protects that turned into violence, arson, and looting. What about the perspective of the business owners who have had their stores looted, burned to the ground, and destroyed? Some of them, in my opinion, will never be able to open another business in that community. Then, the people of Ferguson will suffer because of a lack of businesses where they can shop to meet their family needs. No one wins when anger is acted out. The consequences of violent actions will be evident for many months to come. I learned from my daughter that I should be careful when dealing with half-truths because I might have the wrong half. The sage of the ages wrote: Proverbs 18:13 He who answers before listening — that is his folly and his shame. NIV Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. KJV Far too often I have tended to make a judgment without getting all the facts. It is important to listen not only to the words that are being said, but the deep feelings underneath these words. My clinical training in Clinical Pastoral Education has helped me greatly to get in touch with my feelings, and the feelings of others. However, I must admit I dont always live up to my own expectations of what I know I should do. My dad would often quote this Scripture verse: Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! KJV There are those who will not accept the truth that has been presented by the Grand Jury. Their perception, ideology or mindset about the tragic killing of Michael Brown is truth to them--forget the facts. They cant see what Michael Brown did wrong in his theft in a convenience store, ruffing up the clerk, disobeying a lawful order of the policeman, and attacking him physically. Apparently, they will not accept the facts from both black and white witnesses, and the results from the autopsies done by three experts in forensic pathology. They choose to believe a lie and will not come to discover the truth. So in essence their stance in this whole matter is based on fiction not fact. There are consequences to wrong decisions and actions. What is the answer? It is multifaceted. America needs God. Only Jesus can change the hearts and minds of men and women. In closing, I want to quote from Ben Watson, a black pro football player with the New Orleans Saints. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and played for the Georgia Bulldogs. He attended Stephanies church, Cornerstone Church of God in Athens, GA. She knew him and his wife. I think they have four children. I have met him when I attended the church with Stephanie. She related well to people of color and there was never any indication of prejudice in her mind and heart. To read the entire blog of Ben Watson you may Click Here to connect to the article. Here is what Ben Watson wrote: IM ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own sin. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT IM ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through His son Jesus Christ and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One thats capable of looking past the outward and seeing whats truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. Its the Gospel. So, finally, IM ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope.” I used to memorize poems and whole chapters of the Bible in grammar school. I am thinking of one of those poems as I write this article entitled, The House by the Side of the Road written by Sam Walter Foss: Let me live in a house by the side of the road Where the race of men go by-- The men who are good and the men who are bad, As good and as bad as I. I would not sit in the scorners seat Nor hurl the cynics ban-- Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man. It is amazing how these poems and Scriptures have shaped my life and helped to determine my destiny as a Christian who loves Jesus Christ and the Word of God. It is my prayer that my life and conduct will reflect the nature of Christ Who dwells within me. My desire it to fulfill the requirement of God as Micah the Old Testament prophet revealed it in Micah 6:8: Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? NKJV Thanks Hugh for this well written article that addresses problems we are faced with in America today. Continued Blessings, Virgil
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:34:27 +0000
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