Whose Lives Matter?

I do not often write about current events, but the country has gotten focused once again on a tragedy. A policeman killed an arrested, handcuffed African American man. My only hope is that it was a stupid stunt, and not malicious, and intentional. But I can't climb inside the man's head.

And the black community is enraged. There are protests. There are riots.

I understand the anger. Many are calling this a sign that African Americans do not matter. Hence the BLM slogan.

As a follower of Jesus, how do I respond?

Scripture says that Jesus died for the whole world. He died for the Roman soldier, who put the nails in his hands. He died for the Jewish leaders, who turned him over to Pilate. He died for Judas Iscariot. He died for the arrested man. He died for the policeman. He died as an expression of his love for people. 

And if God loves you, you matter. There is a saying in some religious circles: "If you were the only person to sin, Jesus would have died for you . . . alone." And if God loves you, you matter.

So, black lives do matter. And white lives, brown lives, yellow lives -- and even blue lives -- all matter. And if they matter to God, they should also matter to God's family.

The media, of course, is focusing on the sensational. Fires, rock throwing. beatings, tear gas, and looting. The ignore the good, showing up among the bad. Like the 6 black men in Louisville, surrounding, and protecting, one lone white cop. Black men and white men shaking hands, hugging, praying together.

How should God's people respond? To quote Martin Luther King Jr:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that."