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I don’t comment a lot about controversial issues on social due to the platforms limitations for productive dialogue. But the response to the *anything but unequivocal celebration to to the Botham’s brother forgiveness* concerns me enough to comment briefly.
1. I was deeply moved by the brother’s act of forgiveness. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve witnessed. I thank God for the work he’s doing in that brother’s life and I pray the Lord uses it to show himself, not only to Amber, but to the millions that witnessed it.
2. On the one hand, I trust and rest in the Lord’s providence regarding Amber’s sentence. God knows, he cares, and he’s the final judge and jury of how she spends the coming years.
3. At the same time, I’m not convinced that the American justice system is even handed in how it sentences majority vs minority citizens, particularly black citizens.
4. But I am convinced many white American Christians are oblivious to the conflicting emotions and justified response black Christians have to a 10 year sentence for murder and what feels like many glossing over this mans death.
5. What continually hunts me is imagining a scenario where the script was flipped:
• Black male cop enters white female neighbor’s home and kills her assuming she’s a burglar.
• Black male cop enters white female neighbor’s home and kills her assuming she’s a burglar.
• It’s later revealed the cop was sexting his partner and private messages reveal racist texts towards white people and questionable texts about fellow cops.
• Would white male judge give black cop ten year sentence and hug him?
• Would white sister of victim hug black cop and tell him she doesn’t want him to go to jail?
• How would white evangelicals respond to the entire scenario? How would black America respond?
• Would white sister of victim hug black cop and tell him she doesn’t want him to go to jail?
• How would white evangelicals respond to the entire scenario? How would black America respond?
• How many people unequivocally praised the forgiveness and dismissed others concerns but didn’t comment on the trial prior to the sentencing?
6. If you can imagine a scenario where the script was flipped and things would look very similar to what happened today, we have very different views of America.
7. But I hope you can understand why black America has a hard time believing this would have played out the same if the script was flipped.
Note: it’s unlikely I’ll engage responses due, affirming or non affirming, due to the platforms limitations. But if you have my number, hit me up. I’m happy to dialogue with friends. Blessings!
Correction: Jury gave sentence, not the judge.
