There has been a great deal of debate in our nation over the last week and a half. Some folks said, in the wake of the attack, "this is NOT who we are." Other folks, including a number of my friends who are involved with the Black Lives Matter movement said no, "this is EXACTLY who we are." We could debate the meaning and merits of the arguments until we are blue in the face. I think a bigger question is at stake. "Is this who we want to be?"
I've heard a lot of talk this week about the need to work for "peace." I've heard a number of elected officials and church leaders call for reconciliation. I'm not praying for either of those yet. I'm not. One of the prayers our Prayer Book asks God to help us “fearlessly contend against evil and make no peace with oppression.” I’m not praying for reconciliation. I'm praying for conversion. I believe we need conversion before we can talk about peace.
The question itself makes me deeply uncomfortable.
I never answered the first question, about whether Jesus called this woman a dog. The question itself makes me deeply uncomfortable. But I think that has to be the case.
Because, when you look through the lens of systemic injustice, there is no denying that the Church, that those of us who claim to follow Jesus have contributed to and benefited from the exploitation of women and people of color.
