When I originally wrote this I had just seen the CNN report. As more information comes out, it seems maybe this wasn't a hate crime, but rather a dispute over parking (http://wunc.org/post/chapel-hill-shooting-what-we-know-so-far). I can't decide what's worse, killing for hate or killing for a parking space. Either way, my prayers at the end remain.
I begin with Isaiah 42. I can’t think of where else to begin.
I begin with Isaiah 42. I can’t think of where else to begin.
42 Here is my servant,
whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
This morning, CNN reported[i]
that Craig Stephen Hicks murdered a student at the school of dentistry at the
University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
Hicks murdered Deah Shoddy Barakat, already in the dental school, his
wife Yusor Mohammad who was about to enter the program, and Razan Mohammad
Abu-Salha, Yusor’s sister and a N.C. State student. Three victims, each under the age of 25. This is an awful tragedy.
CNN reports that Hicks was an
atheist and that he murdered these three because of their Muslim faith. Christian pastors need to be the loudest
voices decrying this tragedy. We must
stand with our Muslim friends against evil of this sort. I have many Christian friends who love to
rant about the evils of Islam. In these
exhortations, my friends mix critique of a religion with xenophobia and a
hatred of all things Arab (even though millions of Muslims are not Arabs).
We Christians need to speak up and
stand with our Muslim friends in the name of Jesus and for the sake of peace
and love. Yes, just an hour ago, I posted
a blog that is a book review of Jenny Nordberg’s The Underground Girls of Kabul.
Yes, my blog post is critical of aspects of Muslim culture, most notably
the lack of rights for women. However, I
do not hate Muslims.
I cannot hate Muslims. I look to the story in Isaiah’s poetry. God has called a servant who brings
justice. God’s servant is most gentle
with those in society who are most vulnerable.
“A bruised reed he will not break.”
He is for those who are weak, exposed, and in the minority. God’s will is that those trodden under foot,
those stomped under heel be raised to health and shalom (peace with the
possibility of prosperity).
Obviously dental school students are undergoing training that will
lead to affluent professions. So in that
sense these murdered are not vulnerable in the way the poor and under resourced
are vulnerable. But Muslims in America
are a minority at a time in history when many of our soldiers are fighting wars
in predominantly Muslim cultures where the enemy combatants are Muslim
extremists. Clearly some Americans like
the evil idiot, Mr. Hicks, cannot discern between an upstanding, peace loving
citizen (of any nation) and a misguided terrorist. Muslims in America have to face prejudice
that aligns them with terrorists when in fact they just American dental
students (or NBA players or school teachers or cab drivers). Sometimes the prejudice comes out in ignorant
Facebook posts. Sometimes it becomes
extreme, like in the case of the murderer Craig Stephen Hicks.
I believe Jesus perfectly fulfills
the role of the servant described in Isaiah.
So in this story, he is on the side of Deah, Yusor, and Razan. He stands with the victim. Jesus loves Muslims more than I do. I know my Muslim friends see him as a prophet
while I see him as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Christian views of Jesus and Muslim views of
Jesus are completely incompatible. There
is no middle ground.
However, Christians can affirm that
Jesus loves all people. And today, we
Christians can and must declare solidarity with Muslims. We must say it and mean it,
#MuslimLivesMatter. I don’t want Muslims
killed or harmed or marginalized. I want
them to have the same opportunities for a good American life that I enjoy.
A particularly chilling aspect of
this story for me is Hicks’ age. He’s
46. In a week, I turn 45. A guy just about exactly my age killed three
young people full of life and potential.
Why? Somehow his life led him to
be an atheist and a person full of hatred.
Somehow in the same number of years, my life led me to this point. I am shocked by what happened. All I can think to do is pray.
Oh
God, whose servant will not be crushed until he has established justice on the
earth, give justice to the families of Deah, Yusor, and Razan. Give mercy and healing to their parents and
to those who loved them and weep for them.
Raise up in our community people of peace, pastors and Muslim leaders
who will stand together for peace. Bring
healing to our blood-stained world.
And
Father in Heaven, convict the heart of Craig Stephen Hicks. I have in this writing, accused him and
berated him, and Lord, I am not sorry.
His sins have ended three lives.
I pray he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. And I pray in that time that he will meet you
and his heart will be turned.
Lord,
only you possess knowledge of the eternal destiny for Deah, Yusor, and
Razan. Some of my conservative Christian
peers would confidently declare them hell-bound because they failed to
verbalize a faith in Christ. I cannot do
this. Lord of the cross and
resurrection, I pray for these young people.
I look at their photos on CNN and see beauty and life. I pray you would receive them with your Holy
love.
AMEN
