Speak up for those who have no voice, for the justice of all who are dispossessed. Speak up, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy (Proverbs 31:8-9; Prov 17:26).

I would like to encourage everyone to read Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile’s two posts: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/

• Why We Never “Wait for All the Facts” Before We Speak
• Is It “Goodbye Evangelicalism” or “We Evangelicals Join You in Your Suffering”?

Here’s a few quotes:

This post is a recognition that evangelicalism is useless in its own back yard, with its own neighbors, while it changes its twitter avatars to identify with persecuted Christians half a world away.

Orthodox evangelicalism is dead to the marginalized because it’s so allergic to the margins. It wants its mainstream, its tree-lined streets of cultural acceptance, its reserve and respectability….the church has turned her head, closed her eyes, and pressed tight her lips.

“Well, the most pervasive mistake I have made was in believing that because our cause was just, we could be sure that the white ministers of the South, once their Christian consciences were challenged, would rise to our aid. I felt that white ministers would take our cause to the white power structures. I ended up, of course, chastened and disillusioned.” Martin Luther King in his book, Why We Can’t Wait

I have been concerned about the militarization of the police (using tanks, etc.). I realize their rationalization is that they want to be as well armed as the criminals. I am ashamed of strong-arm robbery and the rioting and looting occurring in Ferguson. Before the shooting of Michael Brown, I watched the video of an unarmed man, Eric Garner, choked to death by NYC police. What was his crime? He allegedly possessed “untaxed cigarettes.” I love our police protection, but they have options available to them before using deadly force. What has happened to the Protect and Serve attitude vs. looking at community members with distrust and suspicion?

It has been 13 days since Michael Brown was shot and killed. We have not heard the official autopsy results, nor have we heard the officer’s account of what happened. If it was a police officer that was shot and killed, do you think 13 days would go by without information on the investigation? It’s time for Christian people to stand up for justice.   If our leaders won’t show leadership courage then we need to start a grassroots movement.

He has told you, O man, what is good;  and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness,  and to walk humbly with your God?  Micah 6:8