A Twisted Crown of Thorns ®

I know social injustice and racial issues really cause a lot of polarizing tension in communities. But the bible says that the solution to the depravity, wickedness and injustice in this fallen world is the gospel. If the right balance is not made with most of these social issues and agendas one can get preoccupied running down rabbit holes chasing shadows. What do I mean?

Atlanta, GA– Pastors, ushers and members of the congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church wore hoodies instead of their Sunday best to protest the killing of Trayvon Martin.

“We’re standing as the church of nonviolence to say that a hoodie is not a weapon,” said Senior Pastor Rev. Raphael Warnock. “We stand in solidarity with the family of Trayvon Martin. We stand in support of our children who deserve better than to be stigmatized and stereotyped.”

Pastor Warnock stood in the pulpit on Sunday wearing a maroon Morehouse College hoodie.

Ebenezer is one of countless churches across metro Atlanta and the nation recognizing this as “Hoodie Sunday.”

‘Hoodie Sunday’ is just another band aid social fad. Social justice is good but it has it’s place and shouldn’t replace the exposition of the word of God nor the preaching of the gospel on Sunday. Why should congregational worship of God be put on hold on Sunday because of a social agenda?

The gospel is the power of God to change the heart of any sinner of any race and tribe. And we all are sinners in need of mercy and grace. The gospel has the power to transform the offender among us to the point that he  will say, “I was once a blasphemer and  a persecutor and  violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief”.

The same gospel can change the offended to the point that he will say, “whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

Therefore pastor when you call people to church on the Lord’s day,  point them relentlessly to the cross. Both the offended and offender need the gospel…not a social agenda. Extol the immeasurable depth of the riches of Christ’s wisdom and the knowledge of God!

Some of us (you see) cannot afford hoodies – shall we then skip church all  together?

Related articles

• NY black state senators to wear hoodies for Trayvon Martin (thegrio.com)
• Florida killing sparks ‘hoodie’ protests (ajc.com)
• NY Church Members Wear Hoodies In Memory Of Trayvon Martin (kenyatta2009.wordpress.com)
• NY Church Plans Hoodie Day For Trayvon (miami.cbslocal.com)
• Hoodie Wearing Church Members Demand Justice In Martin Shooting (miami.cbslocal.com)