Seeing God's image
“Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.””
Genesis 1:26 NLT
“Dignity is God’s signature written on the soul of every human being.”
— Crawford Loritts in Leadership As An Identity
This weekend, the world was shocked to see white supremacist and hate groups gathering in Charlottesville Virginia. It was shocking, not just because of the size and scope of the protest, but because of the depth of the hatred expressed by these groups. Naturally, hate spills into violence. Article after article now confirms that the violence was not just a "protest gone awry" but a staged, well organized plan of violence.
In the aftermath of this violence which resulted in death and many injuries, was a dagger plunged into the collective soul of America. It's not fatal, but it was like pulling off the bandage of a wound perceived to be healing, but finding it festering, infected, and spreading. In reality, particularly for most people of color, the presence of this degree of hatred and evil is not surprising or even shocking. What was shocking was the responses of those who are called to wield the moral authority of our nation, and our faith traditions. While many were immediately able to speak against the hatred, others were silent, and a significant minority were defending the racist hatred and violence.
In the midst of the violence, there was one picture that literally stopped me in my tracks. I had seen the tragic pictures of Neo-Nazi's beating defenseless people, one of which punched a woman in her face, another of the horrendous car attack that killed a peace advocate, but none of these impacted me like this one;
This picture shows a counter-protester looking in the face of members of the KKK members. While, I do not know what led to this exchange, we see a courageous woman who dares to look in the face of those who are spewing hate and who have historically been responsible for violence that killed and maimed thousands of people of color. There are several ways to interpret this incredibly prophetic act:
Perhaps she is "staring" down the KKK members to show that she is not afraid or intimidated. While this is courageous, I suspect that this is a shallow interpretation of what is happening. Perhaps she is the aggressor and the KKK is simply respectfully listening to her opinion and perspective regarding racial equality. Alsthough our President may suggest that there was aggression from "both" sides, people present reported generally unilateral aggression from White Supremacists. So most likely this did not happen.
More likely this is a prophetic act of love. There is concept, common in eastern and African cultures that basically says "to be seen is to be loved, to be loved is to be seen". It is this concept, that is consistently demonstrated in both Hebrew and Greek scriptures where respect and dignity is bestowed by first appreciating another by giving them your attention. Jesus "Looked at" and "Loved" those who is ministered towards. By forcing an eye to eye gaze with someone who is hostile towards you, it does multiple things:
1. It forces the other to see you. It forces them to see a human being who defies their dehumanizing hate. It forces them to see a person with a beating heart, eyes that are windows to a soul, and a reflection and similarity to people whom they may love. Humanization is the first step is dismantling hate.
2. It forces you to see the other as a person. It is important that those who advocate for peace continually see the dignity of the image of God in all involved. This is the hardest aspect of peace advocacy. There is a continual temptation to dehumanize those who dehumanize others. Jesus's approach was love everyone, including those who oppose and oppress you. Turn the other cheek, resist evil, bless those who persecute you are not cliches, but the way to peace. It begins with seeing the dignity of God within every soul.
I pray that we become the peacemakers that the world desperately needs. It begins and ends with "seeing" other, even those who try to hide their humanity behind literal masks, as well as masks of hate, violence, and brutality.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
Pastor Michael Traylor
Genesis 1:26 NLT
“Dignity is God’s signature written on the soul of every human being.”
— Crawford Loritts in Leadership As An Identity
This weekend, the world was shocked to see white supremacist and hate groups gathering in Charlottesville Virginia. It was shocking, not just because of the size and scope of the protest, but because of the depth of the hatred expressed by these groups. Naturally, hate spills into violence. Article after article now confirms that the violence was not just a "protest gone awry" but a staged, well organized plan of violence.
In the aftermath of this violence which resulted in death and many injuries, was a dagger plunged into the collective soul of America. It's not fatal, but it was like pulling off the bandage of a wound perceived to be healing, but finding it festering, infected, and spreading. In reality, particularly for most people of color, the presence of this degree of hatred and evil is not surprising or even shocking. What was shocking was the responses of those who are called to wield the moral authority of our nation, and our faith traditions. While many were immediately able to speak against the hatred, others were silent, and a significant minority were defending the racist hatred and violence.
In the midst of the violence, there was one picture that literally stopped me in my tracks. I had seen the tragic pictures of Neo-Nazi's beating defenseless people, one of which punched a woman in her face, another of the horrendous car attack that killed a peace advocate, but none of these impacted me like this one;
This picture shows a counter-protester looking in the face of members of the KKK members. While, I do not know what led to this exchange, we see a courageous woman who dares to look in the face of those who are spewing hate and who have historically been responsible for violence that killed and maimed thousands of people of color. There are several ways to interpret this incredibly prophetic act:
Perhaps she is "staring" down the KKK members to show that she is not afraid or intimidated. While this is courageous, I suspect that this is a shallow interpretation of what is happening. Perhaps she is the aggressor and the KKK is simply respectfully listening to her opinion and perspective regarding racial equality. Alsthough our President may suggest that there was aggression from "both" sides, people present reported generally unilateral aggression from White Supremacists. So most likely this did not happen.
More likely this is a prophetic act of love. There is concept, common in eastern and African cultures that basically says "to be seen is to be loved, to be loved is to be seen". It is this concept, that is consistently demonstrated in both Hebrew and Greek scriptures where respect and dignity is bestowed by first appreciating another by giving them your attention. Jesus "Looked at" and "Loved" those who is ministered towards. By forcing an eye to eye gaze with someone who is hostile towards you, it does multiple things:
1. It forces the other to see you. It forces them to see a human being who defies their dehumanizing hate. It forces them to see a person with a beating heart, eyes that are windows to a soul, and a reflection and similarity to people whom they may love. Humanization is the first step is dismantling hate.
2. It forces you to see the other as a person. It is important that those who advocate for peace continually see the dignity of the image of God in all involved. This is the hardest aspect of peace advocacy. There is a continual temptation to dehumanize those who dehumanize others. Jesus's approach was love everyone, including those who oppose and oppress you. Turn the other cheek, resist evil, bless those who persecute you are not cliches, but the way to peace. It begins with seeing the dignity of God within every soul.
I pray that we become the peacemakers that the world desperately needs. It begins and ends with "seeing" other, even those who try to hide their humanity behind literal masks, as well as masks of hate, violence, and brutality.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
Pastor Michael Traylor
Mike, may I use the photo and some of this text this week?
ReplyDeleteSure!!!
ReplyDelete