Tensions are running high in the country and in the church. Sadly, instead of talking to one another, many have taken to social media to talk about one another. Christians have said some incredibly insensitive things, hurting African American brothers and sisters and also hurting brothers and sisters in law enforcement. We must remember that love begins with listening, especially to people who have different experiences than you. In this conversation, my friend Nolan Murray, a local police officer, shares his perspective on law enforcement, racism, and the vilification of police officers.
As brothers and sisters in Christ, we have a responsibility to recognize the fact that some people have unique challenges and experiences because of their ethnicity and others because of their profession. Either way, it is the role of the church to bear one another’s burdens. A church family must be a place where everyone is heard and loved.
Nolan and I discussed the following questions:
- What are some your favorite parts of your job? Why do you do what you do?
- What do you wish the average person knew about law enforcement?
- What are your experiences dealing with racism in your lifetime (not necessarily in law enforcement)?
- How has everything going on in our country made your job more difficult and dangerous?
- How can Christians both show support for our African American brothers and sisters *and* for our brothers and sisters in law enforcement?
If you haven’t already done so, you might want to also hear my previous conversation in this series, “A Christian Conversation About Racism.”
