Young Blogger

Racial Profiling

Is it wrong for the police to profile people based on race? Is it ever an acceptable practice?

I was with some friends last night and we discussed a number of topics. All of us in the group are followers of Jesus. We all are involved in ministering to others through teaching, mentoring, service, etc.

One topic that came up was fighting crime. We were talking specifically about our neighborhoods on the west side of Chicago. Two of the brothers suggested that they have no problem with the police profiling people based on race.

For example, a white person walking or driving through a neighborhood that is known for selling drugs and predominately African-American in make-up. They thought it would be OK for the police to stop them and ask questions simply based on race. The assumption would be that the person was there to buy drugs. They also suggested that it was OK to stop a young black male in a car or walking in a predominately white neighborhood. The assumption would be that the person was up to no good - theft, drug dealing, etc.

They made very clear that they do not approve of the way the police often treat people in these situations, but that their profiling based on race, if done in a respectful and polite manner, would not be a problem to them. For instance if the situation ended like this - "Sorry for the inconvenience, hope that you have a nice evening".

I strongly disagreed with them personally.

But I want you to know that these are not uninformed individuals. Both of them grew up in Chicago. Both of them live on the west side of Chicago. Both of them are faithful followers of Christ. Both of them have had negative interactions with law inforcement for doing nothing, but "looking suspicious".

This does not give you the whole discussion or every side of the reasoning, but I want to know what you think about this issue.

Is it ever right for law enforcement to stop and question people based on race? White, Black, Arab, Mexican - there can be assumptions that come with each depending on the context. Is there a better way to fight crime, terrorism, drug dealing, etc.?

Where are you going?

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re likely to end up someplace else.”

YOGI BERRA

Knowing Jesus

In Philippians 3:7-11 Paul states:
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

We are going through Philippians as a church and are getting into chapter 3 this week. As I read Paul's feelings, I am convicted.

Paul longed to know Christ. Paul considered everything else as loss in comparison. He called them rubbish or a more literal translation: dung, manure, or excrement

Paul also stated that righteousness only comes through faith in Christ. No other way. This is not a popular opinion today. People want you to believe that one can be accepted by God through many different means.

How have you been lately? Do you long to know Christ? Is everything else rubbish in comparison?

The body at work

Have you ever been frustrated with the church not working together? Does it ever seem like denominations are not connected or urban churches are not connected to suburban churches?

Today, a good friend of mine (Pete Sutton) brought some of his middle school youth group on a work project here in Chicago. They did painting and cleaning work for Inner City Impact where I used to be employed. What a blessing to see these junior high age young people from Christ Church in St. Charles serve the urban church.

Later in the afternoon, we joined up Pete's group with a group of high students involved in a group called Youth Leaders In Action, led by two other friends. (Everett Gutierrez and Amber Harvey) We were bowling as a part of a fundraiser. This group of young urban leaders connected well with their younger Christian brothers and sisters from the suburbs. It was great to see these teenagers being positive Christian role models for the younger youth.

Pete connects with Everett and Amber. Contacts are made and relationships are established.

This is the church as it is meant to be. Relational. Connected. Urban to Suburban. Brown to yellow to white to black. People of all races, locations, and economic classes all in agreement for the purpose of the kingdom.

The church in America has a long way to go, but it is encouraging to see glimpses of progress.

How can the church do more to facilitate these type of connections? How can we continue to grow on uniting the church for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God?

Jury Duty

For the last two days, I have honored my responsibility as a citizen and served on a jury. Although somewhat inconvenient to be summoned, the whole process is quite interesting. From jury selection, to the trial, to jury deliberation, it was a memorable experience to be a part of our justice system at work.

I have many thoughts from the experience so I will just share a couple.

One thing that I found interesting is the whole idea that average citizens have a say in the outcome of the rule of law in our society. It is interesting to think that any of us can be chosen to represent our justice system in such a way that can decide criminal cases and civil cases. This is not only a responsibility, but also a privilege. People from all walks of life are trusted with this duty.

For example, on the 12 member jury that I was on, there were: women and men (mostly women), people of a number of races (5 Hispanic, 2 Black, 5 white), a number of social or economic classes (including a convicted felon on house arrest currently), and many other sub categories.

Another thing that I found interesting is the whole jury deliberation concept. The idea of getting twelve complete strangers into a room to reach a consensus is quite a feat by itself. It takes communication. (talking and listening) It takes courtesy. It takes compromise. In some ways, it is a good place to practice community.

I am thankful for the experience and the people that I met along the way.

What do you think about the jury system? Should the average citizen be given so much say in the outcomes of the enforcement of our laws?

The power of the resurrection

I Corinthians 15:12-17, 21-22

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

...since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

The Wondrous Cross

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Talking Heads

I am conservative. Conservative theologically. Conservative socially. Conservative politcally for the most part.

In my post on Monday, I expressed my frustration with conservatives especially in their inability to talk candidly about race.

Barack Obama, in his incredible speech on Tuesday, pointed this out when he said:

Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.

They are now doing it again with his speech. Instead of gleaning from its wisdom, they are simply playing politics. "Dismissing any legitimate discussions of racial injustice and in inequality" as Barack said.

I hear Rush Limbaugh do this all the time. Last night, it was Shawn Hannity that I heard doing the same: not listening to people on his show who think differently, cutting them off in mid sentence and then misrepresenting what they were saying, more concerned with winning arguments than on coming to a common understanding. Ignorance. Pure ignorance.

It is no wonder that people think of conservatives as arrogant, stuck on themselves, and know it alls who don't listen to anyone. That is how these guys act. It makes me cringe at the idea of being conservative.

I think that good leadership is a person with good idealogy who is humble enough to learn from others and listen to others.

Have you observed these same attitudes from conservative people? What will it take for people to get past winning arguments to building coalitions? How do we get people to learn together from people who are different from them?

Barack Obama's speech on race

WOW! That is the first word that comes to mind. I hope that everyone takes the time to listen to or read the speech given today in Philadelphia by Barack Obama. Not for political reasons, but because of the incredible explanation and insight that he offers on race relations in America. It is an amazing speech and I believe historic.

I know that many will choose not to listen to it and continue to push the issue of race into the closet. I am going to paste a few segments of the speech here to offer food for thought.

"...But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America - to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality. The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through - a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American".

It is time for America to talk about and deal with race and not walk away once again.


"The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright's sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning. That anger is not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us from squarely facing our own complicity in our condition, and prevents the African-American community from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change. But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races".

This is what I was talking about in my previous post. Not trying to understand why this anger exists.


I believe that Obama's speech today is a speech for the ages. But I wonder if America will respond. Will it be ignored? Will it be argued away? Or will it help to facilitate real dialogue?