As a Christian, I have been really disappointed in Christian leaders believing the media narrative around this and fanning the flames of racism and division by virtue signalling their support for rioters. These same leaders have been mocked and shamed by the media for decades and suddenly they take everything the media says as gospel truth.
It was very clear from early on that George Floyd was a complicated figure--he has a rap sheet a mile long--including burglary with a deadly weapon and drug dealing charges. He was involved in producing pornography and was likely also involved in pimping out trafficked women. He himself didn't just push drugs, but was likely a high functioning addict.
He may have been a 'person of peace,' he may, as his brother has said, have been a 'god fearing man,' but his life is actually emblematic of the real problem in the African American community, a lack of agency and culpability for their own failure and sin as individuals. Instead of repenting, seeking forgiveness and extending forgiveness to others, they maintain their own innocence while at the same time burning down their communities and put all of the blame on groups and forces other than themselves.
Same way the Apostle Paul was complicated--I cannot judge whether or not he really did start to turn his life around and whether the claims of faith he made within the last few years are true or not... that is for God to judge. There's a lot on his rap sheet that makes him look like an irredeemable sack of dirt, but God's grace is available for people just like that!
As a Christian, I have been really disappointed in Christian leaders believing the media narrative around this and fanning the flames of racism and division by virtue signalling their support for rioters. These same leaders have been mocked and shamed by the media for decades and suddenly they take everything the media says as gospel truth.
It was very clear from early on that George Floyd was a complicated figure--he has a rap sheet a mile long--including burglary with a deadly weapon and drug dealing charges. He was involved in producing pornography and was likely also involved in pimping out trafficked women. He himself didn't just push drugs, but was likely a high functioning addict.
He may have been a 'person of peace,' he may, as his brother has said, have been a 'god fearing man,' but his life is actually emblematic of the real problem in the African American community, a lack of agency and culpability for their own failure and sin as individuals. Instead of repenting, seeking forgiveness and extending forgiveness to others, they maintain their own innocence while at the same time burning down their communities and put all of the blame on groups and forces other than themselves.
Why is being a lifelong piece of shit criminal "complicated" now?
Same way the Apostle Paul was complicated--I cannot judge whether or not he really did start to turn his life around and whether the claims of faith he made within the last few years are true or not... that is for God to judge. There's a lot on his rap sheet that makes him look like an irredeemable sack of dirt, but God's grace is available for people just like that!