Saying no to a Narrative of Death -- General Assembly Reflection #7

Even as our first evening at the General Assembly was coming to a close word came that George Zimmerman had been pronounced Not Guilty in the shooting of Trayvon Martin.  I've not had enough time to watch the news or digest it, but I've been aware of its importance.  Part of the reason is that we are sharing our convention space with the NAACP annual meeting.  I've not had conversation with any of our neighbors about this, but it's been on my mind.  How have they perceived this act of violence? 

As Disciples we have diversity, but we're predominantly white.  I am a white straight male, which means I've rarely faced prejudice anything like my friends who are persons of color.  I can't truly say that I know what it's like to face racism that deprives me of the rights to vote, to get a job, or face the prospect of being profiled.  So, as a community how do we seek to understand each other's stories?

Yesterday afternoon I had the privilege of hearing Walter Brueggemann speak to the issue of stewardship.  He did so in the context of what he called a narrative of death, one that is rooted in extreme individualism, rampant consumerism, and the need to accumulate -- because we believe that we can never have enough -- it is a theology of scarcity that leads to the belief that my stuff is worth more than your life. 

As we continue our gatherings this week -- what vision will guide us?  Will we let the narrative of death that leads to the death not only Trayvon, but so many young people, define our vision?  Or will we let the resurrection be our guide? 

Let us reflect upon these things. 

Comments

Greg said…
"Say No to a Narrative of Death"

Where would you put abortion, which your church supports, on the spectrum of the "narrative of death?" As morally equivalent as "the prospect of being racially profiled," or less death-y, and thus less sinful than that?



Also, which part of abortions of convenience, which +90% of abortions in this country are, are rooted in the narrative of death that Brueggemann calls "extreme individualism?"

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