"Don’t stay silent; overcome evil with good"—Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red on Ferguson, Eric Garner

December 8, 2014

Jake Luhrs, August Burns Red frontman and executive director/founder of the faith-based nonprofit organization HeartSupport, has posted a lengthy blog entry where he speaks out on the recent events surrounding both Ferguson, MO and the death of Eric Garner.

In the post, he sums up his intentions with a call towards Christians, saying, “To be silent is something we cannot afford to do for those of us that call ourselves Christians. We cannot allow to be further “led into the feeding” and turn a blind eye to those asking us just to simply validate that what they’ve experienced as minorities is, indeed, legitimate.” He continues by admitting, “The point of this blog is not a discussion about respecting authority, crime, looting, or any of that. This is about noticing that something within our churches and society is broken.

You can read snippets of what he had to say below. After you've digested his thoughts, be sure to let us know yours.

The problem is that many of the comments on the civil rights issues being raised that we’ve seen from white “self proclaimed Christians” is one of back-biting, snide comments, and pointing to statistics on crime within the African-American community as opposed to getting to understand their brothers and sisters in Christ’s perspective and exactly why and how they’re hurting. Many don’t understand the systemic injustice and profiling that can happen to our brothers and sisters simply because of the color of their skin. And it’s because they’ve never taken the time to ask them or hear their story, let alone care.

To be silent is something we cannot afford to do for those of us that call ourselves Christians. We cannot allow to be further “led into the feeding” and turn a blind eye to those asking us just to simply validate that what they’ve experienced as minorities is, indeed, legitimate. The point of this blog is not a discussion about respecting authority, crime, looting, or any of that. This is about noticing that something within our churches and society ISbroken. Far too many of us (Ben and I included) have stayed silent or championed “justice working” instead of showing compassion and mercy to those mourning that justice works differently for them. And as Christians what’s mind-boggling is we love God’s mercy and tend to want to skirt away from his justice, but when we’re asked to show mercy to others we instead champion justice. Yet the mindset of Christ in our lives is just that – showing love and mercy to others.

So many people are turned off by Christianity because we don’t live that faith feeling – the love we feel from God – towards others. We’re known more for our criticism, condemnation, and lack of love. But the faith we feel and the love we receive from God should make us emphasize with our fellow man. That grace given to us should remind us “we aren’t different from mankind. We will oppress. We will hurt others if left unchecked. But when we truly begin to take the mindset of Christ, he changes that heart issue.”

We ask that you in return, if you do indeed call yourself as follower of Christ, live the values of Romans 12:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Romans 12:14-21 ESV)