Tears and Indignation
Adam Toledo is dead. A 13 year-old boy who bears the image of his Creator was shot and killed by police on March 29th. This afternoon the video of this horrific act was released. Chicago is reeling.
Some in our city and church family are demanding swift accountability and defunding the police. Others are pointing out that Adam was evading authorities and was in a gang. While we may have different impulses we should all have the same response, open God's Word.
When we do, the Scriptures instruct us to do two things today ... weep and be angry.
God is grieved.
When brokenness, violence, and injustice invade his creation, God is filled with sorrow. These words perfectly described the reign of King Saul, the first king of Israel. In reflection upon his decision to make Saul king God said, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments" (1 Samuel 15:11). That word "regret" really means that God was sorrowful and grieved. In Paul's letters the character of God is written as doctrine to the Church, "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). The Toledo family is weeping. Our city is weeping. Therefore as a church family, we mourn.
God is angry.
Witnessing his people's faithlessness and the powerful take advantage of the weak, God's wrath burns hot. The writer of Lamentations makes it plain, God "has cut down in fierce anger all the might of Israel; he has withdrawn from them his right hand in the face of the enemy; he has burned like a flaming fire in Jacob, consuming all around"(Lamentation 2:3). This is why anger is not inherently sinful, but rather a godly response to injustice. Those are the guidelines given to Christians in Ephesus, "Be angry and do not sin" (Ephesians 4:26). A thirteen year-old boy was shot with his hands in the air. Therefore as a church family, we should be angry.
Anger and grief filled Jesus' face when he went to Lazarus' tomb. We're told that "Jesus weeps" (John 11:25). But two verses later he is "deeply moved" for the second time (John 11:33,38). Many scholars agree "deeply moved" is anger; specifically Jesus is angry at death. Jesus responds to the loss of life with tears and indignation.
Jesus did not make sure the tears of his friends were justified.
He wept with those who weeping in the face of death and suffering.
Jesus did not check the context and backstory of Lazarus' death.
He was immediately angry at death's violation of life he created.
This is our first move as Christians, those who know Adam's Creator, we weep and we are angry. By God's grace our tears and indignation take us to the hill called Golgotha. The fullness of God's anger and sorrow are poured out on his Son. With his hand open wide, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24). That means one day tears will be no more and anger will not be necessary. But that day is not today.
