My Thoughts on the Charleston Murders

The Late Rev. Clementa Pinckney

I've been reading report after report about the massacre at Charleston. In Christian media, such as an article at Charisma.com asks the question, "What the Charleston Church Massacre Says About American Culture?" This, like many articles, use this tragedy in Charleston to "spiritualize" and pontificate on various subjects from "pervasive darkness in the nation" to a "wake up call" to the entire church. As I learned in journalism class a long time ago, do not "bury the lede" -- meaning do not side step the true story. Christians have to stop blaming the devil for everything, so long as people have the power of choice. We also have to stop placing any burden on victims in the wake of tragedies, and keep 100% of the focus and pressure on perpetrators, sympathizers, and others at risk to commit the same behavior. We need to try to prevent racist attacks by dealing with racists and racism through prayer, intervention, and education.