Believe it or not, about the same time that the horrendous slayings were taking place at the historic Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina on Wednesday (June 17, 2015) evening, I was talking with two of my security people at church about the need for our security team to become more vigilant in regard to their duty. Regrettably, the massacre of 9 innocent people has become compelling proof of why we, in the church and Christian community, need to wake-up to an ugly and frightening reality. There is nowhere off limits to the fanatical, ultra-radical, and warped zealots who embrace an ideology of ethnic supremacy. These deranged, delusional, and often demonized people must be categorized in the slot with the radical Islamists. It pains me to say this, but we are living in a time when we must be vigilant and take some precautionary measures to protect ourselves from those who would intrude or sneak amongst us to harm us, due to our race or religious beliefs and practices. There are many out there, like this young man, whose minds have been taken hostage and indoctrinated with racial and religious poison. They have been predisposed and radicalized by white supremacists, spin doctors, talk show hosts, and those who are playing the race card on both sides in order to stay popular and increasingly wealthy. We must accept the fact or presumption, that there are sleeping cells, lone wolves, and incendiary people out there, which are human powder keys waiting to explode. A new day has dawned upon us when it is urgent that we awake and adjust ourselves to the reality of evil that lurks among us. This villain and enemy who is sinister and stealthy and can appear outwardly as innocent and harmless as a lamb. We must be vigilant and non-trusting of certain strangers and suspicious looking people who suddenly show up without anyone knowing them. We must be cautious and careful without loosing our compassion and hospitality. Many good things have come out of this tragedy that I believe will help to make all of us better citizens, neighbors, and South Carolinians. This murderous and cowardly act has seemingly brought many together in Charleston, as well as those in other areas of the state and nation, to the reality of racial hatred that is still very much alive and well in this nation.
It has demonstrated the power, strength, and unity of the black church and community to stand together in times of crisis and tragedy. Furthermore, it has featured and highlighted the resilience of African-Americans and our God given ability to be merciful and forgiving, even after our loved ones have been gravely wrong and massacred. Finally, as we have already discussed and established, it has sounded a wake-up call to all of us regardless of race, creed, or color. There are those who dwell among us and hate us because of our race, religion, and nationality.
These misguided people have been brainwashed and indoctrinated to do us harm through the influence and dictate of their insane ideology and beliefs. It is truly the time that we should “watch as well as pray.”
