Churches are challenged to organize and speak up in light of increasing gun violence in our community.
By Roosevelt Wright, Jr.
As bullets continue flying and lives are lost on our streets, the silence from Monroe’s faith community grows deafening. Renowned theologian Elton Trueblood implored Christians not to be complacent “pietists,” but purposeful activists confronting society’s ills. His prophetic call has never rung more true.
Our city stands at a crossroads as nearly every adult Louisianan will soon be permitted to openly carry concealed firearms without training. Instead of responsible gun ownership being the exception, it will be the norm for neighbors to go about strapped with AR-15s and concealed pistols. We are devolving into the Wild West – “locked and loaded” people existing in perpetual fear.
Last week, we saw two friends resolve a dispute by killing each other. They were both locked and loaded. On July 1st, nearly every adult in the state will be packing with guns under their coats, hidden in purses, and otherwise out of sight. Many will resolve disputes at gunpoint.
Throughout this disturbing shift, our religious leaders have been conspicuously mute, more preoccupied with anniversaries and musicals than the raging violence devastating our community. A handful have bravely raised their voices, but most seem content staging church events while our streets flow red.
We do not underestimate the power of prayer. But true faith requires corresponding action. As a fervent, God-fearing community, we cannot prioritize church teas while our young men remain in the crosshairs. When will we mobilize en masse – summoning courage to boldly confront the evil consuming us?
Trueblood’s words challenge the Church’s activist role: “If inadequate to changing times, it buries itself.” Our faith leaders can no longer idly spectate. Willful inaction indicts them as not taking seriously Christ’s call. Now is the time for pulpits to awaken – galvanizing flocks into a unified force confronting this crisis head-on.
