Rev. Clementa Pinckney of Emanuel AME, Charleston SC
In his sermon on the mount, our Lord Jesus exhorted his weak
little flock of disciples, saying, "Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"
(Matt. 5:16 KJV). Last week, the relatives of the slain in the Charleston
Massacre embodied, with stunning humility and love, the character of Christ as
they addressed the killer,
Dylann Roof, face to face in the courtroom. One
after another, tearfully, they forgave him, prayed for God’s mercy on him, and
called him to repent. In effect, they called the killer to become their bother.
The life of God in the souls of men, the overcoming love of Christ before the
powers of hell, was movingly on display before a watching world.
Rev. Clementa Pinckney, descended from the slaves of the
signer of Charles Pinckney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was
clearly a great pastor. The response of his church to his murderer shows that
Jesus is a great Savior. Here is the testimony.
Nadine Collier, daughter of 70-year-old Ethel Lance: “I
forgive you. You took something very precious from me. I will never
talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again. But I
forgive you. And have mercy on your soul. You’ve hurt me. You hurt a lot of people. But God
forgive you. And I forgive you."
Anthony Thompson spoke for the family of Myra Thompson:
"I forgive him. My family forgive you. But we would like you to take this
opportunity to repent. Repent. Confess. Give your life to the one who matters
the most, Christ, so he can change your ways no matter what happens to you, and
you'll be okay. Do that! And you’ll be better off than you are right now.”
Felicia Sanders, mother of young Tywanza Sanders: “We welcomed you Wednesday night in our
Bible study with open arms. You have killed some of the most beautifullest
people that I know. Every fiber in my body hurts, and I will never be the same.
Tywanza Sanders was my son, but Tywanza was my hero. Tywanza was my hero! But
as we say in the Bible study, we enjoyed you, but may God have mercy on you.”
Alana Simmons, granddaughter of 74-year old Rev. Daniel
Simmons: "Although my grandfather and the other victims died at the hands
of hate, this is proof—everyone’s plea for your soul is proof—that they lived
in love and their legacies will live in love, so hate won't win."
The sister of DePayne Middleton Doctor, 49, admitted,
"For me, I’m a work in progress and I acknowledge that I am very angry.”
But she remembered her sister teaching her, “We are the family that love built! We have no room for hate
so we have to forgive. And I pray God on your soul. And I thank God that I
won’t be around when your judgment day comes with him. May God bless you.”
The late
Christopher Hitchens, a notorious atheist, claimed that "religion poisons
everything." These people are evidently not poisoned. Indeed, just the
opposite. They are being perfected in love. Ask yourself: Is my church and
my personal discipleship in Christ helping me (and my children!) grow to become
more like these people?
In his diabolical ignorance and confusion,
this miserable young man wanted to provoke a race war. Instead, he got deeper
sympathy and understanding between black and white Americans than we've seen in
a long time, perhaps when we need it the most.
When times are darkest, Christ shines the most brightly.
Consider the cross itself. Satan's death blow was the triumph of
Christ. What Roof meant for evil, God is using for good. So ask, “How can
I be part of this good?”
