The Mission Church of the Nazarene

    I substitute teach in an urban community on the south east side of the Chicago area. My encounters with black youth occur on a daily basis. 
    There is a lot of turmoil right now concerning black youth.  I am not here to debate jury decisions (i wasn't there), but I do want to voice a concern. 
     My Facebook is riddled with comments like "thug", "gangsta", and "hooligan". It saddens me how much of this comes from my Christian brothers and sisters.
     Because I know and love a whole lot of "thugs", and in reality,  they are just real live teenage kids needing love and guidance as they figure out life. 
     Just today a student was telling me about his court date for a bad decision. My heart broke for a boy,  a real boy,  who needs love and mentorship not a derogatory label.  He is a child.  He might look like a man,  but he isn't yet.  He's just a kid with too many hormones and not enough guidance.
    My thoughts are this,  communities are hurting,  people are hurting,  and while you may think they are wrong, calling names is the opposite of Christ like.
    Christ would be there.  Not with hurtful words or Facebook statuses,  but with embraces and listening ears.  We must learn to listen if we are ever going to come together. We must get out of our space and look at things through different eyes. We must embrace the ones we fear,  the ones who are different than us,  and our enemies.  Not just because it's a nice sentiment,  but because it is our calling.
     The kids I work with aren't always easy to love for everyone,  but they are just kids.  With hopes,  with dreams,  with people who love them,  and they already have a whole bunch stacked against them.  So while you may think you are referencing a specific person or event with your words,  they feel like you are addressing them,  labeling them,  and giving up on them.  Hear that in their voices.  They don't know how to tell you without screaming sometimes (remember they're teenagers), so listen humbly and closely enough,  so they don't have to. Ultimately though,  remember they are kids, real people,  beloved of God,  and worthy of respect.