Restorative Justice

Yesterday the story on repeat in the media was of four young black men and women who tortured a white, mentally disabled male in Chicago and posted a video of it to Facebook.

This is a horrendous act of violence that no one should be subjected to. It is simply heartbreaking.

What is also heartbreaking is the reactions I am reading on social media. People blaming the Black Lives Matter Movement, even though they have no connection to this situation or these people and they constantly define their goals as everything this crime is not.

I am so discouraged when I see my friends and family posting hatful things about these four young black people. I am hearing cries for persecution to the full extent. Well, don't worry. They will be. They will get sentenced to life in prison, or if not that long they will certainly be sentenced for a long enough time that they will have no life left to live once they get out. Why? Because unlike white people, they won't be seen as having futures to destroy. A white male might evade sentencing because of the future of his athletic career or a young, rich while male might not "pay" for killing 4 people drunk driving because he claims "affluenza." These are real cases we've seen in recent years. But rest assured, this will be the defining moment in these four young black lives. They will never stop paying for their actions.

Now, I need to make two things clear: What these kids did is horrible and wrong. These 'kids' need to be 'punished.'

By punished, however, I do not mean they need to be locked up behind bars for the rest of their lives, only talking to loved ones through glass and always being subjugated to the beatings and horrors of prison life. No. What good does that do? That treatment accomplishes nothing and it's about time we started thinking differently about how we "punish" people.

One of the goals/guiding principles of BLM is Restorative Justice. This is something we should all be fighting for. The official definition is: a system of criminal justice that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large. This type of justice is better for everyone involved - allowing for forgiveness, restoration, renewal, and moving on - both for the victim and for the offender. This justice does not spit on you and tell you to go rot in hell for the rest of your days. This justice says, "I see you. You are a person. You have feelings, aspirations, fears, dreams, people you love, etc. Let me help you."

What keeps us from administering this type of justice is the hardening of our own hearts. When we see a crime happen or we are victims of a crime our first instincts scream of anger and revenge. Although it may be natural and it may be the "American way," it is a lose-lose situation. You will carry around that anger the rest of your life and the other person/people involved will have no life.

God says there is nothing NOTHING we can do to separate ourselves from God. God created us. God is with us. God loves us. Our human brains cannot seem to understand this love and we sure as hell cannot love other people in this way. We are SO bad at it. But God remains. Regardless. Therefore, we have hope and we have the aid of God in working on it.

So this is my prayer:

Gracious God,

Thank you for your unwavering love for humanity. Help us to understand the ways in which you love us. Soften our hearts, open our eyes, and open our ears that we might begin to see each other in the same light as you see us. Help us to love one another as you love us.

Lord, I pray for the disabled boy who was recently tortured. Thank you for bringing him safely home to loving arms. Surround him with your love and care.

I pray also for the four people who assaulted him. Lord, search their hearts and make them new. Give them the strength to admit their faults and give the victim/victim's family the strength to forgive.

I pray, Lord, for better and brighter futures for all involved. Please be with our country as we face a time of great change. May the conditions of all life be restored. I pray especially for the black communities in this country, for the LGBTQ communities, Muslims, and all immigrants/refugees. Be with them, Lord, and create for them safe spaces. Move through the hearts of all humans so that we might see positive changes in living conditions, education, jobs, etc.

Trusting in you, oh Lord

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.