The words of Tracy Chapman’s iconic song have been ringing in my head since the unjustified murder of Renee Good and now the senseless murder of Alex Pretti by federal agents.
If not now then when?
If not today then
why make your promises?
A love declared for days to come
is as good as none.
Julia Goldie Day
These words echo the words of civil rights leaders and should shake us to our core. Life is lost right now. Precious human lives will be taken again.
Untrained and unknown people behind masks operating as federalized secret police murdering people is illegal and immoral. Christians must understand now:
- Our love and forgiveness from the safety of our pews will not stop the slaughter.
- Our votes in November will not matter if political representatives will not or no longer have the power to act.
- Our activism will not stop violence if violence is the end goal of the regime. Even peaceful protests already have a deadly cost.
- Rhetoric like we must “uphold the law” is a lie we must not allow to stand. You cannot break the law to uphold the law. Lawlessness is not acceptable.
Many in the Trump administration are responsible from the top down as well as supportive Republican senators and House members. Simply impeaching one or another will not remove the problem, only rearrange it. Christians have a moral imperative to act now.
“Christians have a moral imperative to act now.”
Act now by sending pastors and church leadership to Washington demanding immediate resignation of the president, vice president and cabinet including the secretary of Homeland Security and attorney general (the speaker of the House should also resign for supporting the president’s agenda).
These people of faith should prayerfully remain in the halls and surround the Capitol with this singular demand until it is accomplished. If we need an example, we have only to look to former Rep. John Lewis for inspiration. Churches should fund this endeavor collectively.
Those who remain behind should flood the phones with the same demand. Go to 5calls.org for more information about an easy way to call your representatives.
Most noteworthy in these action items is to realize white cisgender males are the least likely to be harmed and have an important voice to lend. This racist, bigoted, fascist regime wishes to create a state where democracy rules only in name, and the rights of wealthy straight white men are above all others. Know you are the most likely to be heard because you hold the most power. We desperately need you to use your voices, bodies and privilege. This is your now.
Chapman’s song continues:
Now love’s the only thing that’s free
We must take it where it’s found
Pretty soon it may be costly
Love is given freely yet is costly. We must learn the paradox of this lesson now. We love our God and neighbor; we love and act now with the steadfast love of our God who sustains us.
Julia Goldie Day is an ordained minister within the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and lives in Memphis, Tenn. She is a painter and proud mother to Jasper, Barak and Jillian. Learn more at her website or follow her on socials @JuliaGoldieDay.