Black America Complying with the Police

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A pastor out of the Atlanta area drew controversy when he suggested that young Black men, or Blacks period, should stop blaming white police officers for the killing of Blacks. In his context, he explained that Blacks should comply instead of resist police when they pull them over or approach them.

Much of the Black community felt betrayed by his words and others defended him saying he was correct in saying this. “Stop blaming white cops for the killing of black kids,” Pastor Mitchell told his congregation during his Sunday (April 13) sermon. “Instead, teach your black children to be obedient towards authority,” which is not wrong. But in the context of adding the police as blameless was something he should have considered.

Those offended argue that he used his words unwisely and did not consider the fact that many Black people do comply yet are still murdered by police who are bad apples. Those who defend him are usually people who stand behind the police actions regardless of who is killed; some Christians, and those who have a racial biased toward Blacks.

Honestly, and from a social perspective, he is wrong, and from a religious and biblical perspective, he is also wrong. He is wrong socially because most Black people and others do comply with the police. There are some who run or talk back or resist arrest, but that does not justify them being killed.

From a biblical perspective, Jesus was killed by proxy of the government and many of His disciples were also killed for not complying with the government laws. They were commanded not to speak or do things in the name of Jesus Christ, yet they did anyway. But they were no more in defiance of government authority than they were in compliance with the will and mission of God.

God told them not to fear for their lives when preaching the gospel; “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28. He also told them that they if they loved their lives more than Him, they were not worthy of Him. “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 10:39.

The disciples were dedicated to the gospel more than their own lives. However, if they resisted authorities for any reason other than that, they would surely pay the price as punishment from the governing authorities. The scripture calls for obedience to government in 1 Peter chapter 2 which reads; “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” Verses 13, 14.

Not every law imposed by men or the government are of God’s will. So, believers should be cautious as to what they should or should not do. Man’s law allows people (and believers) to commit adultery, divorce, have abortions, commit bribery, usury and more. Though these ordinances are allowed by man, is the believer free to do these things apart from God’s law? “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” Romans 6:1.

Believers stand outside the laws of the land to the point of obedience to God. If we have done nothing wrong, we should not be punished by man. This is injustice and what Black Americans have faced for centuries. What he should have told his congregation was to comply with God always, even to the point of death, because there is a demonic force in this country that seeks to kill Blacks whether they comply or not.

Eventually, he apologized for what he said after realizing that he misspoke.