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The Trayvon Travesty

7/15/2013

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The verdict is in and the jurors declared George Zimmerman not guilty of second degree murder or manslaughter of Trayvon Martin. On February 26 a few seconds after 7:16pm seventeen year old  Martin was shot by 29 year old Zimmerman.

Remarkablog is a blog about reactions to news and events through the lens of Scripture. The incident above occurred in Florida, many miles away from Minnesota. It occurred in a gated community between a black teenager and a neighborhood watch volunteer, the son of a white father and Hispanic father.

The question was not whether Zimmerman shot and killed Martin, the question was whether he acted in self-defense or did he act in hatred and evil intent. My observations made from a distance:
>Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch volunteer who wanted to be a police officer.
>Zimmerman despised young trouble-making teenagers.
>Martin was a young trouble-making teenager.
>Martin and Zimmerman got into a close, hand-to-hand fight.
>Martin’s life was ended by a gunshot.
>White women generally are distrusting and fearful of black men. The all-woman jury consisted of five whites and one non-white.

The travesty is that both men could have avoided this conflict. The travesty is that racism may have been given greater footing through this verdict. The travesty is that a seventeen year old young man never got to live out his God-appointed destiny.

Aside from armchair observations, what can be gained from this outcome?
>Every conflict is an opportunity to add fuel or water to the fire.
>Every conflict has the potential for God’s glory to be displayed through resolution, restoration and resolve.
>Every person will be judged by the perfect judge who sees all, knows all, and is perfect in His justice.

Romans 14:10-12,19
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.


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    Mark Radeke

    Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many.

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