This is Not Us!
Dear Pastors,
Precisely, this is not who we are (at least not 99.99% of us) as our PM clearly reminded us on Friday afternoon at her first Press Conference after the Christchurch shooting incident. But sadly our innocence was robbed from us and now we have to face the reality that NZ will never be the same.
It has been very encouraging to be part of a widespread Christian response that has accompanied an incredible community wide response that I’m sure we have all found very moving. I am so impressed at the words and actions from our PM in particular. A masterclass in leadership here. It’s absolutely the right thing to do especially at times like this to reach out in love and compassion to our Muslim neighbours.
But I am worried about a few things this morning.
- I worry about our children. As I listened to my 6 and 8 year old granddaughters mention, albeit briefly over the weekend, the shooting incident I heard a couple of little voices express dismay and apprehension. Here’s the thing. There’s a new vocabulary mainstreaming these days. It wasn’t around in the 80’s and 90’s when I was raising my kids and certainly wasn’t around when I was a kid in the 60’s. Here are the words:
- Hate.
- Terror(ism).
- Anger.
- Violence.
- Shooting.
- Guns.
- Fear.
- It’s not safe……
- Sadly this is our new normal and frankly it doesn’t surprise me that so many kids in NZ are struggling with anxiety these days. Personally I think it is so important that we as Pastors pray for our kids, our families and speak into this with sensitivity and clarity. Here are two resources to help you and all parents. Tips for Parents and Educators Supporting Young People and Talking with Children about Terrorism
- I am worried about the ‘Dark Net’. Sixteen looong minutes the shooter was able to broadcast his deranged behaviour before it dropped out. That’s way to long. How come Facebook and YouTube couldn’t block that video after a minute or less? Should we not all be worried about the way the internet is increasingly being used for evil and last Friday for criminal purposes?
- I am worried about racism in NZ. Professor Paul Spoonley and Dame Professor Anne Salmon have both confirmed that white supremacy/superiority is alive and well in NZ and has been for quite some time, just ask a brown skinned immigrant person. Perhaps the best way to summarise ‘white supremacy’ in a sentence is the killers own words written in his 74 page manifesto called, The Great Replacement, where the killer made his purposes abundantly clear. Why did he do it?
“To most of all show the invaders (immigrants) that our lands will never be their lands—our homelands are our own—and that, as long as a white man still lives, they will never conquer our lands, and they will never replace our people.” And that’s just ugly, pure and simple.
Over the coming weeks and months and even years lots more will be said about this tragedy and all the attendant issues that ‘hang off it’. I would like to encourage us as ministers of the gospel to read widely, think deeply, pray greatly and then write and speak boldly.
Blessings
Alan
Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.
