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Why Bother? by Sundoulos

I found myself sitting with a couple--two old friends--at a bistro in Paris in Fall of 2003. It was their first trip abroad—ever--and my second to Paris. It had been three years since my first trip. It takes me about three years to save up for a trip like that. And, we were (very) careful with our euros.

After dinner, my friends—who live in a comfortable, mostly crime-free, middle class Midwest suburb—asked about my Spiritual life and what was going on with it. I shared details that I felt they would understand and appreciate, and then mentioned that a few months before in July, that I had hooked up with an’ online Christian outreach to street gang members named Gangstyle. I shared how strongly God was impressing me about the awful seriousness of the street gang situation in our country, how thousands of our urban young people are dying, are injured or maimed, lead desperate lives, and all-to- often wind up in prison. And, I shared that God was challenging me to act, and be a part of the solution—His solution—instead of the problem, or worse, instead of just sitting on the sidelines in blissful, self-centered apathy and indifference, doing…nothing.

To my surprise (not a great surprise, but genuine surprise, nonetheless) my narrative hit a nerve with one of my friends, the husband of the couple. He immediately stiffened, his expression hardened, his face became flushed, an’ he shot back: “Look: I go to work. I pay my bills. I try to take care of family—that’s all I’m interested in. I’m happy, some weeks, if I can just get the garbage out at night. I wouldn’t waste my time. They (street gang members) are nothin’ but a bunch of f**kin’ animals!”

Woah.

And, it is a “woah.”

Too many people in this country—perhaps millions—probably think and feel the way my friend does. Many probably wouldn’t be as blunt, but they would probably agree wholeheartedly with him. More disquieting to me, however, is a question that comes to mind when I recall this incident: how many Bible-believing Christians in the US feel the way my friend does? That question haunts and troubles me far more deeply that my friend’s reply, thoughts and attitude.

The scope and seriousness of the US street gang drama is immense and staggering. I’ve heard that as many as one million US pre-adolescent and adolescent young people--or more--are gang-affiliated. A Christian pastor in Pomona California wrote a short booklet titled “3 Roads to Gang Life.”1 He compassionately, but plainly, states that street gang members generally go down three life roads that eventually end in:

If even ONE street gang member goes down one or more of those three roads, that’s one gangbanger too many.

Truly, there are many reasons to intervene in the street gang drama, which holds our nation in a tragic and heartbreaking deathgrip. Too many reasons, really. Incredibly, after three- to-four decades, the streets of our cities--including many places in America’s “heartland.”--still find themselves locked into a vicious, unending cycle of violence, destruction and death.

Notwithstanding (and notwithstanding three to four decades of media attention to the street gang drama), it astonishes me how many people, people who could make a Real and lasting difference--people with maturity, education, skills, financial resources, emotional stability and spiritual strength--turn a blind eye to such a glaring and grevious need. How can so-called “good,” “concerned” and “successful” people make an unending a litany of bewilderingly diverse excuses to NOT “get involved? Yo, check it out: “I’m white.” “It’s dangerous.” “I could get killed.” “I’ve got a career,” “I’ve got my wife and family to think about.” “Something’s already being done.” “It’s an ‘urban’ issue.” “It’s the urban Church’s issue.” And, yes, perhaps saddest of all: “They are nothin’ but a bunch of f**kin’ animals.”

“Why bother?”

And, we wonder why things go from bad to worse in the barrio and’ the ‘hood.

Yo, I’m going to share three reasons to “get involved,” to intervene in the street gang drama. No, three…Reasons. I’m going to do so from a Christian perspective. I’m a Christian, a 21st Century disciple (small “d” lol) of Jesus Christ, and that’s the life basis and world view that I live my life and operate from. Three Reasons. One for each of those three, life-wrecking, dead-end roads of gang life. Three Reasons…to bother:

1. Street gang members are made in the image of God.

2. Jesus Christ died and rose for street gang members—just like He did for the rest of us.

3. The Love of Christ compels, and compels us to act.

First, street gang members are made in God’s image. Not in my image, not in your image, not in Monster Kody’z image, in GOD’s image. The hardest, most ruthless, down-for-tha set-G is made in the image of God. God states clearly in Genesis 1:26a and 1:27:

“Let us make man in our own image…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Not some men. Not a few “good” men. ALL men. God created all mankind in His image and likeness.

God loves and esteems mankind inestimably higher that any other created thing or being. So, having being made in God’s image, each man and woman possesses the infinite and intrinsic Value that his or her Creator has endowed with, and God so regards them. NO ONE is a “less than,” or “worthless” in God’s eyes. And, that includes street gang members.

Second (Reason #2), Jesus Christ died and rose for street gang members, just like He did for the rest of us. Like He did for me, and for you.

The Bible makes it excruciatingly clear that all men are sinners, and God means ALL men:

“…for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God2”

So, does this mean that street gang members are sinners? Well, yes it does. And, I suspect that a lot of G’z are frequently reminded of this fact, by numerous “good people”--who just can’t wait to share that Truth with them, with far more “zeal,” than they ever display to Truly help and be Jesus to them.

Yes, homeboys an’ homegirls, eses and esas all fall short--I mean faaaaaar short--of the Glory and Perfect Righteousness of God. But, so do CEO’s of major multinational corporations; so do polished and demure society matrons who give lavish garden parties to raise money for “charity;” so the Reverends Jesse Jackson and Billy Graham (both of whom would be tha first to acknowledge they own sinfulness), and so do I, and so doyou. Just like gangstaz, we ALL fall faaaaaar short of the Glory of God. We all live in tha same barrio an’ ‘hood of Damning

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things3”

That hott trak was spit by MC Apostle Paul back in tha 1st Century A. D, an’ it’s as blazin’ an’ on tha Real today, as it was back in tha day.

So, fam, we ALL need a Savior—to save us from our own inherent, wack sinfulness, and God’s just, eternal Judgment of that sinfulness. And we all need a Savior just as much.

God Himself became that Savior, through the Person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, God the Son, God in human flesh. Jesus died a gruesome, excruciatingly painful, and soul-crushing Sacrifical and Substitutionary Death on a Roman cross, to pay the penalty for mankind’s sin:

“He (Jesus Christ) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.4” “…He suffered death, so that by the Grace of God he might taste death for everyone5”.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But, God demonstrates (continuing present tense) his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us6.

Yo check it out: for everyone. This means the corporate CEO, the society matron, me, you, and, yes-- the street gang member.

In accepting the full force and fury of God’s Wrath and Righteous Judgment for mankind’s sinfulness—in our place--Jesus Christ purchased complete and full forgiveness of all sin, a place in Heaven for us, and the Awesome opportunity for an’ indestructible, Forever Relationship with God Himself—for anyone --who agrees with God about they sinfulness, and turning from it, trusts Jesus to be they Sacrifice, they Substitute, they Savior. Jesus will freely save--anyone--who will humbly before God acknowledge they sinfulness, they need for a Savior, an’ rely on Jesus to save them--whether its a corporate CEO, a wealthy society matron, me, you, or…a street gang member.

Yo, but how does Jesus view those who trust Him--who jump in wit Him? Does He discriminate between them? Does it matter to Him what “walks of life” they come from? Does He value one more than the other? Does God see the corporate CEO who has faith in Jesus, in a different (almost certainly) more positive light, than, say, a street-hardened O.G. or veterano, who, through Jesus, experiences Real Acceptance, Forgiveness and Unconditional Love for perhaps the first time in they life? Yo, check it out:

“Both the one (Jesus) who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.7”

The same family. Not ashamed to call them brothers.

Jesus values and loves a man like Art Blajos—a former Mexican Mafia assassin who later jumped in wit Him—just as much as He loves and values a woman like Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Jesus Christ loves any homeboy or homegirl, any esa or ese, any O.G—1x, 2x, 3x, it don’t matter—that jumps in wit Him, just as much as He loves anyone else who jumps in wit Him. In fact--

--if there was only one sinner on earth to save, and that sinner was a street gang member, Jesus Christ would still have endured the agony of Gethsemane, would still have suffered the sickening brutality of the Passion—would still have born God’s Righteous Wrath and Fury in His Body on the Cross--in that street gang member’s place-- in the fondest and Loving Hope that that G would see His Love for him, and come to Him as his Savior, letting Him be his O.G. por vida, much like the contrite and broken-hearted prodigal son came to his waiting, forgiving father.8

Someone once said the following, and it rings true Biblically:

“There is nothing you can do to make God love you anymore than He does right now. And, there’s nothing you can do to make God love you any less than He does right now.”

And that includes street gang members.

So, now we come to it. Reason # 3. Apostle Paul drops: “For Christ’s love compels us…” as the prime motivation to love all men with God’s Love—His unconditional, unselfish and yes, undeserving Love, to share an’ be Jesus’ Body to them. Real, Jesus-Blooded Faith motivates, and compels Christians to be His PVC pipes of Love, Grace and Salvation to an aching, messed up, twisted and dying world. And many, if not most, of the barrios an’hoods of our nation certainly qualify. And, if we as Christians are not, for the most part, Living and Loving this Way—and this includes to street gang members—then, we need to put on tha brakes an seriously check ourselves to see if we are Truly “in the Faith.” Yo, check out Apostle James’ Heat:

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead9” (my italics)

Christ’s Love, not only His Love for us, but also His Love for other people--that is shed abroad in Believers hearts by His Holy Spirit--compels and demands those who Really Roll wit Jesus to act, for the unconditional benefit of all people--including street gang members.

If God’s Real attitude toward the street gang member is displayed in His Love for them-- as most graphically and sublimely portrayed through His Son Jesus Christ--then is it Godly if our attitude toward the street gang member--the Christian attitude--be one of: “They’re criminals.” “They should be hunted down and prosecuted.” “They should be locked up and the key thrown away.” “They’re crazy.” “They’re dangerous.” “They’re no good, and they do no good.” “They’re nothing but a bunch of (you know) animals.”

Or, should our attitude be more like: “Yes, they’re sinners—but so am I; we share the same dire and desperate need for a Savior—together.” “They come from family and life situations that are painful and dysfunctional--if not outright hopeless and destructive.” “Yes, they’ve made some truly negative and self-defeating life choices; but haven’t we all? In their circumstances would I have chosen any better? “They need to see and experience Real Compassion and Love—Christ’s Love—tangibly.”

Fam, for the Love of God, and for Christ’s Sake, we who name His name, who claim His Set, must be completely open to God’s call to personally engage with street gang members. If our Lord calls us, we must obey. We must meet—and help street gang members meet--they material, physical and emotional, and spiritual needs. When and where appropriate, one must share the Good News of a Loving God and a Complete Savior with them, in a manner that affirms their eternal value and personal dignity as men and women made in God’s image.

We need to be Real disciples of Jesus Christ to street gang members--to serve Jesus, by serving them.”

I believe this second attitude toward street gang members is what Jesus wants for His 21st Century. “Word?” Word. Yo, check it out:

“When the Son of Man (Jesus) comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“The King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.”

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.10”

Woah.

But, even a well-meaning, probably sincere Christian might ask:” Well, this all sounds ‘Spriitual’ but is it ‘practical’? I mean, c’mon, street gang members don’t want any help--especially our help. They don’t need our interference in their lives. I mean aren’t there enough “do-gooders” out there already? An’ besides, would any gang member really be interested to hear about God? About Jesus? C’mon…”

Well, I won’t front knowin’ the answers to these hypothetical questions. But, back in 1991, an’ O.G. Blood named Ryder responded to the issue these questions frame:

“Lemme tell you somethin’ I see way too much of: sometimes I’ll be in a mall with a couple of the homies, and we’ll be loked out in khakis and shades and stuff, and we’ll see some church people there: Folks’ll be walkin’ by and the church people will walk up to them”—Rider alters the pitch of his voice slightly—“ ‘Scuse me brother—can I talk to y’all for a minute ‘bout Jesus?’ And they’ll always grab onto someone who’s real clean-cut to witness Jesus about. You know what I’m sayin’. And then here we come…” Rider’s shoulders perform a slight weaving motion, rolling from side to side as if he were walking. “But they won’t say nothin’ to us. Won’t even get caught lookin’ at us. So I walk on up to ‘em an I say, ‘How about me? I’m not worthy of God? How come y’all don’t witness to me?’”

He shifts wearily in the chair; he looks sad suddenly, and older. “To me, they should be lookin’ for the so-called sinner instead of the clean-cut one, probably already a Christian. I tell preachers this all the time, ‘cause when they see us, they quick look the other way.” Rider mimes a person shrinking away from something that repels and frightens him. His action is purposely overstated, and it merits a laugh from B-Dog. But Rider isn’t playing it for laughs. He continues to look at me, and his voice assumes a plaintive tone,” I ask ‘em, Isn’t Christianity about savin’ souls? Or are you lookin’ for people who already converted?’ I ask ‘em if they such strong Christians, why they so afraid of us? It ain’t like gangbangers is the lions in this coliseum 11”

Surprised?

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

sundoulos

John 3:30

References:

1. Banales, Eddie, “Three Roads to Gang Life, Gangs to Grace publication, 19 p.

2. Romans 3:23 (Anyone needing further elaboration that mankind is born wack, an’ strapped from Day 1 with an inherent anti-God “attitude,” should peep Romans 3:10-18).

3. Romans 2:1

4. I John 2:2

5. Heb. 2:9

6. Romans 5:6-8

7. Hebrews. 2:11

8. Luke 15:11-24

9. James 2:14-17

10. Matthew 25:31-46

11. Bing, Leon, 1991, “Do or Die” by Leon Bing, HarperCollins, New York, pp. 221-222. .*Rider and B-Dog are O.G. Bloods from South Central Los Angeles