Armchair Quarterbacks – Parenting and School Administration Experts
As people, our hearts collectively were broken as we heard the horrific news on November 30, 2021 out of the Detroit suburb of Oxford Township, Michigan, where 15-year-old sophomore Ethan Crumbley shot eleven people, killing four. Since that day, the prosecutor has both charged him as an adult for twenty-four different crimes and his parents with four counts each of involuntary manslaughter. All of these things crush anyone with a heart for all these families of those who were hurt, and for this young boy, and the whole situation. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, at a news conference and in subsequent interviews, suggested that all people everywhere should be angry at these parents and the school administrators. Let me humbly but strongly suggest that anger will not serve us here. For those of us not involved in the investigation or prosecution, holding anger in our hearts does not serve us. As armchair quarterbacks, we must be careful to assume that we know enough to make any accusations or place ourselves as judges in a situation of which we do not know all the facts.
Instead of Anger, Be Heartbroken and Engaged
Instead of being angry, be heartbroken over evil and the condition of our society and engaged in the lives of those around us.
Evil abounds. Darkness settles in over our society as the chilling darkness on a cold winter night. Yet, as followers of Jesus Christ, we have the light of Jesus Christ and truth within us. God gave us His Word which clearly shines forth that same light. With the Word of God and Jesus Christ, our light should shine brightly. The Apostle Paul wrote:
All of these things crush anyone with a heart for all these families of those who were hurt and for this young boy and the whole situation. (2 Cor 4:6)
Further, he encouraged us:
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Eph 5:8)
Jesus said:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matt 5:16)
Friends, we must be about loving God, loving our neighbors, and living out the light of Jesus Christ all around us. The darkness and evil in our society and in our neighborhoods can only be dissipated by light. What kind of light? Not political light. Instead, the light of Jesus Christ. Individual followers of Jesus Christ as light. The light of the world came – Jesus Christ – and when we live for Jesus, as Christlike neighbors, then things can change.
Anger does not help you do that. Instead of anger, be heartbroken for the human condition and engaged with those around you who need the light of Jesus Christ.
How can you be engaged?
Begin with your nearest neighbors. The ultimate goal, of course, is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order for people to begin a relationship with Jesus. Being light is not simply being good or positive; it is living and sharing Jesus Christ.
But the living Christ can start anywhere. Be friendly. Trying being nice. Smile more. Try to help those who you see need it. Hold a door. Speak a kind word. Offer to help. Share a friendly greeting. This list can get very long and is free. These things cost you nothing.
When you see someone who is down, burdened, or struggling, light cares.
Judgmentalism is not light. Telling everyone around you how bad a parent parents or how bad school administrators do their jobs is not light.
Humility – which is light – insists that you double-down on your own parenting, grandparenting, or offering help to parents you know. Not simply gaslighting and pontificating about how bad others are. Parenting may be “easy” to you, but all you literally know is your circumstance. You do not know others’ circumstances. In humility, seek to pull back from assuming you know and could do better. You simply do not.
Humility – which is light – offers help to your local school district instead of just criticizing, badmouthing, and verbally grandstanding. These individuals who serve our local children – even if they are not your children or grandchildren – need your help and sacrifice daily. Nothing about their jobs are easy.
Humility – which is light – looks at the children in our school system and seeks to be a positive influence. What can you do? If you contact your school system or community organizations, you might find out there are many things you can do. Maybe a better question is, What have you done? Is there any evidence in your school system or with the children and teenagers in your neighborhood that you have demonstrated the light of Jesus Christ? Outside of potentially complaining, literally, what have you done?
Friends, I ask in a spirit of kindness but passion…
Friends, I ask these questions in a spirit of kindness but passion for sharing and living the light of Jesus Christ to those in our communities.
As the prosecutor talked, she told us to be angry. Again, I suggest this is the wrong solution.
Instead, we should humbly keep ourselves from judging things we do not know about and, instead, engaging ourselves with those that we do know – or should know.
Please, do not rail on parents about whom you literally know nothing – whether these parents or the parents in your neighborhood.
As well, please do not judge others involved in situations like this without knowing the full story.
Instead, hold your judgment. Use your energy to serve others. Seek to shine the light of Jesus Christ – not as the town, neighborhood, or workplace critic – but as the one who loves God and sincerely loves his or her neighbor.
And, in case you are wondering, yes, I do know that I am not perfect. I struggle with these tendencies as well. But, I’m striving.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together