2 /5 H H “HaRp”: I just watched something go down in front of this church that had me questioning everything this place claims to stand for. Less than 30 minutes ago, I saw what looked like a church staff member—white man, aggressive demeanor, carrying a set of keys that opened the office—approach someone who seemed to be experiencing homelessness. The man was already walking away. Situation was already over.
But this staff member? Nah. He walked up fast, untethered, like he was on a mission. I’ve worked in security—I know that walk. That “must-execute-action” mindset. It wasn’t about communication. It wasn’t about safety. It was about power. He got in front of the man, stopped him, took his picture like he was a criminal, then made it clear—he was banned, not welcome, and they “weren’t dealing with that anymore.”
But that wasn’t enough. He had to cuss him out too. Had to add that extra venom, as if humiliation was part of the lesson.
And then, when he turned back toward the church, he locked eyes with me. Like I wasn’t supposed to be watching. Like I wasn’t supposed to care about what I just saw.
Let me be real clear—I don’t care who was right or wrong. That ain’t even the point. What matters is if we don’t look out for each other, who will?
Proverbs 21:13 – “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”
Luke 6:36 – “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
To the man with keys
A church is supposed to be a sanctuary, not a battleground for some power trip. If this is how you treat people, you might want to rethink who you claim to represent.
