More than an attempt to process the movie I just
experienced, through this post I hope to encourage my readers to not only see
the movie but listen to their heart in how to respond to this moment of crisis
in which we live.
I read an article about a year ago I think interviewing the moviemaker
in the very place where this story took place. This interview was the first I had ever heard about this
story. I was shocked. I am genuinely upset at this point
because I do not see this as a black
history story but one of American
history. I am tired of hearing
my white American friends saying “Oh you have such a heart for that.” I’m sorry, shouldn’t you? Our ancestors brutally oppressed a group of people. If that doesn’t bother you than it should.
In the Bible the Israelites were oppressed in Egypt for
years. When they came out of
oppression and wandered towards their Promised Land, God miraculously stopped
the waters and they crossed over on dry land. Before they crossed, God told him them to take 12 stones
from the middle of the Jordan and set those stones on the other side as a
memorial to the 12 tribes of Israel (Joshua 4). I believe this story is important as a memorial stone to
those who gave their lives so that slaves could be freed.
There are two points I hope to outline. Number 1: This movie is important
because it exposes the face of black oppression. Number 2: It reveals, through this man’s story, a
solution. Whether or not you like
the solution is unimportant at this stage. I will explain that later.
I have to admit, I was very uncomfortable watching this
movie. Not only was I grossed out
but I also I didn’t agree initially with the outcome. I will also admit I did close my eyes quite a bit. The way in which the movie was shot
there was no break in awful, disgusting brutal acts and manipulative
control. 12 Years a Slave was neat
and tidy in comparison. But, as my
friend Ebony pointed out, this is the POV of every black man. The movie did its job and I was left in
constant agony, anger, and fear.
At the heart of Nat Turner’s story is how real his hope in
God was. We watch his journey
through the whole movie – he knows the word of God like the back of his
hand. In my favorite scene, he has
just witnessed the most cruel torture committed on a slave and now has to
preach to the slaves who belong to this evil slave master. As Nat spoke, tears streamed down his
face. However, he proclaimed joy. I felt the presence of God in that
scene. It was because he was
standing with them in their pain.
He was not preaching at them but declaring with them that they would see
the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
He ultimately was not afraid of martyrdom in standing up for
what’s right. He was like Daniel,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who declared: “If we are thrown into the
blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he
will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to
know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of
gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18).
He was also fiery like Moses who killed a slave master for beating a
slave. The list of similar
biblical situations goes on.
My take away is simple: if more people were like Nat Turner,
we wouldn’t be living with oppression anymore. We need those who will stand against injustice. The movie clearly shows that this
story, like other uprisings, resulted in few immediate results because they
were simply outnumbered. Yet then
the movement gathered strength as more and more people said no to injustice. Finally a big army rose up in the Civil
War.
Now, if God did inspire Nat to such violence or why it
didn’t work, I don’t have the answer for that. I don’t know why good doesn’t always win. I do know that, according to the Bible,
we are headed into a season where there will be great evil and good will
strongly be oppressed. At the same
time, good men will rise up and release God’s justice on the earth. This won’t be just in a day. And then the army of Heaven will come
with Jesus himself at the head and release the final judgments (Rev 17:4 to
cite one Scripture).
We need in this season to be like Nat: to know the Bible
backwards and forwards. Before we
react we need to know what he says about the situation. David said, “Your word I have
treasured and stored in my
heart, that I may not sin against You” (Ps 119:11 amp. Version). Treasuring a word means meditating on
it, praying it back to God, and understanding it deeply.
Why is this important? “For the word of God is alive and
active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing
soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) When great
evil exists, we need to know how to respond.
I’m going to leave you with one more thought. I see this section of Scripture as very
true to the time we are living in:
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have
neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and
faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the
former.
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the
righteous.30 And you say,
‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part
with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of
those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned
to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some
of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your
synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been
shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of
Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those
sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen
gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.
(Select verses from Matthew 23)
Do not say, “Well, I wasn’t a slave owner. I’m not responsible for their pain.” Clearly Jesus takes what our ancestors did very seriously! Even as much as to say that if they don't repent the innocent blood shed from the beginning of time will be on their heads.
So I repent on behalf of my ancestors and contemporaries for
the genocide of my black brothers and sisters. I repent for the foundation of our country, whose bricks
were made in the mortar of black blood.
I weep over these memorial stones.
The Lord has taken me on a long trail of tears over black lives lost and
I know this is just another marker.
I was VERY uncomfortable with this movie. I did not like what I saw. I was afraid it might incite people to
violence. Now I see though that
this movie is vitally important.
