Look at Me! I'm on T.V.!

Light of the World Christian Church Rev. David Hampton was arrested, along with 12 other congregants, on April 1^st.  Indianapolis Metro Police arrested Light of the World church members for obstructing vehicular traffic on Michigan Road as they protested the death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin.  The Indy Star reported that Rev. David Hampton commended Indianapolis Metro Police for doing their job.  Rev. Hampton stated, “The message we want to send nationally is that the murder of Trayvon Martin with no arrest is unjust.”  Protestors obstructed traffic and carried signs that read, “Kill a dog go to jail, kill a black man go free?”, “Justice for Trayvon Martin”, “Stop the violence, start the love.”  Hampton stated, “If those who are driving past feel inconvenienced by us stopping traffic, imagine how inconvenienced Trayvon’s mother and father feel in the loss of their son.”

Where was Hampton’s “societal changing protest” a few short weeks ago when 5 teens, younger than Trayvon, were gunned down along The Downtown Canal?  Where are the protests for black on black violent crimes that dominate Indianapolis minority neighborhoods?  When does Rev. Hampton plan to protest the abortion clinics that are murdering black children at a rate far higher than any other ethnic group? (Blacks make up 13% of the population but account for 36% of all abortions.)  Why did Rev. Hampton think it necessary to tie up valuable police resources, especially given IMPD’s budget woes and manpower issues, to protest something that happened 800 miles away?  The arrest of Hampton and 12 of his church members not only pulled valuable public safety resources away from other neighborhoods, but their arrests will further burden our courts; and for what?...to protest an investigation that hasn’t been completed.  Light of the World clearly planned on blocking traffic and even planned on some church members being arrested.  This was a staged event with an obvious goal to receive media attention; and our local media was all too willing to oblige.  Indianapolis should impose a fine on Hampton and his church for the cost of the police resources they selfishly thought they were entitled to.

A supposed “Christian leader” encouraged members of his church, whom he is held to account for, to violate Indiana law so he could get some “face time” on the local media?  The conduct of Rev. Hampton and his church is shameful and un-Biblical.  There are some things worth fighting for, but Rev. Hampton’s passion for media “face time” and notoriety has skewed his priorities.  Obstructing traffic in the 4600 block of Michigan Road in Indianapolis Indiana does nothing to speed up an investigation in Florida, nor does it bring “Justice for Trayvon”.  Rev. Hampton, like so many black liberation theology churches, is concerned about “social justice” but ignores the fact that Jesus never provided any type of teaching based in the modern communist…I mean…”social justice” agenda.  I’m pretty sure Christ was treated more “unjustly” than Trayvon or any of Hampton’s church members.  However, Christ did teach a very important lesson Rev. Hampton may not be familiar with:  “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?...first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”  Matthew 7:3-5.

Side Note:  David Hampton seems to enjoy being arrested, especially if it adds to his notoriety.  He’s protested with and learned from the best…Al Sharpton, and Hampton served on the Board of Directors for the National Action Network.  A quick glance at Light of the Word’s website shows that the church is impressed with Hampton’s arrest record and association with Sharpton.  As a Bible believing Christian, I fear for the spiritual health of Hampton’s church if he is a disciple of Sharpton.  God help them! http://lightoftheworld.org/?members=rev-david-a-hampton